Author: NNS

Despite the recent news that the Milwaukee Public Schools district is not subject to the Opportunity Schools Partnership Program in 2016-17, Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association President Kim Schroeder said the work is not done, calling on the state to fairly fund public schools. “We’re going to continue pushing what’s best for our students and our community. We know the battles aren’t done — we’re not naive to that — but, right now, we’re kind of happy,” he said, crediting Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) teachers, students and parents for the victory. “Something actually went our way.” The controversial legislation, a...

Co-founders of Black Lives Matter answered questions from a packed audience at the UW-Milwaukee Union on October 13. Alicia Garza, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter, has been an activist since she was 12 years old. Garza, 35, was raised by a single mother, who encouraged her to become involved in social issues at a young age. Another co-founder, Patrisse Cullors, 32, faced a multitude of struggles during her life: coming out as queer, her brother’s incarceration and her father’s death. “I had a lot of rage. I had a lot of sadness,” Cullors said. “Entering activist work gave...

Who is Kimberley Motley? The international litigation attorney, former Mrs. Wisconsin and subject of “Motley’s Law,” a documentary screened at the recent Milwaukee Film Festival, defies simple labels. Motley’s complex mixture of intellect, courage and creativity captivated audiences at two recent appearances in Milwaukee. The 41-year-old North Side native who opened a law firm in Afghanistan and is representing clients on every continent except Antarctica spoke about her work and her life after the screening of the documentary and at Mike Gousha’s “On The Issues” forum at Marquette University Law School. Motley’s path from her childhood home in the...

Two new county Energy Assistance Program sites opened this year, at 6918 W. Brown Deer Road and 5663 S. 27th Street in Greenfield. Lizbeth Estrada is asthmatic, has three children and is currently unemployed. Recently Estrada’s bills began to pile up, so she visited a Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) location at the UMOS Job Center, 2701 Chase Ave., to apply for energy assistance. Estrada needs electricity in her home to be able to breathe. “I have a nebulizer at home that I have to use, so if my power gets disconnected, aside from my kids not having...

Speaking before hundreds of fathers and other gathered for the 11th annual Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative (MFI) Summit, Mayor Tom Barrett spoke of August as perhaps his most challenging month since taking office in 2004. “The water is not boiling anymore, but it’s still hot,” said Barrett, referring to violent protests in Sherman Park and Milwaukee’s deadliest month in 25 years, both of which occurred in August. One of the root causes of the violence, said Barrett, is joblessness in Milwaukee’s central city. Unless that and other issues are addressed, he said, the issues will come to a head again....

The Wisconsin Black Historical Society has nearly finished installing a mural on the side of its building, that spans 125 by 50 feet. Artist George Gist stood on top of a red and grey Skyjack lift. His hands and clothes were speckled with dried paint, as if he himself were an art piece. Gallons of paint and an assortment of brushes surrounded him. He pressed a lever and the lift rumbled, groaned and heaved him high into the air to reach the top of the building. “I don’t like to get up off the ground,” said Gist, laughing. “This...