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Sweet Water Global Fellows Fall 2020 Vimeo Presentation
!!!Formula for New Parks USA?
Emmanuel Pratt Sweet Water Summer 2020
In a community nestled at the nexus of the Englewood and Washington Park neighborhoods on Chicagos South side, Sweet Water Foundation has been cultivating a hyperlocal, dynamic site that contains the essential elements of life - art, education, outreach, agriculture, carpentry, housing, and wellness. This place, known as The Commonwealth, spans over four contiguous city blocks and includes more than three acres of urban farm land, open community gardens, a carpentry workshop, two formerly foreclosed homes transformed into live-work-learn spaces, and a hand-raised, timber frame barn that serves a visual and performing arts, reflection, and community gathering space. We design and build furniture, craft home goods, and construct community structures from reclaimed wood otherwise destined for landfills. We reclaim vacant spaces, grow healthy food, and engage an intergenerational audience in programming that reconnects us to one another and our shared environment - from beekeeping-to-yogurt making-to-canning-to-local historic preservation. At The Commonwealth, we have reconstructed a community left blighted by decades of disinvestment and neglect. Our work has filled the void of food deserts, closed schools, and economic marginalization through an approach that is eco-logical, accessible, and inclusive. Our vision is simple - Every community contains the seeds of its own regeneration, able to cultivate stable, healthy, and happy families - and our work demonstrates how cities might begin to reconstruct urban life in a manner that sustains life.
Today, in the midst of a global pandemic, as the rest of the world turns indoors, Sweet Water Foundations work continues. As we look to the future, beyond COVID-19, and begin to reconstruct our global and local economies, we carry with us a fresh perspective and profound understanding of that which is essential. Our education and outreach programming, events, artists talks, and community workshops are on hold, but we continue to GROW the neighborhood with greater resolve each day. Although the core of our work expands well beyond urban agriculture, the essentiality and sacredness of growing food locally is more important than ever before.
The future is ours to create. Let us establish a new way of living in which every community contains the seeds of its own regeneration. There GROWS the neighborhood.
Made In Milwaukee Cottage Industry Mask Mobilization Experiment
I have harvested the collective wisdom of my facebook friends and identified a Latino tailor with time spent at School of Art Institute and Milwaukee H.S. of the Arts, a good and decent salt of the earth artist/ecopreneur, who has a team at his recently purchased 2926 W. Forest Home Ave. building, making hundreds of masks of quality adequate for the moment(but in great need of design/production elevation.
I have 2 masks like those pictured for you and yours…more if you wish to buy some from him.
Milwaukee Network To Build Upon Our 1940s Arsenal of Democracy Heritage
I am imagining pulling together linked networks of mask innovators for upgrading safety design, but also designs to inspire our citizens to buy, wear, and properly use.
Partnering With University of Florida Healths department of anesthesiology?
The University of Florida Healths department of anesthesiology has developed 2 prototypes for masks that can be produced in large quantities using materials already found in hospitals and medical facilities.
Halyard H600 fabric that is typically used to wrap surgical instrument trays in medical settings
I hope one of my fb friends will make some calls to local medical facility to ask about availability.
2020 Vision
A Noocenosis
A comprehensively thought-out man-made social-natural complex, created as a result of nature-regenerating activities in a degraded territory. It is a balanced legally protected and economically self-sustaining crisis-resistant system. Fundamentally, nocenosis differs from biocenosis in that it is an open-air laboratory whose strategic goal is to solve the problem of not only survival and adaptation to changing environmental conditions (as in a biocenosis), but, first of all, of a thoughtful and conscious co-evolutionary development of all members community.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noocenosis
A “Sweet Water Noocenosis” Is Shared most widely at Juneteenth Celebration
3rd annual June 20, 2020
https://www.sweetwaterfoundation.com/stories/2018/7/8/first-annual-juneteenth-the-commons
Growing Sweet Water Community Noocenoses
A Noocenosis
Child of the BioGeoSpheres
Created in Sacred Noospheres
On Sacred Ground Blessed w
Sweet Waters
The Armenian Diaspora
From the 20th century Genocide
Has helped with some
Of all this
Spin the threads of our minds
In Sweet Water Oases
On reconciliatory platforms
As Pratt has expressed it.
Gramsci’s Dream
Gramsci’s Dream
A school of culture.
Sweet Water Academy
Is an “organ”
A “center”
W/in that Dream.
El Sueo de Gramsci
Una escuela de cultura.
Academia De Agua Dulce
Tiene como objetivo cosechar
Ese sueo.
Un organo.”
Un “centro”.
Una agencia.”
An O M G.!
The vision of 5% of the world’s schools with tiny home/workshops/attached green house(th!)playground protoshops is what has inspired me to inviting some very, very resourced and authentic Olympian Mensch to become connectors in networks brainstorming and eventually, God willing, manifesting steps thtward this worthy vision, i.e. scale up by scaling out!
Here are some of my heroes who have agreed to talk about this stuff:
To Presidential Candidates 2020
I hope you and some of your teams will consider a visit to the Sweet Water Foundation’s Perry Ave Commons sometime this year. Perhaps on Juneteenth Day! Harvard Loeb Fellow and SWF Director Emmanuel Pratt’s woprk earned him a U.S. Green Building Council keynote speaker spot at their annual Green Schools Conference, at which he received a standing ovation.
Sparking a national conversation re Regenerative Neighborhood Development (RND)
With Fullbright Fellows
Brainstorm and Celebrate at the Thought Barn!
Danny Glover Keynote Juneteenth 2018
Please let me know if you would like to schedule a visit!
Grateful,
James J. Godsil, Co-founder, Board President
Sweet Water Foundation
Milwaukee Convention 2020
®Evolutionary Democratic Republican Liberrtarian Independent and Green Networks
The network is the organizational form of the 21st centiry.
The Hidden City Is The Holy City
The 2008 Utopian Vision Exceeded By “The MOST Magical Place In The World”(Anna Kunz*)
And this is just the beginning…(Emmanuel Pratt Juneteenth Day 2018)
Email Note To Pratt, February 3, 2008
The Hidden City Is The Holy City
Vivia, the iconic
charismatic
built-marvels.
Bringing the world
to the edge of…
Our hidden cities
Of hospitality
Of warmth
Of charm
Looking forward to
Doing some good and sacred
Bidness!
Sweet Water Community Guild School: Focus On Our Daughters
Brydie Godsil Wines, crew foreman on massive metal roof project in New Orleans…January 26, 2019.
Nation’s only slate/tile/copper/masonry/carpentry woman restoration artist artisan who I hope plays a role in the 30 to 50 year Restoration Guild Experiment
Brydie’s family knew she had special gifts empowering her to advance the good cause of women in the trades…ennobling and well-paying work that can’t be outsourced or robotized.
More pics here.
Sweet Water Academy
I have always aspired to advance charismatic communities over charismatic individuals. But at this stage in history, we humans seem to better enter the story of a charismatic community with a preliminary focus on the key heavy lifter(s) of that emerging miracle. For us…Big Dog, Big Bang Emmanuel Pratt.
We began our partnership with conversations, in the theory realm, about the importance of Schumacher’s “Small is Beautiful,” Andre Gorz’s notions of radical reform, Grace Lee Boggs’ American ®Evolution, and Dr. ML King’s beloved community construction. In the domain of practice, we focused on the path breaking work of Will Allen and his Growing Power team, Sharon and Jerry Adams’ Walnut Way, and Josh Fraundorf and Steve Lindner’s Sweet Water Organics. We imagined Emmanuel’s doctoral candidacy in urban planning and architecture at Columbia University involving a paradigm shifting construction of a “living dissertation” with a theory/practice involvement with three models of urban transformation: (l) a community model, i.e. Growing Power; (2) a neighborhood model, i.e. Walnut Way; and (3) a market model, i.e. Sweet Water Organics(SWO).. In collaboration with Community Roofing & Restoration’s Josh Fraundorf, who provided the money and social network to launch SWO, we intended to distill the best of these three models into a hybrid enterprise we came to call “The Academy” among our associates, the Sweet Water Foundation(SWF), for the wider community.
Pratt To Growing Power
Emmanuel arrived at Growing Power in the Fall/Winter of 2008.
Community Roofing’s Josh Fraundorf believed in my collaboration with Big WIll and Emmanuel, and assumed near complete responsibility for the company I founded in 1975 and which paid my bills over the years. Pratt and I explored Milwaukee’s urban ag scene in the same big old Community truck that we later used to haul tens of thousands of pounds of food waste from a Big Box Pic and Save store later on.
And we set up “fluid offices” at a number of locations, including what we called The Project House at 325 E. Euclid, where Pratt stayed and worked in his Milwaukee travels from his Chicago and Columbia University base.
When I introduced him to Big Will Allen (I served on the GP Board 2005 to 2009) I said, “Will, I would like to introduce you to who will become the Lebron James of Urban Agriculture.” I had told Will in 2005 that I would be John Stockton to his Karl Malone.
Will was quickly impressed with Pratt’s spirit force, but also with his skills in photography, film, and “information architecture.”
Will would come to call Emmanuel “Webster,” by virtue of his ability to harness the power of the internet, including creating WIl’s first power point.
“Webster” quickly became one of WIll’s key collaborators, most notably helping Will navigate the world of White House Farmer through Pratt’s relationship with Obama’s chef Sam Katz. Will was consulting with Emmanuel right up to the 15 minutes prior to entering the White House to meet the First Lady.
If you would like to sneak a peak at the images supporting my memory of this adventure, go to Professor Pratt’s:
Labor Power For the Sweet Water Big Bang
Growing Social and Cultural Capital
Living Dissertation Milwaukee Chapter
Pratt Dissertation II
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Sweet Water World of Wood At 3 Major Chicago Museums, Winter 2019
Sweet Water World of Wood
We can connect our visions of building and design experiments with young and old mentors/learners at a workshop in Chicago, Milwaukee, Mukwonago, and Reedsburg sometime before 2022, with our apprentices showing their work at the Calatrava…why not?
We have a grant from the Community Guild to pay for transportation to Chicago. Workshop costs to be bartered.
U of Chicago Smart Museum Chicago
Chicago Museum of Modern Art
Hyde Park Art Center
A Timber Framed Barn For Milwaukee?
Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival @ The Commons!
Sweet Water Foundation is excited to host the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival’s Neighborhood Tour on Friday, January 18 at 1:30 pm.
Join us to watch international puppeteers, Poncili Creacin and Gaspare Nasuto, bring stories to life in the Thought Barn.
Tickets are FREE, but registration is requested. Space is limited.
Click Here To Register
Human evolution is marked by the emergence of a special kind of socialcognitive process, unique to hominids: distributed cognition, performed in mind-sharing cultures. Human social groups are more cognitively complex than others, but, at the time of our emergence as a species, human social groups were not necessarily larger in population than their predecessors. The increased complexity of their cognitive system was inherent, not so much in group size, but in the nature of the cooperative, interactive social cognitive processes that apparently characterized species Homo from the outset.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EOKOKp2QlM
Intersectionality
My granddaughters have shared important insights regarding our identity construction at the intersection of class, race, gender, neighborhood, family, and other aspects of our complex selves. I think this law professor may be a major originator of this useful concept. I hope my children and friends someday meet her if she visits Milwaukee Chicago Sweet Water Academy conference on Intersectionality over the next few years.
Kimberl Williams Krenshaw
Construction, Design,and Growing Workshops at Norris Academy
Hopes that city, rural, and periurban citizen learners, young and old, will harvest the Norris Academy Castle’s space and turn it into a collaboration place.
Dave Mangin’s Paean To Wisconsin
Wisconsin is one of the richest locations in the world.
We are about halfway between the Equator and the North Pole, so we enjoy a bountiful growing season and a period of dormancy that allows a bank account of organics to accumulate in our soils.
We are located at the northern limits of the southern hardwood forests, the southern border of the northern conifers, the western edge of the eastern forests, and the eastern frontier of the Central Plains. As a result, we enjoy diverse fauna that accompany these ecotypes.
The glaciers that last receded about 13000 years ago left us with abundant topsoil and prime agricultural land.
Our forest resources maintain output and were expansive enough to build the city of Chicago twice, before and again after the great fire.
Our 15000 lakes serve as sources of food, water, sport, habitat, and livelihood.
Our rivers provide lush riparian corridors and connect us with trade routes to to both the East and Gulf Coasts.
Our mineral resources have been traded by Native Americans as far as Mexico, and continue to be sources of industry and controversy.
We sit on the shores of 1/5 of the world’s freshwater, held within the Great Lakes.
No resources are out of reach. Diverse ecotypes and landscapes are all within reach via bicycle.
We are centrally located in the lower 48, so we make a good location for distribution hubs.
For the human enterprises:
Our plains, hills, barrens, river valleys, lakes, and shorelines make for diverse landscapes, each with its own charm, and for a diversified economy with foundations in tourism, logging, agriculture, mining, fisheries, art, and trade.
Our long winters require stores of food, fuel, sturdy, well designed structures, and hearty souls. We have in our genes strong senses of independence, creativity, hard work, and hard play.
We have so far been buffered by some of the most severe effects of global warming. Our coastlines won’t flood. Warmer temps will not destroy us. More severe weather events can be buffered by water storage and planned resiliency.
We are buffered from economic peaks and valleys of the nation as a whole. We are no silicone valley, but our ingenuity, work ethic, and talent will always be in demand.
We tend to be politically centrist which makes us crucial in the political landscape. As we prove ourselves with Earth saving strategies and resilient communities and our grass roots movements demand integrity and genuine leadership from those in office, the rest of the nation will take notice.
Jesse Blom Provides Essays Re Aquaponics for STEM Education
“Implementation of Aquaponics in Education: An Assessment of Challenges, Solutions and Success”
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2255&context=theses
“Managing Expectations for Aquaponics in the Classroom: Enhancing Academic Learning and Teaching an Appreciation for Aquatic Resources”
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03632415.2014.966353?src=recsys&journalCode=ufsh20
“Fish in the Classroom: A Survey of the Use of Aquaponics in Education”
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/johns-hopkins-center-for-a-livable-future/_pdf/research/fish-in-the-classroom-a-survey-of-the-use-of-aquaponics-in-education.pdf
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The World of Wood: The Sweet Water Way
Table of Contents
l. Visions
Our Daughters Working In The SWF World of Wood
2. Theories
3. Experiments
4. Feedback Loops
5. Partnerships
 Conveyor of Food for We People  Intersectional Self Reliance Skills Development  Container for Building Materials  For Soups of Goodness  Chairs & Decks for South Side’s Backstreet Harvard  Tables, Chairs and Shelving for Thought Barns  For First Suppers  Bringing Comfort To Elder Talk and Youth Noosphere Exploration  For Use, Exhibitions, and Performances Beyond Perry: U of Chicago’s Smart Museum  Teachers Are Students, Students Are Teachers at The Thought Barn  21st Century Sweet Water Community Wood Apprentices Follow Safety Rules! Multi Using My Bench of 1,000 Names
The World of Wood is part of a series Emmanuel Pratt inspired called
Wood Water Woke
To be continued
Indispensable prop and tool for your various performance arts and enterprise experiments
Making them and using them is good for your mental and physical health
Teaches Us How To Drill and Fasten
Fits In A Car
Strong and Comfortable
Workbench and play bench
Infinite do-it-yourself refinements
You can teach your friends to make them
Might even make and sell them to your family and friends for some pocket money or more
We’ll help
Somos una universidad, granja, taller, gora … y un Tulpa de la Madre Tierra.
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Seeding An Old City Rainbow Restoration Guild in Lexington, Chicago, and Milwaukee
Dear Professor,
I hope you will join in a conversation advancing collaboration experiments with engaged professors, urban agrarians, restoration artisans, and artists, connecting the South Side of Chicago, North Sides of Milwaukee and Lexington.
Diverse Restoration “Guild” of Roofers, Carpenters, and Urban Farmers
“Wastes to resources” is the motto of the Sweet Water Foundation I, Josh Fraundorf, and Emmanuel Pratt co-founded in 2010.
Our old city housing stock, empty lots, and young and old lifetime learners are resources we hope to harvest with you and yours.
 The Greenhouse Is A Carpentry Workshop This 2 minute film which features our “partner” Danny Glover provides evidence of the possibilities of our hoped for collaboration with you and yours.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/16/opinion/trump-and-putin-vs-america.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage
 Executive Director Emmanuel Pratt Is A Harvard GSD Leob Fellow  Board President James Godsil Is a Fulbright Scholar & Restoration Roofer  Godsil Was a Nanosecond Body Guard for MLK Chicago 1966 Josh Fraundorf’s Restoration Firm Envisions
Adding African American Artisans to German
And Hispanic Custom Shops
Why not?
We are not afraid.
We shall overcome.
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South Side Chicago/North Side Milwaukee Initial Focus
Growing
Building
Cooking
Sharing
Performing
Healing
Alluring
Milwaukee Chicago Mondregon As One
Restoration Transformation
Radical [Re]Construction
Algorithmes
Dissertations Alive
New Schooling America
Why Not?
Possible Successors To Dr. Subra Mukherjee of Kolkata, West Bengal
Yash Kumbhat’s Stopwatch Group First Candidates.
ABCDs SLN STEA+M AMDG
Asset Based “Chaordic” Development Sequencing, Social Learning Networks for Science, Technology, Engneering, Art, Agriculture, Agriculture, and Math, For the greater glory of God.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam(AMDG)
Jesuit Mantra
At the 200th anniversary celebration of St. Louis University High, my storied secondary school, Father Arturo Sosa, Superior General of the Jesuits, directly addressed, on a massive screen, the hundreds of people assembled. His basic message called upon us to build bridges in our divided cities.
Anyone interested in responding to this in a new way, please read this interview about the Sweet Water Foundation with Director Emmanuel Pratt, featured in the ARPA Journal* and consider joining in…not by offering money but by offering some time and outreach in whatever city you reside in. There are all kinds of young people across the nation(and even world) doing things like Sweet Water who could use some mentoring from young elders with high spirits.
http://www.arpajournal.net/harvesting-change/
Sweet Water Director Emmanuel Pratt re Building Bridges In Our Divided Cities
Emmanuel Pratt and Sweet Water team with eco priest Sean McDonnagh, key draft writer of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si, at Dublin’s Irish Museum of Modern Art Sweet Water workshop.
Columbia University Journal of Applied Research Practices in Architecture interview with Emmanuel Pratt, with whom I co-founded the Sweet Water Foundation, harvesting the composted forms of value the transcended Sweet Water Organics.
ARPA Journal - Applied Research Practices in Architecture Journal is a public forum for debate based at the Columbia University Graduate School of …
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Peace of Mind
By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, March 3, 2021
Milwaukee County has developed resources to help educate the public on the COVID-19 vaccines. These can be very helpful tools to provide to those who may have some hesitancy about receiving the COVID vaccine. In an effort to educate and inform as many people within our networks as possible, we are asking that you help us in sharing these. There are three flyers and a series of videos on the DHHS YouTube Channel as well. The documents have been posted on our website: https://county.milwaukee.gov//EN/Department-on-Aging/Coronavirus-Updates
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, January 23, 2021
Click here for the agenda as well as some material for the meeting.
Join with MS Teams
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, January 23, 2021
The Milwaukee County Disabilities Services Division - Childrens Unit is excited to invite you to the Community Caf: Supported Decision-Making and Guardianship. Hosted on the Microsoft Teams platform, this free and informative presentation will be held on January 27th from 12:30–2pm and 6–7:30pm.
To register, email [email protected] and indicate your time and language preference. Please share widely with your network of parents, guardians and professionals.
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The Disability Rights Wisconsin PAIMI Advisory Council Invites you to a Virtual Event
DRWs Mental Health Advocacy Assistance: Information and Input
Monday, February 1, 2021 6 7 PM
- Learn about DRWs advocacy assistance for people with mental illness
- Share your ideas on the supports you think are most important for people with mental health needs to support their recovery and live successfully in the community.
- Provide your suggested priorities for DRWs mental health advocacy.
The session is open to all. We are especially interested in hearing from people who receive mental health services, as well as family members and service providers. See attached flyer for details.
Pre-registration is required. Register at: http://www.drwi.org/pac-event
Accommodation Requests: Captioning will be provided for this Zoom event. To request other disability related accommodations, email [email protected] by January 18th. We will do our best to address requests received after that date.
If you are interested but cant attend, complete our survey: DRW PAIMI Priorities survey - Disability Rights Wisconsin
Note: We are also planning a second 2021 virtual event to focus on Schools and Civil Rights advocacy assistance.
Virtual Event Agenda:
- Welcome, Teresa Wargo - DRW PAIMI Advisory Council Chair
- DRW Advocacy Assistance: Criminal Justice Program - Attorney Mike Soukup
- DRW Community and Institutions Advocacy Assistance - Attorney Melanie Cairns
- Discussion: share your questions and suggestions, facilitated by the DRW PAIMI Advisory Council
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, October 30, 2020
Voting News from the Disability Vote Coalition
Early voting is underway and Election Day is Tuesday. Please help us to get this important information to voters by sharing our e-newsletter with your networks.
Help us get the word out about our new Rides to the Polls resource. A number of options needs to be scheduled in advance.
Please like and share the Disability Vote Coalition facebook posts we are sharing essential information on facebook and value your help to share with the mental health and disability community.
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By Mary Kay Diakite, July 26, 2020
My name is Mary Kay Diakite. My husband, Youba, is from Mali, West Africa and we have a daughter, Sabou, who is ten. Sabou has given me permission to share her stories with you.
Five years ago, we left our life in The Bronx and moved to the Southern Tier. From the time she was born Sabou has always lived in a diverse neighborhood. Our community was Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, West African and Caribbean. She attended a Spanish only day care for her first three years of life, had two years of Pre-K in English and then attended a French immersion Kindergarten in Harlem. This all changed when we got to Horseheads.
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By Mental Health America of Wisconsin, July 16, 2020
Giving Voice to Depression is a weekly podcast produced in partnership with Mental Health America of Wisconsin, offering peer support in the privacy of your own headphones.
Daily social media posts offer further further support, connection, and encourage conversations. We encourage you to check out the podcast & FB page!
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Milwaukee County Housing Resources
By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, June 22, 2020
The Mental Health Task Force is happy to share with you some very positive news Milwaukee County recently launched a $10 million initiative to provide
resources to residents who are behind on rent or mortgage payments and who may be impacted by eviction.
The County Executives office has asked for community agencies to help get the word out to community members who may be in need of this assistance and can benefit.
Please see below documents for additional information about the resources available and directs residents to learn more and apply for
assistance at https://communityadvocates.net/what-we-do/rent-assistance.html.
Applicants eligible for the Milwaukee County Rent Assistance Program may be eligible for up to $3,000 per cooperative Landlord/Tenant Stipulated Agreement.
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, June 6, 2020
MILWAUKEE, WI County Executive Crowley released the following statement concerning the multiple days of protests and unrest
surrounding the murder of George Floyd and the continued brutalization of black men and women in America:
A fundamental tenet of the American ideal is that every person has the freedom to make their voice heard.
What we have seen over the past few days is not random, unjustified unrest. What we are seeing are marginalized groups of people
making their voices heard in a society that tries harder every day to render them voiceless.
Change is desperately needed. The murder of Mr. Floyd was another in a long line of unacceptable, unjustifiable, and indefensible killings of black men and women at the hands of police. The status quo is unsustainable. We need a fundamental change in the way we handle police-community relations, the way we treat communities of color, and the way we allow each and every person in our society to make their voice heard in our democracy.
We have started this process in Milwaukee County by committing to achieve racial equity and ensuring that every decision made at the county level is made through the lens of racial justice. But thats not enough.”
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, June 6, 2020
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley today released a statement on the death of George Floyd. George Floyd died in Minneapolis police custody this week.
In the midst of a pandemic that has already taken such a toll on people of color, the death of George Floyd is another untenable example of how racism is the real public health crisis our community is facing.
There are no words that can rectify this injustice. Only action can come of this.
Using dignity and respect as our guideposts, Milwaukee County will continue to partner with both community and police to provide training, trauma response and mental health care. We will continue to provide racial equity training for all our employees. We will work toward reforming our contracts and policies so that we can address implicit bias and promote equitable practices at all levels of government.
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By WISDOM, June 6, 2020
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
W.B. Yeats, The Second Coming
The murder of George Floyd has made a difficult time into a terrible time. We were all sickened to witness the self-confident manner with which a police officer executed Mr. Floyd, and by the fact that his three colleagues were more concerned with controlling bystanders than with preventing a homicide. Today I wish to make an appeal to WISDOM members who are, like me, white.
Please, never, ever say I am not a racist. Racism has been deeply embedded in our land for 400 years. None of us has lived in a bubble. Racism is not a problem that belongs to people of color: it is OUR problem. We need to be part of the solution. We dont have to be in charge of the solution (really, the world would be just fine without us being in charge of a lot of things), but we cant sit it out, either.
Our decision is whether we will be actively involved in anti-racist work, or whether we will be part of the problem. Racism is not one problem among many. It lurks at the heart of every oppression in our state and in our country.
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, June 6, 2020
Two-part funding stream will support providers most vulnerable during COVID-19 pandemic
MADISON Gov. Tony Evers today announced a grant program funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Totaling $100 million dollars, the funding will support providers most at-risk for financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. The providers targeted for financial assistance include emergency medical services, home and community-based services, and long-term care providers such as skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities.
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By Dr. Ruth Arumala, in partnership with Color Of Change, May 17, 2020
On constant loops on every news outlet and social media feed is the looming risk of contracting the novel Coronavirus and the developing life-threatening COVID-19 disease. With no available vaccination and only experimental disease-fighting drugs available, the highly contagious virus has produced an unprecedented worldwide pandemic.
Unfortunately, in the United States there are recent reports from various metropolitan areas such as New Orleans and Chicago that the virus disproportionately results in severe disease and mortality in Black people. In order to adequately combat this disparity, Black Americans must be armed with accurate knowledge about the viral illness and ways to navigate the current healthcare environment.
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, May 17, 2020
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has overturned the extension of Wisconsins Safer at Home Order. As communities re-open it will be very important for local planning to consider the needs of vulnerable people with disabilities and older adults.
Here are some action that you can take to elevate concerns about people with disabilities and older adults. Please share this with your network:
What you can do to help ensure Re-Opening Wisconsin is Safe for People with Disabilities and Older Adults.
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By WISDOM, May 17, 2020
In April, State Senator Scott Fitzgerald and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos teamed up with a majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court to make a historically bad decision. Seeking a political advantage, they forced Wisconsinites to choose between exercising their right to vote and their health. That decision to overrule the Governor’s plan to postpone the spring election certainly caused further spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Yesterday, the same forces teamed up to do something even more dangerous. They overturned Governor Evers’ “Safer at Home” order, which had been working well to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our state. They did it without an alternate plan, and without any goal other than to make Wisconsin un-governable. ‘’‘WISDOM has supported the “Safer at Home” order, and we sincerely hope that our members and our congregations will show better judgement and more respect for human life than the segment of our political leadership that prevailed yesterday.
‘’‘
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By Jessica Hart, Senior Manager, Field Advocacy, NAMI, May 12, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic is pushing America into a mental health crisis that the U.S. is not prepared forunless Congress acts now. Anxiety, depression, trauma and substance use are all on the rise, and huge increases in unemployment increase the risk of suicide.
Social isolation, financial distress, fears about health and an uncertain future are fueling a mental health epidemic alongside the COVID-19 pandemic.
Congress must address this growing mental health crisis.
[[https://nami.quorum.us/campaign/26256/ | TAKE ACTION}}
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By Rev. Willie E. Brisco, President of WISDOM
My friend who is African posted this on FB. Made me cry. She is a doctor in Austin, Texas.
Im not really sure if what I expect from this post because I want to believe if you are reading this you dont automatically think most people of color are dangerous. Maybe rekindle awareness. Speak up if you are capable.
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By MICAH, May 12, 2020
Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH) has been working for educational justice for MPS students and families for decades. Most recently our focus has been on racial justice concerns.
We are hoping to gather the perspectives of our MPS parents/guardians regarding their experience of the school closures caused by the pandemic.
Please complete the form and we will be in touch. Please feel free to share the link widely with other MPS parents/guardians.
Link to form: https://forms.gle/EP6NerV1S9b9fALV7
[http://www.milwaukeerenaissance.com/MICAH/Updates | Click here to read more.]]
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, May 11, 2020
Disability Rights Wisconsin and a coalition of more than 30 state and national disability and aging advocates, including Mental Health America of Wisconsin, NAMI Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Family Ties, have filed an amicus brief with the Wisconsin Supreme Court in response to the petition challenging Wisconsins Safer At Home order extension.
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By Disability Rights Wisconsin, April 22, 2020
Sixteenth Street is seeing and testing patients by appointment only --- please call 414–672–1353 before coming in.
More information can be found at: https://sschc.org/our-care/coronavirus/
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By WISDOM, April 22, 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on we are hearing a lot of talk about when things will “go back to normal.” Some say it will be a few weeks; some say a few months; some say it will be deep into 2021. We know, though, that if we stand together we can use this time to do much better than that.
As WISDOM, we do not want things to go back to the way they were. Click Here to Read More.
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By Bruce Thompson, April 11, 2020
Think About It Nov. 3, 2020 before you vote: Data Wonk: The Scott Walker Economy
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By Criminal Justice, March 24, 2020
Criminal justice professionals play an integral role in building safer and stronger communities as lawyers, law enforcement officers, forensic scientists, and more. Those who enter the field with a degree under their belt are better-prepared to protect both our communities and individual rights, as well as advocate for much-needed criminal justice reform.
With this in mind, my team at CriminalJustice.com put together a series of useful guides breaking down what earning a criminal justice degree entails. Licensing and certification information, scholarship opportunities, and online options that offer greater flexibility are covered.
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force
We are passing on this time-sensitive action alert received from our friends in the aging network. There is breaking news that tomorrow, Tuesday, January 14th, the Assembly will vote to override the Governors veto of a bill that would reduce training requirements for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).
ACTION: Call or email your State Assembly Representative tomorrow (Tues., 1/14) and let him/her know why lowering the required training hour for CNAs is a bad idea (and therefore the attempt to override the Governors veto should not be supported). To see how your Assembly Representative originally voted on this bill go here.
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We are passing on this time sensitive action alert received from our friends in the aging network. There is breaking news that tomorrow, Tuesday January 14th, the Assembly will vote to override the Governors veto of a bill that would reduce training requirements for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).
By WISDOM; November 17, 2019
We have a $1 Billion dollar decision to make.
Join us in Green Bay to talk about it
Thursday, November 21st
6–8 pm, WISDOM
St. Matthew Church
130 Saint Matthew Street, Green Bay WI
It is clear that Green Bay Correctional Institution (GBCI) is nearing the end of its useful life. On May 3, 2019, the Legislative Audit Bureau reported that many believe its antiquated design is not conducive to the efficient operation of a modern prison. The report said also said that, among Wisconsins prisons, GBCI is the best candidate for closure. The Allouez Village Board voted unanimously for the distribution of a petition supporting the decommissioning of GBCI. After 121 years, GBCI is nearing the end of its useful life.
That means that Wisconsins Governor and State Legislature have a big decision to make.
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By MICAH; November 11, 2019
On Friday, November 8, the Milwaukee Common Council passed the 2020 Budget, including $240,000 for the Birthing Moms Pilot Project as part of omnibus budget amendment 42L. Mayor Barrett has until November 19 to decide whether to veto this amendment.
Please contact Mayor Barrett early this week by phone or email saying something to this effect: Mayor Barrett, please do not veto budget amendment 42L which includes $240,000 for the Birthing Moms Pilot Project. This project will offer essential resources to protect 2,400 at-risk babies from lead poisoning.
To contact Mayor Barrett by phone, call 4142862200.
Mayor Barretts email address is: [email protected] (if you email Mayor Barrett, please copy his senior policy advisor, Aaron Szopinski, on your email: [email protected] )
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Community Conversation with Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales on Wednesday, October 30
By Marquette University Law School, October 28, 2019
Marquette University Law School will host a Community Conversation with Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales on Wednesday, October 30, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Lubar Center at the Law Schools Eckstein Hall.
Chief Morales will make a brief presentation at the event, which will be followed by an interview with Mike Gousha, the Law Schools distinguished fellow in law and public policy, and questions from members of the community. Morales has served a two year-term and is seeking reappointment by the Fire and Police Commission. The community conversation is an opportunity for public input and participation in the reappointment process.
Registration is complimentary, but RSVPs are required.
Please use this link to reserve your seat: Community Conversation Registration
Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Time: 4:30 p.m.−6:00 p.m. (complimentary snacks and beverages provided)
Location: Lubar Center, first floor of Eckstein Hall, Marquette Law School
1215 West Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
(limited complimentary parking available)
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, October 28, 2019
The National Disability Rights Network has published a new report, “Probation Referral: Model for Diversion of Children and Youth with Disabilities from the Juvenile Justice System”. The report is based upon the cases of scores of children with disabilities represented by the nationwide Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System, including Disability Rights Wisconsin.
Link to report.
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‘“The Supreme Court is not well. And the people know it. Perhaps the Court can heal itself before the public demands it be ‘restructured in order to reduce the influence of politics.’”
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse sounds off on impeachment, court-packing and “getting to 67 votes”
PLEASE WRITE SEN. WHITEHOUSE RE: RESTRUCTURING SCOTUS! Here’s what I wrote Sen. Whitehouse:
Dear Sen. Whitehouse,
Your Newsweek message defines today’s SCOTUS and offers hope that it can be ‘restructured’ by ousting purely political appointees. Please launch a bill that would result in this critical to democracy era of Trump/Putin and their cronies in Saudi Arabia, Iran, N. Korea, China
Americas Constitution never has been threatened to this degree in history. Milwaukee artists are now creating signs promoting the restructuring of SCOTUS and the link to your Newsweek words. Im one of them.
Thank you for introducing this way out of certain destruction of USA democracy should the 21st Century Evil Axis own next years election in America.
Sincerely,
Patricia Obletz
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By American Constitution Society, October 28, 2019
Thank you for joining us for the Midwest Regional Convening in Milwaukee organized by the Milwaukee Lawyer Chapter and the Marquette Law School Student Chapter. We are grateful for the co-sponsors of Thursdays evening event: the Milwaukee National Lawyers Guild, the MSOEs University Scholars Honors Program, the Milwaukee Turners Confronting Mass Incarceration Committee, and the Wisconsin Justice Initiative. We are also grateful for Marquette Laws Public Interest Society cosponsoring Fridays career panel.
The compelling programming on criminal justice, incorporating policy work into careers, and whats ahead for voting rights in 2020 left a lot of us asking what do we do now to make a difference? We have some suggestions below for how to get involved and how to stay up-to-speed on these issues.
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force
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By WISDOM, October 28, 2019
Fifteen powerful women from Wisconsin were among the 90 leaders who gathered in Baltimore in September for the 25th Annual Ntosake Leadership Training.
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, October 21, 2019
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By MICAH
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force;
Please see the below information from Milwaukee County Disabilities Services, regarding informational sessions about Childrens Programs. Parents, providers, and community members are welcome to attend and ask questions about the DSD childrens programs.
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By Patricia Obletz, Editor, September 20, 2019
Americans now live life like the Israelis, every country thats a target, and aware of tragedy at any moment, trying to calmly send their children to school, worship, have not-white skin colors in 2019, as of September 10, 2019, there have been 293 mass shootings. Those are the ones recorded, Pardeep Kaleka and Darrel Morin said at todays 9/10/19 Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force meeting. There is a 400% increase in mass violence, they said and its: Driven by Hate.
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By Disability Rights Wisconsin, September 6, 2019
Families Moving Forward Presents
Pieces In my Own Voice
Written by Brenda Wesley
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October 5 History Tour
By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, September 6, 2019
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By Milwaukee Community Journal
Mark your calendars for this townhall on October 19, 2019: Violence Is Not Normal.
Violence Is Not Normal Town Hall Meeting October 19, 2019 - Milwaukee Community Journal
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, September 6, 2019
The final hearing of the Assembly Task Force on Suicide is this Monday.
The task force needs to hear from us about the role that Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO) laws can have in preventing suicides and saving lives, especially since the majority of firearm deaths in Wisconsin are suicides.
WHAT: Assembly Public Hearing, Speaker’s Task Force on Suicide Prevention
WHEN: Monday, September 9, 2019 at 12:00 pm
WHERE: Medical College of Wisconsin, Conference Room H1210, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Wauwatosa, WI 53226
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Taskforce, September 6, 2019
Please join us for the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force meeting, Tuesday, September 10th, from 3 5:00 PM at IndependenceFirst, 540 S. 1st St. We value your engagement and hope to see you Tuesday!
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Taskforce, September 6, 2019
Milwaukee County and the Mental Health Board are continuing to move forward with options redesign of psychiatric crisis services, along with outsourcing of Milwaukee County Behavioral Health inpatient care which is scheduled to be in place by July 2021. At last weeks Mental Health Board meeting, Board members heard presentations regarding the fiscal analysis of crisis redesign options and approved the creation of a negotiating team for crisis redesign.
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Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, September 6, 2019
2020 Milwaukee County Budget Briefing Resources
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Taskforce, August 14, 2019
Overview of DHS 2019 −2021 Biennial Budget
We continue to provide you with information about the 2019 - 2021 Biennial Budget, which is so important in funding services for people with mental illness and other disabilities, and older adults. Please click here to see the overview of the DHS budget provided by DHS Secretary Designee Andrea Palm earlier this week at a briefing for the Survival Coalition of Disability Organizations.
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Taskforce, June 17, 2019
The Joint Finance Committee has finished its work; the state budget must now be approved or amended further by the full State Senate and State Assembly. This is an important time to be in touch with your State Senator and Assembly Representative about your priorities for the state budget.
Survival Coalition is hosting call-in days this Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for people with disabilities, family members and disability allies to call their state Senator and State Representative. The Legislature is scheduled to vote on the budget the week of June 24.
You can use the Legislative Hotline (18003629472) to connect directly with your state Senator and State Representative. For a full directory of state legislators, go to: http://wi-bpdd.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/19-20-Leg-Directory.doc
Let them know the good things that should be kept in the budget, what needs more funding, and what should be added to the budget:
Tuesday, June 18: Keep It In
Wednesday, June 19: We Need More
Thursday, June 20: Add Whats Missing
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Taskforce, June 8, 2019
Lets Talk Medicare
Medicare is an important program for many people with disabilities and older adults. Disability Rights Wisconsin and other area agencies are holding several sessions to provide an overview of the options and benefits offered through Medicare.
Please RSVP: (414) 2896546 | county.milwaukee.gov/aging
See below for details.
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, June 18, 2019
Please join us for the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force meeting:
Date: Tuesday, June 11
Time: 3 5:00 PM
Location: IndependenceFirst, 540 S. 1st St.
Click here for June 11th agenda.
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Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, June 8, 2019
We have had two major, positive developments in the ROC Wisconsin Campaign:
1. Governor Evers has reached out to the Joint Finance Committee and has requested that they amend his budget request for Treatment Alternatives and Diversions (TAD). Instead of requesting a $1 million per year increase in TAD, he is now requesting a $4 million per year increase. There is still room to grow, but an additional $3 million will provide treatment alternatives to incarceration for a lot of people. We need to let Governor Evers know that we appreciate that he has heard us. And, we need to tell legislators to keep that increase, and maybe even raise it some more.
2. The Governor has also, at last, appointed a new Chair for the Parole Commission. And, he has made a very good choice, Mr. John Tate II, of Racine. Our brothers and sisters in the Racine Interfaith Coalition know Mr. Tate (soon to be Chairman Tate) very well. He is someone who shares our hope for reform. We hope to meet with him soon, and we are hopeful that his appointment is very good news for many, many of the 3,000 people in our prison system who have served the time that the judge intended for them many years ago, and who have done all they can to prepare themselves to return to our communities.
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force; May 14, 2019
Gwen Moore Invites Constituents to Congressional Caf
District Listening Session in Milwaukee
Saturday, May 18, 2019
Gwen Moore Invita a sus Constituyentes a un Caf Congressional
Sesiόn de Escucha en Milwaukee
Sabado 18 de mayo 2019
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force
The Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force is working with Disability Rights Wisconsin and our partners in the Survival Coalition of Disability Organizations to hold a press event at the Capital this Tuesday morning.
When: Tuesday, May 7 at 9:30 AM
Where: State Capitol, Madison Room 330SW
What: People with disabilities, families and direct care workers sharing their stories about critical needs in the state budget
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Urgent local transit action this Wednesday, May 8 at 8:30 am
By Micah
WE NEED A STRONG MICAH SHOWING FOR A PRESS CONFERENCE ON TRANSIT ISSUES
WHEN? WEDNESDAY, MAY 8 at 8:30 a.m.
WHERE? In the MILWAUKEE COUNTY COURT HOUSE at 10th & STATE, in THE FIRST FLOOR ROTUNDA.
ANDIF YOU CAN, JOIN US AT THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSIT MEETING immediately following in Room 2021-B of the Court House for their meeting.
For more information call or email Joyce Ellwanger (414) 933–6157 [email protected]
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force; April 26, 2019
May 4th from 12 - 3 pm
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By Zak Cheney-Rice
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force
Monday, April 29, 2019
IndependenceFirst, 540 S. 1st St.
5:30 6:00 PM: Sign in and networking
6:00 7:30 PM: Forum
Pre-Registration is Required - Click here to register.
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force; April 26, 2019
Milwaukee, WI, April 3IndependenceFirst, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit with a vision for full inclusion of people with disabilities, will be giving away power wheelchairs on Saturday, May 4th from 10 AM to 2 PM at NO COST on a first-come, first-served basis.
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By Mental Health Task Force Update; April 26, 2019
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By ACLU of Wisconsin; April 26, 2019
Wisconsin can cut incarceration in half and save hundreds of millions of dollars by pursuing reforms to different areas of the criminal legal system, according to an ACLU of Wisconsin Blueprint for Smart Justice report released on April 12, 2019. The report highlights opportunities such as reducing crimeless or technical revocations of parole and other forms of supervised release the imprisonment of an individual for violating a rule of supervision that generally does not involve a new crime. Crimeless revocation accounts for the highest percentage of new admissions to the growing Wisconsin prison population and results in about 3,000 prison admissions each year.
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By UltraViolet; April 1, 2019
With the explosion of #MeToo, survivors of sexual harassment and violence have been exposing a culture that enables abuse, especially in our workplaces. Have you been wondering what to do next?
Join UltraViolet staff for a one-hour training call, Thursday, April 4, at 6pm ET/3pm PT, to learn more about a brand new bill being introduced in Congress to curb workplace harassment—and what you can do to support it.
MaestroConference Registration
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By Southern Poverty Law Center; April 1, 2019
When Dr. Thomas Dobbs practiced in Hattiesburg, in southeast Mississippi, some patients drove almost four hours to see him.
The only thing worse than a drive of that length? Not making the trip at all.
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force
We wanted to share with you this report from Wisconsin DHS Division of Care and Treatment Services, the state division which oversees mental health and substance abuse services. The Division of Care and Treatment Services (DCTS) manages and supports seven care and treatment facilities, community mental health and substance use services, community forensic treatment services, and the protection of client rights for individuals receiving services for developmental disability, mental health, and substance use.
Here is a link to the report.
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force; March 3, 2019
The state budget process is moving forward. We encourage you to take an active role and share your budget priorities with your legislators and with the Joint Finance Committee. The Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force will be sharing our budget priorities and talking points as a resource for your budget advocacy.
Joint Committee On Finance Hearing
10:00 am, Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Oak Creek Community Center
8580 South Howell Avenue
Oak Creek, WI 53154
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By League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County; March 31, 2019
JOIN US AT A FREE PUBLIC ISSUES FORUM ON APRIL 6
Challenging Inequalities: An Update on the Equal Rights Amendment
Saturday, April 6, 2019
10:00 a.m.-Noon - 10:00 Gathering - 10:30 Program
Milwaukee Public Library Mitchell Street Branch
906 W. Historic Mitchell St. - Free and Open to the Public
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By Wisdom; March 31, 2019
About 750 WISDOM members from all parts of Wisconsin made a big impact in Madison on Tuesday!
Many thanks to those who traveled great distances, who spoke, who worked on logistics and who took many different leadership roles.
Madison Action Day was an amazing display of unity, of shared purpose and of the power of organized people!
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force; March 31, 2019
Governor Evers is proposing a 60% reimbursement rate for special education funding in his budget, up from the current 24.5%. This would invest $600 million state dollars into special education, reducing pressure on local districts that are currently providing most of the funding. Some legislative leaders do not believe this investment is necessary.
Please take the following very short survey and consider sharing a picture of your child/family so we can let legislators know how important it is to adequately fund special education. The Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations is collecting these stories to share with legislators.
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force; March 31, 2019
Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) is announcing the members of the Speakers Task Force on Suicide Prevention. The bipartisan task force will make policy recommendations to help reverse the trend of increasing suicide rates in the state. See the complete list of members here.
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force; March 25, 2019
To kick off our BadgerCare Plus Promotion campaign, March will highlight the tobacco cessation benefit. Post these following resources on social media, at your organization, and in your newsletters to help promote BadgerCare Plus.
Did you know?
1. Wisconsin Medicaid/BadgerCare Plus offers no-cost tobacco cessation counseling and pharmacotherapy services to help people quit using tobacco products.
2. The smoking rate of adults enrolled in Medicaid is double that of the general population.
3. Coaching and medication, when used together, increase the success rate of quitting smoking by four-times!
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By Vera; March 25, 2019
For 58 years, the Vera Institute of Justice has been a leader in the fight to secure equal justice, end mass incarceration, and strengthen families and communities in America. We are excited to celebrate the anniversary of our founding in 1961 and renew our commitment to pursuing justice for all.
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By UWM; March 21, 2019
Date: Saturday, March 23, 2019
Time: 2 - 5 PM
Location: UW-Milwaukee Student Union, 2200 E. Kenwood, Room 240
IWOC-Milwaukee will host an education+fundraising event on Saturday, March 23, 25 pm. Come and go at any time.
More information is available on the facebook event.
For more information on prison conditions in Wisconsin and ways to join the fight against prison slavery see our website.
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force; March 18, 2019
On Tuesday, March 19th, the Milwaukee Bar Association (MBA) is hosting a moderated forum to provide the Milwaukee community an opportunity to learn more about the two candidates running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Location: Milwaukee Bar Association office at 747 North Broadway
Time: 12 PM - 1 PM
Bring Your Own Lunch
No Registration is Required.
This event is open to the general public and will be live streamed on WisconsinEye, https://wiseye.org/, and on the MBAs Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/milwaukeebarassociation/
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force; March 18, 2019
Respite Across the Lifespan Event
Date: March 28, 2019
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
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By Southern Poverty Law Center; March 18, 2019
The atrocity in New Zealand shows us, once again, that were dealing with an international terrorist movement linked by a dangerous white supremacist ideology thats metastasizing in the echo chambers of internet chat rooms and on social media networks.
This hatred is even being amplified by our own president, who speaks of an invasion of our country.
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By Wisconsin Justice Initiative, March 14, 2019
Gov. Tony Evers is proposing to spend $8.1 million to improve heating and ventilation at the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility (MSDF), an indication that he won’t shut down the facility as its critics demand.
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By Jennifer Rubin
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force, March 14, 2019
Mental health issues of young people are drawing more attention. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one in five adolescents has had a serious mental health challenge, such as depression and/or anxiety disorders, at some point in their life. In fact, half of all mental health problems begin by age 14. For young people with mental health disorders, early intervention and treatment can help lessen the impact on their lives.
To better understand the enormous and multiple needs of children and families and the interrelatedness of problems in the mental health domain, we are asking you to join us March 22nd on the campus of Marquette University for a morning of discussion of issues involving youth mental health.
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By WISDOM, March 14, 2019
In the course of his campaign for Governor last year, then-Candidate Tony Evers made a lot of promises about what he would do as Governor.
The Governors budget proposal comes up far short of the promises made by Candidate Evers less than a year ago.
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Were learning that the Trump administration is illegally targeting journalists, activists, and lawyers who are exposing its inhumane practices at the border.
This is a chilling violation of the First Amendment and an outrageous abuse of power by an out-of-control administration.
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The Last Hurrah? Thats up to WI GOP Legislators: An Interview with MPS Teachers and Administrators
By Patricia Obletz, Editor
http://www.milwaukeerenaissance.com/PeaceOfMind/ShortIntroduction
By ACLU
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By ACLU
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By David Petraeus and Sheldon Whitehouse
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By Gretchen Schuldt, March 7, 2019
The number of felony cases opened in Circuit Court statewide continued its steady upward march last year, while the number of felony cases opened in Milwaukee County rose 5 percent, but still did not hit the total opened in the peak years of 2011 and 2012, according to state court statistics.
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By Disability Rights Wisconsin, March 7, 2019
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By MICAH, March 7, 2019
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By MICAH, March 7, 2019
Join over 1,000 WISDOM leaders and friends from across the state of Wisconsin at the State Capitol to advocate and educate our elected representatives about our issues in the proposed state budget criminal justice reform, increases to public transit, drivers cards for those without documentation and more! Registration form, More information here
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By National Museum of African American History and Culture, March 7, 2019
Blackface: The Birth of An Amerian Stereotype
Blackface has been in the news lately. Earlier this month, Dr. Dwandalyn Reece, Curator of Music and Performing Arts at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, joined CBS This Morning to discuss its painful history in the U.S.
Blackface has a long and racist history in the U.S. It became popular in mid-1800s minstrel shows when white performers darkened their faces to depict African-Americans in prejudicial and offensive ways.
Read this blog post by the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
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By Milwaukee Art Museum March 6, 2019
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By Micah, February 25, 2019
Join over 1,000 WISDOM leaders and friends from across the state of Wisconsin at the State Capitol to advocate and educate our elected representatives about our issues in the proposed state budget criminal justice reform, increases to public transit, drivers cards for those without documentation and more! Registration form, More information here
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By WISDOM February 25, 2019
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Madison Masonic Center
301 Wisconsin Avenue, Madison
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By Peace Action of Wisconsin February 25, 2019
We want to share some upcoming events with you for the rest of February and March.
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We look forward to seeing you.
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By MICAH February 18, 2019
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By Disability Rights Wisconsin February 18, 2019
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On Behalf of Marquette University
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By Disability Rights Wisconsin February 16, 2019
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force February 10, 2019
Please join us for the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force meeting, Tuesday, February 12, from 3 5:00 PM at IndependenceFirst, 540 S. 1st St. We value your input and hope to see you Tuesday!
Our agenda for February 12:
1. Milwaukee has a vibrant Hmong community. We are so pleased to welcome May Yer Thao, Wisconsin United Coalition of Mutual Assistance Association Board President, and Executive Director at Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce who will share her insights about Milwaukees Hmong community. She will help to guide us on to how to outreach to the community and provide services that are respectful, and culturally and linguistically informed.
2. Whats happening with medical and mental health services at the Milwaukee County Jail and House of Corrections? Milwaukee County will be moving to a new provider. This is a priority area for the Mental Health Task Force, as it impacts so many people with mental health needs. Attorney Pete Koneazny, Legal Aid Social, will update us.
3. Peer Delivered Services Where Are We Now, Where Are We Going?
We will hear from two experts:
Shirley Drake, Supervisor, Office of Consumer Affairs Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division
Marie Perry, Supervisor CLASP Program/ Peer Specialist and Trainer
4. Election Update Get out the Vote for the February 19th Election! Barbara Beckert, Disability Vote Coalition
5. Policy Updates
* Crisis Redesign Results of our Survey
* Mental Health Board Updates
* State Policy Update Save the date for our March 12th briefing on the biennial budget.
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By MKEN February 2nd, 2019
Mental Health Task Force/ Make It Work Milwaukee Update
Thanks to Milwaukee Enrollment Network for sharing their January report on coverage under Medicaid and in the market place. Note that enrollment is decreasing in several programs, and 70% of people who are uninsured in Milwaukee County are employed.
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By NAMI February 2nd, 2019
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By MICAH January 27, 2019
Join MICAH for 2019 Black History Month Opportunities
Black History Prayer Breakfast
Celebrate National Black Lives Matter Week of Action
Leadership for Community Transformation
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On Behalf of Survival Coalition January 27, 2019
Registration is now open for Disability Advocacy Day, scheduled for Wednesday, March 20, in Madison. Disability Advocacy Day is a day-long event focused on connecting Self-Advocates with their legislators to talk about issues that matter to them, including Medicaid, mental health services, transportation, and more.
Two ways to register:
Online at: https://www.eri-wi.org/dad/
Download form HERE
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By WISDOM January 22, 2019
A new report released today by the Justice Lab has found that Wisconsin has unusually high rates of community corrections supervision and reincarceration, adding considerably to the states prison populations and costing Wisconsin taxpayers millions annually.
Download the Full Report here, the Executive Summary here, and the Press Release here.
WISDOM and EXPO will present these findings, offer personal testimonies from those who experience these abuses, and strategize for change at events on Wednesday in Madison, Milwaukee and Eau Claire.
The Madison presentation of the report will be live-streamed by WisconsinEye:
Wednesday, January 23
10:00 am
wiseye.org/live
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By Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force January 22, 2019
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By Milwaukee Pedestrian Plan January 19, 2019
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Mass Supervision Events
By WISDOM January 19, 2018
On Wednesday, January 23, Columbia University Justice Labs will release a very important report, called Mass Supervision in Wisconsin. WISDOM will hold three events on that day. At each event, the report will be presented, impacted individuals will speak about their lived experience of the system, and there will be an advocacy training, to begin to prepare ourselves to speak about this and other issues at budget hearings, and at our March 26 Madison Action Day.
The three January 23 events, to which all are invited for free, will be:
* 10:00 am, in Room 411 South of the State Capitol in Madison (this might also be covered by Wisconsin Eye)
* 5:00 pm, at the Wisconsin African-American Womens Center, 3020 W. Vliet St., Milwaukee
* 5:00 pm, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 421 S. Farwell, Eau Claire
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The Last Hurrah? Thats up to WI GOP Legislators: An Interview with MPS Teachers and Administrators
By Patricia Obletz, Editor January 13, 2019
Parents, teachers and students, as well as the future lose when children are unable to learn survival skills, such as creative thinking, the history of human beings, and life proficiencies, like preserving the environment, rather than polluting it. Thats why two Milwaukee Public School (MPS) teachers and two special needs supervisors talked to PeaceOfMind about their experiences at work since 2011, when Wisconsin turned red and began shortchanging public education while slashing corporate taxes in earnest since Act 10. And, as they point out, some of the systemic ills within MPS happened long before the current governor. *
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ADD MORE EVIDENCE-BASED SUCCESS TREATMENT CENTERS. NOT FEWER:
Time Is Running Out For Federally Funded Mental-Health Clinics
By Ilana Marcus January 4, 2019
An experimental mental-health and addiction treatment program that has shown early success in combating the opioid crisis is at risk of losing its federal funding.
An estimated 9,000 patients could lose access to medication-assisted treatment, and 3,000 clinic jobs could be lost if the funding is not renewed, according to the National Council for Behavioral Health. Some states may feel the impact as early as January, because clinics must give staff 60 to 90 days termination notice.
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Childrens Long-Term Support (CLTS) Community and Provider Forums Please Share
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is scheduling forums across the state to provide updates on the Childrens Long-Term Support Medicaid Waiver program see below for details. The Childrens Long Term Support Waiver (CLTS) is a Medicaid program that provides supports to children with intellectual, developmental, physical or emotional disabilities. The program is designed to provide services and supports at home and in the community to children with disabilities or special needs. It is administered by counties.
- The forums are being held because the Wisconsin DHS / CLTS Waiver is going to set statewide provider rates for most CLTS services. Right now each county waiver agency decides how much their local providers are paid. The federal government is requiring Wisconsin do this. The statewide rates are scheduled to start on January 1, 2019. The forums will also provide information about the Childrens Wait List initiative.
- Registration is requested see the notice below from DHS for more information and a link to register. We encourage you to register and attend so that DHS know that there is strong interest from the disability community. Here is a link to the schedule of the forums. https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/clts/forums.htm
- The Milwaukee session will be held August 9th from 10 AM 12:30 PM at the Best Western Plus Milwaukee Airport Hotel 5105 S. Howell Ave. Please help spread the word to Milwaukee area providers, advocates, and families who may want to attend.
- Note that the forums are being held in 8 locations around the state, including in Pewaukee on August 14 there are two forums in southeastern Wisconsin.
Additional Background Regarding CLTS Forums
The forums are being held because the CLTS Waiver is going to set statewide provider rates for most CLTS services. These rates will have a big impact on whether a child has access to a service. In some cases the rates may increase access because the new rates are higher than what counties are paying. In other cases the rates may be lower than what a county is paying, which then may make it harder to hire or retain workers. DHS will distribute a list of the proposed rates at the forums. If you go, you should try to find out what the rates are for the services your child is receiving now. That way you can tell DHS if you think the new rates will help or hurt your child.
Two issues have not yet been addressed by the information DHS has provided. First, there are several rates for two services, supportive home care and respite. The rate is higher if the child has greater care needs. DHS has not explained exactly how it will decide which rate a child can use. You should ask DHS about that issue at the forum. Second, there needs to be a process that families can use to get a higher rate if the proposed rate isnt high enough to secure qualified providers. You should ask DHS what that process will look like and how people will be able to use it.
If you cant attend any of the forums, but still want to submit written comments you can do that by email at the following email address:
[email protected]
Questions People Can Ask at Community Forums on Rate-Setting for the CLTS Waiver
Here is a list of questions that you might consider asking if you go to one of the forums.
Questions related to the tiers for Supportive Home Care and Respite
What information from the long-term care functional screen will be used to decide which tier a child may be placed in?
What kind of needs would a child have if be placed in the middle tier? In the highest tier?
Will a family be able to appeal if they do not agree with the tier the child has been placed in?
Will DHS provide more information on how the tiers are determined before it starts using this new rate structure?
When will more information be available?
Questions related to an Exceptions process
Will DHS introduce an exceptions process by which providers or parents can ask for a rate that is higher than the rate generally available for a particular service?
When will we get more information about that process?
How will people or providers know about that system?
If a request for a higher rate is denied, will the parents or provider be able to appeal?
What types of situations does DHS think will be likely to be covered by this exceptions process?
Provider shortage is a real problem throughout the state. Low wages are a big reason for that. Will the inability to find a provider be a reason to exceed the normal rate for a service?
What will families have to show in order to qualify for an exception based on inability to find a provider?
Will DHS provide more information on the exceptions process before it starts using this new rate structure?
When will more information be available?
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