Author: NNS

Almost two hundred men gathered for the kickoff of the “500 Fathers United Initiative” at Moody Park. Dads are the key to deterring the violence plaguing many Milwaukee neighborhoods, according to organizers of the 500 Fathers United Initiative. “As fathers, as men, we have to take a stronger stand against violence,” said Dennis Walton, co-director of the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative, speaking to those gathered at Moody Park for the launch of the initiative. ”You brothers are the foundation of our community,” he added. The “Safe Summer Kick-off Celebration” was well attended by men, women and children who spent the...

The sun was shining, the music was loud and the streets were full at the 45th annual Juneteenth Day Festival. This year the rich Milwaukee tradition also coincided with Father’s Day, bringing families out to attend the festival together. Juneteenth Day is one of the country’s oldest observed holidays, and commemorates the day the last slaves were freed in 1865 following the Civil War. “We all know when the Fourth of July is and celebrate the independence of America, but not everyone knows when to celebrate the independence of the slaves,” said Ricky Slade, a program coordinator at Running...

The BlankSpaceMKE artist cooperative is promoting performances, exhibits, art markets and other events featuring African-American artists this week, from Tuesday, June 21, through Sunday, June 26. When Bridget Robinson, BlankSpaceMKE’s executive director, and fellow co-op members learned recently that African World Festival was cancelled again this summer, they worked to designate the week following Juneteenth “Milwaukee Black Arts Week.” “We have focused over the past year on facilitating and coordinating events that showcase how important art is to our community and encouraging people to support the work (of artists),” Robinson said. “BlankSpaceMKE initiated Milwaukee Black Restaurant Week in April,...

When Paula Jones, an artist and writer, moved to the Historic Mitchell Street neighborhood on the South Side from Wauwatosa last year, one thing that stood out to her is that the vibrant neighborhood has few green spaces for neighbors to congregate. “Here we are in the heart of the city but there’s not a lot of places for neighbors to meet and form bonds,” said Jones, a member of South Side Neighbors Helping Neighbors (SSNHN), a resident committee formed by organizers from the Building Neighborhood Capacity Program (BNCP). After months of going door to door to drum up...

Harambee resident Roberta Lyles remembers a time not long ago when her neighborhood was dominated by prostitutes, drugs and gangs, forcing her to sleep underneath her bed in order to avoid stray gunfire. “A bullet doesn’t have anybody’s name on it,” the 79-year-old said. Refusing to be terrorized by the constant threats of violence, Lyles teamed with several of her neighbors to take action. They called their alderman, held meetings, went door to door and formed block clubs, all in the name of creating a safer neighborhood. “We decided to get our neighborhood cleaned up and that is what...

Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton and 11 of the city’s 14 other aldermen unveiled a multi-pronged anti-violence initiative. Milwaukee Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton and all but three city aldermen announced a multi-pronged approach to curbing violence in Milwaukee over the summer. Though the effort will include the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD), Hamilton said it will focus on fighting crime by starting at the community level. “This is an effort to take a holistic approach to what the quality of life should be in [the] communities that we all represent,” he said. Aldermen Michael Murphy, Bob Bauman and Nik...