Author: Correspondent

Milwaukee Rep’s new ED&I strategic plan REP Forward and Chief Diversity Officer Tammy Belton-Davis received the inaugural Governor’s Tourism Award for Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI). The award recognizes demonstrated leadership in raising awareness, or facilitating change, to build a more inclusive and welcoming environment for visitors to Wisconsin. The award was presented on May 6 during the virtual 2021 Wisconsin Governor’s Conference on Tourism (WIGCOT). Belton-Davis joined Milwaukee Rep’s leadership team as one of the first DEAI executive leaders at a cultural organization in the country. She created a plan and systems to ensure that as one...

Marcia L. Fudge, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), announced the allocation of nearly $5 billion in American Rescue Plan funds to help communities across the country create affordable housing and services for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Nearly $90 million was awarded to regions across Wisconsin, with more than $20 million specifically for Milwaukee. Secretary Fudge released the news on April 12 during a Zoom call with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (OH), Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Birmingham, Alabama Mayor Randall Woodfin. The supplemental funding was allocated through the HOME...

In early May, 24 organizations began receiving emergency grants that will total nearly $500,000, on behalf of the UW Credit Union Fund for Racial Equity. The Emergency funds were part of a larger $1.5 million investment in economic mobility. As a result of additional contributions from the United Way of Dane County and United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County earlier this year, the $250,000 earmarked by UW Credit Union to support emergency grants quickly doubled, resulting in one-time gifts totaling $10,000 for Milwaukee-area organizations and up to $30,000 for Dane County organizations. Of the 24 emergency grant...

Sculpture Milwaukee will return to the streets of downtown Milwaukee this summer for its fifth annual exhibition. Features for 2021 will include a dynamic roster of international artworks guest curated by Chicago-based artist Theaster Gates — described by the Tate Modern as “one of the world’s most influential living artists” — and Milwaukee-based artist Michelle Grabner, Crown Family Professor of Art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and recent recipient of a 2021 Guggenheim Fellowship. For the first time, Sculpture Milwaukee will present a titled exhibition, introduce a guest artist program featuring emerging artist Lauren Yeager,...

The Milwaukee Christian Center (MCC) announced it was the recipient of a generous grant from Bader Philanthropies on May 6, coinciding with the celebration of its 100th anniversary of service to the Milwaukee community. MCC YouthBuild champions young adults aged 18 to 24 as they overcome challenges and move toward family-sustaining careers, through education and hands-on construction training while building homes for low-income families. Referred to as Opportunity Youth, the young adults who are not working and out of school have an opportunity to continue their personal growth. According to Milwaukee Succeeds, almost 19,000 young people in Milwaukee County...

The Captain John D. Mason Veteran Peer Outreach Program, in collaboration with the Southeastern Wisconsin Suicide Prevention Taskforce and BeThereWis.com, is bringing the Gun Shop Project and Safe Storage Program to local communities across Wisconsin. The program, developed by Safe Communities of Madison-Dane County, works with Wisconsin gun shops and ranges to provide two levels of support to the gun-owner community that address firearm suicides. Firearm safety: Gun shops will provide materials to customers and staff about suicide prevention and responsible firearm ownership developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), American Foundation on Suicide Prevention, and the VA....