Author: Correspondent

“Karen has been volunteering with the festival since our organization’s inception. Last year alone, she volunteered over 80 hours with Milwaukee Film. She picks up shifts throughout the year at Member Screenings and at the office, as well as different shifts during the festival at Education Screenings, panels, special events, etc. As with any youthful nonprofit, changes do occur and we know it can be difficult to adjust for staff, let alone volunteers. Karen has rolled with the punches and stuck by us through everything; her consistency and flexibility has been so appreciated. One of our greatest needs is...

The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has been awarded $2.5 million in federal funding to fuel economic opportunity in low-income areas and expand access to fresh food in entrenched food deserts. LISC will seed a new small business development fund and spur healthy food-related enterprises with this week’s award from the federal Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund). The funding will help support entrepreneurs, create jobs, expand local incomes and reduce blight in low-income areas across the country. “The new Equitable Small Business Fund is yet another tool for supporting Milwaukee entrepreneurs and stimulating economic growth. We are...

Milwaukee Repertory Theater recently received two major gifts, totaling $1 million, to help fund a complete renovation of the Stackner Cabaret. The generous gifts come from two longtime Rep supporters, including a $750,000 gift by former Board President Vince Martin and his wife Jan and a $250,000 gift from the Stackner Family Foundation. Since its opening in 1987, the Stackner Cabaret has been one of Milwaukee’s most in-demand performance venues playing to near capacity crowds for an average of 300 performances a year. The renovation will increase the number of seats by over 35%, address aging infrastructure issues, provide...

“Our donations are an investment in the future of LGBTQ Milwaukee.” – Michail Takach Following a record-breaking PrideFest Milwaukee 2017, the Milwaukee Pride Board of Directors announces the disbursement of over $16,000 in financial donations, scholarships and gifts to local causes. These included $10,218 to GSAFE, through the PrideFest Plus One 2017 campaign; $3,000 to Ashley Smith, recipient of the 2017 Rising Star Scholarship;$2,500 to the 2017 Milwaukee LGBT Film/Video Festival; and $723 to the Milwaukee Women’s Center. “Milwaukee Pride’s mission statement makes firm commitments to the LGBTQ community: to developing future leaders, to improving access to services, to...

In the wake of a string of catastrophic hurricanes and one of the worst forest fire seasons in US history, Outpost Natural Foods reaffirms its commitment to implementing methods to reduce the co-op’s carbon footprint and work with co-op owners and the community to do the same. Earlier this year, Outpost signed on to the Climate Collaborative, an initiative in the natural foods industry whose mission is to work collaboratively to “catalyze bold action, amplify the voice of business and promote sound policy to reverse climate change,” according to the group’s website. Seventh Generation, a Vermont-based leading natural products...

Lisa McKay of Lisa Kaye Catering, LLC was been named the winner of the second annual Rev-Up MKE small business competition, and will locate her business to an empty storefront in the Near West Side. The winner was announced this evening, September 20, 2017, at the conclusion of a “Shark Tank”-style live pitch event in which all six finalists presented before a panel of judges and the public at The Rave. Lisa McKay was also voted the WaterStone Bank Audience Choice winner and recipient of an additional $1,000. In addition, Annalies Tilley-Grantz of Hands in Harmony Piano Studio was...