Guest, Author at Milwaukee Independent

Benefit concert gives “Heralds of Hope” in a tough holiday season

Posted by Guest | Dec 8, 2016 |

A 90-minute, alternative holiday program of music, theater, and literature about “struggle through hardship into hope” to perform on December 20. Critically acclaimed Milwaukee-born author and performer Paul McComas, along with Chicago singer and songwriter Maya Kuper, will present Heralds of Hope in Story & Song at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn, 1001 E. Locust Street. The show’s $6-per-person admission donation will benefit Milwaukee’s vital community-building agency Safe & Sound, Inc. “We’re thrilled Paul and Maya have chosen Safe & Sound as this event’s beneficiary,” said executive director Katie Sanders. “Heralds of Hope demonstrates how song and spoken word can inspire...

The Muslim Mind: What a Trump presidency means for Milwaukee minorities

Posted by Guest | Nov 14, 2016

Photo by Gage Skidmore and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 This essay is part of a series that explores the Muslim community in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Independent previously published an extensive interview with Janan Najeeb. It was an effort to help our readers better understand the people of Islamic faith who live in the city, and address questions that were not the usual fear-based reactions to news events. As a result of the positive impact and popularity of Najeeb’s profile, the Milwaukee Independent invited her to offer a continuing editorial voice about our Muslim neighbors and their shared stories...

The Muslim Mind: A message beyond Khizr and Ghazala Khan

Posted by Guest | Oct 6, 2016

This essay is part of a series that explores the Muslim community in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Independent previously published an extensive interview with Janan Najeeb. It was an effort to help our readers better understand the people of Islamic faith who live in the city, and address questions that were not the usual fear-based reactions to news events. As a result of the positive impact and popularity of Najeeb’s profile, the Milwaukee Independent invited her to offer a continuing editorial voice about our Muslim neighbors and their shared stories from the community. The Labor Day weekend tradition for the...

Amy Thomas: A Milwaukee witness at the Dakota Access Pipeline

Posted by Guest | Sep 23, 2016 |

A travelogue of a Milwaukee woman’s trek to the Dakota Access Pipeline protest that highlights Native American injustices and environmental concerns. There are important issues that cross into the awareness of our busy lives, things we feel strongly about but for many reasons are unable to support with action. Amy Thomas is not an activist, but was moved to visit the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protest as a silent witness. With her two young sons, Thomas made the 1,500 mile round trip from Milwaukee and has this experience to share. I was browsing through Facebook one day in the...

Muslim holiday celebration packs Wisconsin Center

Posted by Guest | Sep 16, 2016

Thousands of Muslims streamed into the Wisconsin Center in downtown Milwaukee to offer their holiday prayers. Eid al Adha or Festival of the Sacrifice, the most significant holiday in the Islamic calendar, was celebrated on September 12.