By Karen Stokes On Thursday, May 26, Wisconsin Democrats (Wisdems) hosted a Black -owned small business roundtable event at Sam’s Place, 3338 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Dr. Their goal, to connect with Black entrepreneurs, create networking opportunities and have conversations about the struggles and successes of being a Black business owner. According to […]
Milwaukee Residents Reflect on the Impact of a 2002 Historic Supreme Court Ruling as 20th Anniversary Nears
While Jehovah’s Witnesses have chosen to temporarily suspend their door-to-door ministry due to the pandemic, their activity was almost permanently banned by one U.S. village in the late 1990s — that is until the United States Supreme Court stepped in with a historic 8-1 decision on June 17, 2002, declaring the local ordinance unconstitutional. As […]
Biden-Harris Administration Holds Justice40 Week of Action
By Karen Stokes After a year of progress on advancing environmental justice, on Monday the Biden-Harris Administration launched a Justice40 Week of Action to highlight additional steps that are delivering real benefits to communities across the country. “We are using the week to highlight some of the key areas of the Justice40 initiative,” said Brenda […]
American Rescue Plan Releases Equity Report
By Karen Stokes On May 24th, the American Rescue Plan Implementation Team and the Domestic Policy Council released their interim American Rescue Plan Equity Report. It covers 32 different American Rescue Plan programs that represent nearly $900 billion or 60 percent of American Rescue Plan funds excluding Economic Impact Payments (i.e., stimulus checks). “I think […]
Report Explores the Exploitation and Abuse of Native American Children
By Karen Stokes An initial investigation commissioned by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland explored the brutal conditions that Native American children endured at more than 400 boarding schools that the federal government forced them to attend between 1819 and 1969. Advocates have researched this for decades and have repeatedly called for official recognition and documentation. Last […]
Report Highlights Violence, Mental Health and Drug Use are Top Health Issues in the African American Community
By Karen Stokes Since 2012, the health system members of the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership (MHCP), Advocate Aurora Health, Ascension Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin, and Froedtert Health, have committed to share funding and design of a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) every three years. “To ensure a wide variety of voices and perspectives, diverse participants were […]
Biden Says Inflation is His Top Domestic Priority
By Karen Stokes “I want every American to know that I am taking inflation very seriously,” Biden said from the podium in the South Court Auditorium. “It is my top domestic priority.” The United States is in a stronger economic position than any other major advanced economy in the world. At the same time, inflation […]
South Korea’s Alternative Civilian Service Violates International Standards
As the world prepares for International Conscientious Objector Day on May 15, over 800 Jehovah’s Witnesses in South Korea have chosen to perform alternative civilian service (ACS) instead of compulsory military duties. Under the current ACS format, these young men are prisoners by definition, because they are forced to live and work in prison facilities. […]
State of Wisconsin Invests $5 Million to Support Transformational Development Project in Milwaukee’s Near West Side
Funds will support renovation of vacant building into comprehensive community center inclusive of space for nonprofit health and wellness service providers, and access to nutritious food and workforce training opportunities By Milwaukee Courier Staff On May 11, Governor Tony Evers joined local leaders on Milwaukee’s Near West Side to announce that he intends to invest […]
Affordable Internet Now Available for Millions of Americans
By Karen Stokes The Biden administration on Monday, May 9, announced a plan to expand affordable high-speed internet access for millions of Americans. “High speed internet is not a luxury any longer,” the president said at an event to unveil the program in the White House Rose Garden. “It’s a necessity, and that’s why the […]