Author: Correspondent

The crowd-sourced photo project aims to bring the city together, one garden at a time. With the beginning of summer, ZIP MKE launched its first photography challenge since its inception in October 2016. The community engagement organization, whose mission is to bring Milwaukee communities closer together through photography, is inviting city residents to share their “green” photos this summer. Whether they are photos taken in their front or backyard flower gardens or their balcony herb gardens, their community plots in an urban garden or their experiences at a farmer’s market, or even their garden potluck or yoga session or...

New research may give health officials more accurate tools when deciding whether to close beaches. One of the longstanding methods officials use for those decisions is the measurement of E. coli bacteria levels. Higher levels can lead to beach closings because it’s a warning sign of recent fecal pollution, which may carry harmful bacteria, viruses or protozoa. But researchers have discovered that E. coli – short for Escherichia coli – may survive and proliferate in beach sand independent of pollution events. These “naturalized” E. coli populations falsely inflate measurement levels, resulting in beach closings due to pollution that’s not...

The full Common Council approved a new first-of-its-kind pilot program to turn dilapidated foreclosed homes into beautiful hubs for artwork and resources. The Art and Resource Community Hub (ARCH) loan program will take city-owned foreclosed homes and turn them into artists’ oases and resource hubs. Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs and Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II are the principal sponsors of the legislation creating the pilot, which will focus on transforming city-owned foreclosed homes beginning in the Bronzeville area and the Walnut Hill neighborhood. Both Alderwoman Coggs and Alderman Stamper extended thanks to the artists who inspired them to push...

“Hail We Now Sing Joy” on view at the Milwaukee Art Museum June 23 to September 17, presenting new paintings and sculptures from Chicago-born artist Rashid Johnson. The exhibition features 14 large-scale works that will fill the Museum’s entire feature exhibition space. Using his signature materials of white ceramic tile, red oak flooring, shea butter, black soap, and wax, Johnson examines themes of race, history, yearning, anxiety, and escape and investigates the relationship between art, society, and personal identity. “Rashid Johnson’s work is on everyone’s radar right now as he tackles contemporary issues, including the complexities of living as...

To honor the refugees who find their new home in Milwaukee community every year, the Milwaukee Area Refugee Consortium (MARC) celebrated the World Refugee Day on June 20 at Pere Marquette Park. Every year on June 20th, the United Nations and countless civic groups around the world celebrate World Refugee Day to honor the courage, strength, and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homes under threat of persecution, conflict and violence. The Milwaukee event will feature cultural performances and activities, music and guest speakers, to celebrate our new neighbors, the culture and diversity...