Editor, Author at Milwaukee Independent

88Nine’s “Invisible Lines” documentary explores what segregation feels like in Milwaukee

Posted by Editor | Nov 1, 2018 |

88Nine Radio Milwaukee became the first Milwaukee media outlet to be featured in the Milwaukee Film Festival, when the radio station’s feature-length documentary “Invisible Lines” premiered at the Oriental Theater on October 27. Laura Dyan Kezman, Nate Imig and Vianca Fuster directed the film about Milwaukee, through the eyes of 10 residents of color. With intimate interviews and art, the local residents shared their personal stories of segregation, racism, and prejudice. The format included no narrator or script, just conversations between people. Milwaukee has the unfortunate reputation of being the most segregated city in America. It is a perception...

We Won’t Be Erased: Milwaukee’s LGBT community stands united against hate

Posted by Editor | Oct 31, 2018 |

On October 25, Milwaukee Pride coordinated a Rally for Resistance at the archway of City Hall featuring local LGBT leaders, in response to details that the federal government was moving forward with efforts that would take away the civil rights of American citizens. The New York Times reported on October 21 that the Trump administration planned to legally redefine sex and gender, a policy change would effectively exclude transgender and non-binary students from legal protections under Title IX. Under the Obama administration, federal agencies recognized gender identity as a protected class and considered complaints brought by transgender and non-binary...

Milwaukee community holds interfaith vigil to mourn the Pittsburgh synagogue victims

Posted by Editor | Oct 30, 2018

Beth Israel Ner Tamid hosted a special memorial service to remember the 11 Jewish worshippers kiIIed at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on October 27. Milwaukee is too familiar with the tragedy of a mass shooting at a place of worship. In 2012, a gunman killed 6 people at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, the largest act of domestic terrorism in the state’s history. More than 1,000 people attended the community-wide gathering at the Glendale temple, with representatives from all the major Jewish denominations and faith groups in the city. They came to share their grief and...

Former President Obama urges voter turnout in Milwaukee at speech condemning Trump’s policies

Posted by Editor | Oct 29, 2018 |

Former President Barack Obama fiercely criticized Donald Trump’s tenure in office and his destabilizing policies on October 26, in a fiery address to the Milwaukee public during his first campaign event in the city since his March 2016 visit as President to celebrate enrollment numbers in the Affordable Care Act. The speech was one of Obama’s sharpest and most direct rebukes of Trump’s presidency. The former president was careful not to specifically mention Trump by name, nor talk about the pipe bombs a Trump supporter sent to kiII him and other Democratic leaders. But Obama did scoff at the...

Democrats bring Barack Obama to Wisconsin to campaign for party candidates

Posted by Editor | Oct 29, 2018 |

With the November 6 midterm election less than two weeks away, former President Barack Obama returned to Milwaukee after two years on October 26 to give Wisconsin Democratic candidates support and help boost voter turnout. President Obama came to Wisconsin to stump for the Democratic ticket, and he headlined the rally held at North Division High School. He told a roaring crowd of more than 4,000 people that in spite of growing frustrations with the political system, voting would only make things better. “I am here for one simple reason. I am here to ask you to vote,” Obama...

Molly Sommerhalder: Finding the tools to live authentically

Posted by Editor | Oct 26, 2018 |

Inspired by her own therapeutic life journey to break free from the hold of fear, stress, and anxiety, Molly Sommerhalder applies that experience in her work as a wellness coach and yoga teacher. Through this effort, she helps guide people with lives ruled by materialistic needs and the social media expectations of perfection to fully heal and find balance. | Q&A with Molly Sommerhalder Milwaukee Independent: Was there an event in your childhood that you feel influenced the trajectory of your adult life? Molly Sommerhalder: There are a lot of events that have brought me to where I am...