Favorites of 2013
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service covered a wide range of stories focused on central city neighborhoods during 2013. Reporters Andrea Waxman, Edgar Mendez and Brendan O’Brien explain why the story republished below is their favorite of the year.
‘Wisdom Walk’ leads away from violence, toward change
by Andrea Waxman
The Alma Center was not seeking publicity, so I had to persuade Executive Director Terri Strodtoff to let me write a story about the unique and powerful work done by the center’s Wisdom Walk program to address domestic violence. Alma Center’s approach — uncovering the trauma at the root of violent behavior and treating perpetrators with a mix of traditional and scientific methods — enables clients to heal. That healing also positively affects the women and children in their lives. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to tell the community about this valuable resource.
Long-awaited Packers field opens in Mitchell Park
by Edgar Mendez
I’ve been a Packer fan since childhood. I’ve cringed and cheered while watching quarterbacks such as Don Majkowski, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers sling footballs across a field with the iconic Green Bay Packers “G” in the center. In 2013, a new football field, emblazoned with the same historic “G,” opened in Mitchell Park, in the heart of the neighborhood where I grew up. The youth and community of Clarke Square now have a piece of the Packers in their own backyard.
Volunteers dispatched to count Milwaukee homeless
by Brendan O’Brien
In my opinion, homelessness is one of the most important issues facing the city. The story was fascinating to cover, given the variety of people, including police officers and volunteers, who worked tirelessly to conduct the count. It also was interesting to hear directly from people who were homeless, many of whom said they did not want anyone to feel sorry for them. Lastly, the story resonated with me because of the complexity of the issue, both in terms of obtaining the count and solving the problem of homelessness in Milwaukee.