Staff, Author at Milwaukee Independent

Doug Johnson: On being a White parent of Black twins

Posted by Staff | Apr 28, 2017 |

With a career that spans three decades in the music industry from a sound engineer to booking top artists for Summerfest, Doug Johnson is most proud of his other full-time job as being the father of adopted African-American twins. His holistic approach to life, persistence for social justice, and insightful parenting in action takes on racial issues with healthy and direct action. Johnson’s philosophy serves as an example beyond his living room and as a model to the segregated Milwaukee community for how to embrace and incorporate racial diversity.

Audio: A journey for truth in the shadow of genocide

Posted by Staff | Apr 25, 2017 |

The Reverend Patrick Desbois gave a powerful lecture about his decade-long work helping to identify mass execution sites of Jews during World War II as part of his exhibit at the Milwaukee Jewish Museum on April 19. Editor’s Note: The research and discoveries made by Father Desbois are very gruesome, and the stories he shares are unpleasant and uncomfortable to hear. They are, however, irrefutable facts and as such have not been sugarcoated in their presentation. This is a live recording from the public lecture given by Father Patrick Desbois on April 19 at the Rubenstein Pavilion of the...

New church and $20M senior living center to replace St. Rita

Posted by Staff | Apr 25, 2017 |

A landmark church will soon be demolished on Milwaukee’s lower East side, and replaced with senior housing and new center for worship modeled after its parent church, the Blessed Virgin of Pompeii. Known as the Little Pink Church, it was the centerpiece of the city’s Italian-American community until it was razed in 1967 to make way for freeway construction in the Third Ward. St. Rita began in 1925 as a mission outpost of the Little Pink Church. Its location at 1601 N. Cass Street was built in 1939. “My parents grew up in the 3rd Ward and attended St....

Photo Essay: 2017 Vince Lombardi Award

Posted by Staff | Apr 19, 2017 |

Guests packed the Pfister ballroom on April 8 to support the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation and celebrate Barry Alvarez as the distinguished honoree for 2017.

Photo Essay: Milwaukee marches on Trump Tax Day

Posted by Staff | Apr 18, 2017 |

On Tax Day, April 15, demonstrators in Milwaukee joined 150 cities across America and abroad in marches demanding that President Trump release his tax returns as promised.

Mayor Barrett helps Bublr open new HQ at Grand Avenue

Posted by Staff | Apr 17, 2017 |

Bike share nonprofit officially becomes first permanent tenant in Grand Avenue Mall Redevelopment on April 14, part of trend of economic investment in Westown Area of Downtown. On Milwaukee Day, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and other officials inaugurated the new Shops of Grand Avenue headquarters and maintenance facility of Bublr Bikes, the non-profit organization that operates the Milwaukee area’s bike-sharing network. As a result of the move, Bublr has become the initial permanent tenant in the Grand Avenue’s redevelopment, and it puts the bike-sharing system at the center of its growing regional network. Barrett and other officials discussed Bublr’s...