Staff, Author at Milwaukee Independent

Q&A with Michael Bloomberg: On Milwaukee’s role in the national political landscape

Posted by Staff | Feb 7, 2020 |

This is a special year for Wisconsin, with Milwaukee hosting the Democratic National Convention. As the city takes its overdue step onto the world stage, the world will learn about Milwaukee’s ongoing “renaissance.” Closer to home, it provides an opportunity for local residents to reflect on the challenges that continue to exist in the majority-minority city. The 2020 U.S. Census and approaching national election also shines a light on Milwaukee’s struggles with segregation, income inequality, and homelessness, just like many other cities. Therefore, it is important to understand the policies and positions of those individuals who are running for...

Unconventional Milwaukee: City’s 174th birthday celebrates upcoming spotlight on national stage

Posted by Staff | Feb 1, 2020 |

Several hundred members of the public joined community leaders and elected officials downtown to celebrate the City of Milwaukee’s 174th birthday at the Grain Exchange on January 30. Hosted by the Milwaukee Press Club, the annual birthday party provided an opportunity for area residents to network at the beginning of the year. The theme for 2020 celebrated the people, places, and things that made Milwaukee “Unconventional,” as displayed on the unique birthday cake adorned with pop culture icons like the Fonz and bowling, to the culinary staples of beer and cheese. Also, for the first time in more than...

Wisconsin awarded $10M grant to strengthen early childhood care and education

Posted by Staff | Jan 31, 2020 |

Governor Tony Evers recently announced that Wisconsin had been awarded $10 million through the Preschool Development Birth to Five Grant (PDG B-5) to strengthen the state’s early childhood system. The grant focuses on addressing pervasive challenges around equity, access, quality, and affordability in early care and education. The grant will allow Wisconsin to collect better information about the needs of the early care and education system. That information will be used to create a state plan. The grant activities are led by Governor Evers, First Lady Kathy Evers, State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor, the Department of Children and Families...

NEWaukee’s Beacon: Historic Schlitz Tivoli building to be redeveloped as entrepreneurship hub

Posted by Staff | Jan 29, 2020 |

The social architecture agency NEWaukee has contracted to purchase and plans to redevelop the Historic Schlitz Tivoli Palm Garden building at 504 W. National Ave in Walker’s Point. NEWaukee co-founders Angela Damiani and Jeremy Fojut have founded Place Based Development, a new development company. The first development site is the two-story, 16,000-square-foot Historic Schlitz Tivoli Palm Garden building, which is currently vacant. NEWaukee is partnering with Milwaukee developers JoAnne Sabir and Melissa Goins from Freedom Endeavors to lead the project, named The Beacon. “Over the past ten years, we have studied how people move through spaces and have created...

Milwaukee Brewers ballpark to be re-named American Family Field starting in 2021

Posted by Staff | Jan 29, 2020 |

American Family Insurance announced on January 22 that the Milwaukee Brewers stadium, known as Miller Park, will be re-named American Family Field starting on January 1, 2021. The ballpark will continue to be named Miller Park for 2020. The name change is part of a long-term sponsorship agreement between American Family and the Brewers, announced in 2019. The agreement includes American Family having naming rights for the ballpark beginning in 2021 and continuing for 15 years. Also last year, Governor Tony Evers signed a bill that would officially sunset the five-county sales tax that backed bonds to fund Miller...

Travel and Creativity: Mitchell Airport partners with Milwaukee Art Museum

Posted by Staff | Jan 28, 2020 |

The Milwaukee Art Museum has announced on January 8 that Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) was a Premier Partner of the Museum. The partnership gives the Airport a presence inside the Museum and the opportunity to participate in public events such as Art in Bloom and Lakefront Festival of Art. The Airport is also sponsoring space at the Museum for visitors to stow their backpacks, big bags, baggage and luggage while visiting the galleries. “Travel and art have a lot in common,” said Marcelle Polednik, PhD, Donna and Donald Baumgartner Director, Milwaukee Art Museum. “They both allow us to...