Staff, Author at Milwaukee Independent

NASA patches recall a time when Milwaukee helped put men on the moon

Posted by Staff | Jan 5, 2018 |

Once the fabric of Milwaukee for six decades, and all but forgotten now, manufacturing sites in the city produced military armament used around the world and helped mankind leave the gravity of Earth. Established in 1948 in a six-story plant on the northeast side, the Milwaukee operations of Delco Electronics – known as Delphi Electronics & Safety at its closing in 2008 – had a leading role in the field of precision guidance systems and automotive components. The company played a key role for years in research, development, and production of electro-mechanical devices for military use and space exploration....

Report shows independent journalists face epidemic levels of violence

Posted by Staff | Jan 4, 2018

According to the world’s largest organization for journalists, at least 81 reporters were killed in 2017 doing their jobs, while violence and harassment against media staff has skyrocketed. The end-of-year report from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) contained dire results, which found an “unprecedented numbers of journalists were jailed, forced to flee, that self-censorship was widespread, and that impunity for the kiIIings, harassment, attacks, and threats against independent journalism was running at epidemic levels.” “We welcome the reduction for the third year in a row in the loss of life suffered by journalists and media staff around the...

MPS teachers outraged over administrative pay raises

Posted by Staff | Jan 4, 2018 |

“While the MPS Administration showers money on MPS administrators, classroom educators, saddled with increasing demands, are asked to take a step back in pay this year. Educators won’t even receive pay increases to keep up with the cost of inflation.” – Kim Schroeder, President of Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association (MTEA) Over $100,000 in pay raises were approved to 23 individuals in top positions of the MPS administration. The largest pay raise to one individual was $17,600. Milwaukee School Board member Terry Falk explained that none of the raises were officially reported to the school board. “This information was provided...

Milwaukee ratepayers could be stuck with Racine’s Foxconn utility bill

Posted by Staff | Jan 3, 2018 |

Alderman Robert J. Bauman has called for an investigation into if We Energies ratepayers in Milwaukee will be on the hook for funding critical electrical utility infrastructure for the soon-to-be-built Foxconn facility near Racine. As chair of the Common Council’s Public Works Committee, Alderman Bauman will bring the issue to that committee for a hearing on January 4 to discuss the possible rate hike. To serve the Foxconn facility in Racine, the American Transmission Company (ATC) is proposing a $140 million substation with high voltage power lines. Alderman Bauman is calling for the City of Milwaukee to explore what,...

Reggie Jackson: What I learned from a lynching survivor about anger

Posted by Staff | Jan 3, 2018 |

In this talk, Reggie Jackson shares what he has learned about dealing with anger in a positive way from his mentor, Dr. James Cameron, the only known lynching survivor and founder of America’s Black Holocaust Museum. TEDx UW-Milwaukee Bio: Reggie Jackson | What I Learned from a Lynching Survivor about Anger Head Griot, America’s Black Holocaust Museum Education Liaison, ResCare Adjunct Professor, Concordia University-Wisconsin Special Education Teacher, Milwaukee Public Schools 2017 Winner, Frank P. Zeidler Public Service Award, City of Milwaukee 2016 Courageous Love Award, First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee 2015 Winner, Eliminating Racism Award, Southeast Wisconsin’s YWCA ©...

Not in Our Town’s Documentary “Waking in Oak Creek”

Posted by Staff | Jan 1, 2018 |

Norma Duckworth and the Open Door Community Center JC hosted a screening and panel discussion at Shorewood High School of the “Waking in Oak Creek” documentary, telling the story of the town’s transformation and healing after the deadly 2012 hate attack. On August 5, 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) and Not In Our Town (NIOT) released Waking in Oak Creek, the first in a series of films focused on helping law enforcement and communities work together on hate crime prevention. Not In Our Town’s film “Waking in Oak Creek” documented...