Opinion: Community Voices

Mark Rice, a Wisconsin statewide EXPO organizer and #CLOSEmsdf Campaign lead organizer, writes that it’s time for public officials to speak out about the need to close the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility (MSDF).

Carmen Pitre, president and CEO of Sojourner, reflects on how to spread peace during a time of so much violence and suffering. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Margaret Rozga, poet, civil rights activist and professor emerita of English at UW-Waukesha, reflects on the role of public art in the battle for social justice.

Frank Martinelli, president of the Center for Public Skills Training, shares his thoughts on how the Greater Milwaukee Foundation initiative can better address our community’s most pressing problems.

Margaret Rozga, poet, civil rights activist and professor emerita of English at UW-Waukesha, writes about a summer camp that exemplifies the “beloved community” of the civil rights movement.

Roy Evans, an attorney in private practice and an advocate on issues related to the rights and responsibilities of the African-American community, reflects on Sherman Park a year after the death of Sylville Smith at the hands of a Milwaukee police officer.

Isiah Holmes, a writer and videographer, warns that undocumented immigrants are particularly at risk of being harmed by technological surveillance techniques used by law enforcement agencies.

Bethany Sanchez, director of the Fair Lending Program at the nonprofit Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council, asks Milwaukeeans to urge their U.S. senators and representatives to fight against weakening the reporting requirements for home lenders.

Margaret Rozga, poet, civil rights activist and professor emerita of English at UW-Waukesha, laments that greed stands in the way of fair housing for too many Milwaukee families.

Byron Johnson is a native of Milwaukee and is a candidate for licensed ministry at Tabernacle Community Baptist Church. He graduated from American Baptist College in Nashville, where he studied Bible and theology. In this piece, he discusses the prominence of the black church in his life.