Staff, Author at Milwaukee Independent

A beautiful sea of black that white privilege cannot ignore

Posted by Staff | Jun 21, 2017 |

The Milwaukee community gathered on June 19 to celebrate Juneteenth Day for the 46th consecutive year. The holiday commemorates the abolition of slavery in the United States, resulting from the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. The observance comes from the last American territory in Texas to relinquish its system of defining people of color as property. News of the Presidential order did not reach the community of Galveston until 1865, over two and a half years later, when Major General Gordon Granger arrived on June 19 with his troops to force the locals to comply with the federal directive. “That...

Audio: Inspirational highlights from ACRE commencement

Posted by Staff | Jun 20, 2017 |

This audio segment was recorded at the graduation ceremony of the 2016-2017 class of the Associates in Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) program on June 13. Featured speakers included Rocky Marcoux, Wyman Winston, and Mark Eppli and Barry Mandel, offering the real estate development community words of advice and inspiration. “You are here because you know there is a future, and you’re willing to take on projects that are difficult. But when they are accomplished, they are going to bring innumerable rewards to the folks that live in our neighborhoods. Some of those people you may know, but some people...

Video: Inside Milwaukee’s hilltop Cream City Brick chapel

Posted by Staff | Jun 18, 2017 |

During a rare public tour of the historic chapel on the hilltop of Calvary Cemetery, Sy Kreilein presented some of the history of the structure designed by Erhard Brielmaier, the same architect responsible for St. Josaphat’s Basilica.

Trumpcare and workforce concerns surface as administration visits Milwaukee

Posted by Staff | Jun 14, 2017 |

With trips by Vice President Mike Pence on June 10 and President Donald Trump on June 13 to Milwaukee, several Wisconsin leaders highlighted the harmful affects that proposed cuts in health care and labor programs will have on local residents. Mayor Tom Barrett and Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Martha Laning highlighted the disastrous effects of the legislation plan known as Trumpcare, which is projected to kick 23 million Americans off of their heath care insurance. “I’m surprised that the Vice President wants to come to Wisconsin to tout legislation that is designed to deny health care for 23...

From protest to celebration: PrideFest comes of age at 30

Posted by Staff | Jun 13, 2017 |

PrideFest has adapted with the changing times over the past three decades, from a focus on protest in 1987 to one of pride and celebration for its 2017 event. This year, organizers moved away from the original expression of resistance to focus on issues of LGBT civil rights and the continued battle for marriage equality. But after 30 years of legal challenges and movements to change public opinion, the diverse LGBT community celebrated its pride openly in 2017 without fear of persecution. “We are committed to cultivating the next generation of Wisconsin’s LGBTQ leadership,” said Michail Takach, vice president...

Statements from the Rally for Unity and Pride

Posted by Staff | Jun 13, 2017 |

The “Milwaukee Rally for Unity and Pride” was held in front of the Federal Courthouse on June 11, in conjunction with nationwide rallies and marches in support of the LGBT community. Held over the PrideFest weekend in Milwaukee, the peaceful assembly was designed to bring attention to the past successes and continuing challenges within the LGBT population for equal justice under the law. It also emphasized the need for all levels of community unity in Milwaukee across gender, religious, sеxual, and ethnic boundaries. Speakers at the event included Chris Ott, director of the ACLU of Wisconsin, Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive...