This is Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
If you’re new to Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, welcome! Below you’ll find some highlights of our recent coverage, including special reports, stories and videos by NNS staff, Community Voices (opinion pieces), How To (news you can use) and On the Block (audio of everyday people talking about their lives.)
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Special reports
Last call: Neighborhood taverns fading out on Milwaukee’s South Side
By Edgar Mendez
Once a staple on Milwaukee’s South Side, the corner bar is becoming a relic in some neighborhoods as a result of the steady decline of industry, changing social patterns and the perception that such taverns are a magnet for crime.
Reckless driving forced Milwaukee residents into game of “red light roulette”
By Elliot Hughes
After years of traffic fatalities and injury accidents trending down, both are now on the rise and are soring to levels not seen in recent years. As police regroup, city residents are grappling with the idea that a green light doesn’t mean it’s safe to go.
Disorganization hampers city effort to replace lead water service lines at child care centers
By Edgar Mendez
Although the City of Milwaukee promised more than a year ago to replace lead service lines at each of the city’s 346 licensed child care facilities, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service has found that only 146 have been replaced thus far, due to a combination of mismanagement, poor communication and unresponsive property owners.
Milwaukee Open Housing Marches
By NNS Staff
Summer 2017 marked the 50th anniversary of an extraordinary event in Milwaukee history. A group of African-American teenagers belonging to the NAACP Youth Council, under the guidance of their advisor, the Rev. James Groppi, marched for 200 nights, often facing hostile white crowds, in support of open housing legislation in the city.
Community Voices
Police tasing of Sterling Brown no surprise
By Antonio Ramirez
Antonio Ramirez, assistant professor of History & Political Science at Elgin Community College, writes about his own experience being tased by a Milwaukee police officer, and states that Milwaukee is an apartheid city where innocent people can become victims of the police.
Why has the black church lost its power?
By Bryon Johnson
Bryon 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.
On the Block
Giving hope to refugees
By Leah Harris
Chris Her-Xiong is a refugee from Laos. She founded the Hmong American Peace Academy in 2004 to give hope to Hmong youth.
How To
How to report when you’ve been sexually assaulted at work
By Elizabeth Baker
Local legal experts share advice on what to do when you have been assaulted in the workplace.
Features
Developer Kalan Haywood works to ‘build people, build solutions’
By Talis Shelbourne
Kalan Haywood seeks to inspire the next generation by developing community-focused properties and mentoring youth.
Fifth summer of We Got This focuses on reading, jobs
By Andrea Waxman
Andre Lee Ellis is expanding his youth mentoring and employment program to include Wednesday Reading in the Garden from 5-7 p.m.
Silver City shines a light on Asian restaurants throughout February
By Margaret Cannon
Three Asian restaurants are participating in Silver City’s annual “Phobruary” event, featuring traditional Asian soup, for $5.
South Side barbershop owner creates one-stop shop for hip-hop community
By Keith Schubert
Felipe “Flip” Martinez, owner of Flip N Styles Barbershop on West National Avenue, opened Motive8 clothing store next to his barbershop to create a hub for all things hip-hop.