Author: Correspondent

The Waze Connected Citizens Program aims to ease traffic congestion in Milwaukee and keep motorists better informed. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) announced a data-sharing partnership with Waze, the free, real-time crowdsourced traffic and navigation app powered by the world’s largest community of drivers. This is part of a next generation traveler information system that the department is launching in 2017. Designed as a free, two-way data share of publicly available traffic information, the Connected Citizens Program promotes greater efficiency, deeper insights and safer roads for citizens of Wisconsin. The program helps WisDOT get more information on real-time...

Harbor District, Inc. announced the winner of the Take Me to the River public space design contest on January 12, with plans to build the first phase of the winning design during the summer of 2017. The winning design team, Quorum Architects – Ayres Associates, created a compelling new plaza on Milwaukee’s Inner Harbor at the end of Greenfield Avenue, with views of the working port and downtown. “We are excited to be a part of the team that will create a place which truly invites the public into this amazing yet elusive part of the city. The Harbor...

On January 11, the Milwaukee Riverkeeper announced the release of its 6th Annual Milwaukee River Basin Report Card. Every year, Milwaukee Riverkeeper provides details about the health of the Milwaukee River Basin’s three rivers (the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic) with the help of an ever-growing group of engaged citizen scientists, university researchers, and partnerships with key government agencies. Overall, the Milwaukee River Basin received a C- in 2015, showing little variation from 2014, but still showing improvement from 2011’s overall D+ grade. While the best grade for a watershed was a B+ (Cedar Creek and the East & West...

Emerging leaders to learn real-world organizing skills from new program. Victory Garden Initiative recently announced an entirely unique learning and professional growth experience. The 2017 Food Leader Certificate Program begins January 28, 2017 and is an extensive certification program that equips emerging leaders with project management, community organization, and team leadership skills, all in the context of food system realities, growing nutritious, healthy food, and leading food projects in their communities. Food Leader participants: Lead a personally developed food system project that impacts individuals and communities. Develop as a leader by practicing leadership, project planning and management, and team...

As a revival of an old custom, the bells of Milwaukee rang in unison at Midnight on New Year’s Eve as a message of peace. The regional event was in part due to the efforts of The Bells of Milwaukee, Inc., an IRS tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation founded by Russell Klisch, the President and Owner of Lakefront Brewery. Klisch founded the organization to counter a recent New Year’s practice of celebrating the turn of the year by the firing of guns. “Once people start hearing bells, they will want to hear bells instead of gunshots. That’s our hope,” Klisch says....