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Official Government
Communication
Week of May 28th - June 2nd
Dear
Friend,
There is a lot
happening at the State Capitol and it is my hope that this email will
help you stay in touch with your government. As your Senator, I truly
believe in public service. If there is anything my office can do to
assist you, please feel free to contact us.
Here to
serve,
Sen. Lena
Taylor
4th
District
WestCare Meet and Greet
 This week, I was pleased to join WestCare Wisconsin in welcoming their newly appointed
Deputy Chief Operating Officer Craig Knierim
and Human Resources Director, Dave Murray of the WestCare
Foundation East Region. Hosted at Grace Fellowship Church, it was a great
meet and greet for community leaders, elected officials and WestCare employees. WestCare,
a family of tax-exempt non-profit organizations, provides a wide spectrum
of health and human services in both residential and outpatient
environments. Their services include substance and addiction treatment,
homeless and runaway shelters, domestic violence treatment and
prevention, and mental health programs. These services are available to
adults, children, adolescents, and families. They specialize in helping
people traditionally considered difficult to treat such as those who are
indigent, have multiple disorders, or are involved with the criminal
justice system. For more information follow the link below.
WestCare
Kickstarting Indoor Farming
 On Thursday, I met with a start-up
business owner to talk about grant money available to kickstart
indoor farming operations. More Wisconsinites are becoming interested in
"aquaponics", which combines the raising of fish (aquaculture)
with the growing of plants in nutrient-rich water (hydroponics). Urban
farmers are able to raise fish in commercial fish tanks and grow plants
on rafts floated in shallow, rectangular ponds. Nutrient-rich fish tank
water is pumped to the plants, fertilizing them. In turn, the plants
clean the water, making it safe to return to the fish.
Businesses and non-profits are reviewing a number of farming
techniques capable of fast growth rates, with the ability to plant in
large amounts, in year-round greenhouses with minimum costs. Using
industrial warehouse space, climate-controlled rooms are natural options
for hosting controlled growing spaces and creating optimum conditions for
sustaining certain crops, I was glad the owner reached out to me to
discuss funding options and opportunities within this emerging industry.
Really
Cool, Hawley Environmental School
 I spent Thursday afternoon at Hawley
Environmental School for a tour of the elementary school that's been
making headlines for its curriculum that focuses on environmental
education. Aside from taking additional science courses on subjects like
conservation and ecology, students at Hawley have access to an in-school
greenhouse, an aquaponics system and school gardens. Each student has the
chance to take on the role of class greenhouse caretaker, which means
it's their turn to look over the classroom's designated space within the
greenhouse. Additionally, each class has an "EE Rep" who works
on different projects that promote environmentalism in, and outside of,
the building. Many of Hawley's programs were created through a
partnership between the Milwaukee Public Schools Office of Family
Services and the Milwaukee Teacher's Education Association with a shared
goal of reducing things like classroom disruptions and student
suspensions by using evidence-based practices in the classroom. I loved
the campus and visiting a brilliant group of
first grade students getting an introduction to agriculture and
the environment. As we look to careers of the future, it's
clear Hawley's students are getting ahead of the pack.
Getting
to Know You!
 My office received a call from a
student who requested a meeting. When asked about the reason for the
meeting, the student simply said she wanted to get to know her legislator
and meet me. We met on Thursday and I was blown away by her level of
awareness of the issues, political interest, and questions. It was
humbling to have someone so young take the initiative to understand what
I do and ask questions about how my work impacts the community. The
student was able to meet with me in between meetings and had a chance to
see a number of other elected officials and community leaders. I was able
to tell the student about a number of opportunities for students to
connect to the legislature, including the Senate Scholars Program and the
People program. For more information about these programs follow the
links below.
People Program
Senate
Scholars Program
One Stop
Resources
 Today, I met with representatives of
the Milwaukee Office of African American Affairs (OAAA) and residents
from the River West Neighborhood. We talked about the intersection of the
OAAA's mission and the hub aspect of my LOVE & FAITH Initiative. A
hub is a single location at which someone in need can be connected with
the health, education, social, and employment services. It is a one-stop
shop for equipping people with the tools they need to be successful. I am
always looking for opportunities to make connections between members and
existing resources that can accommodate or improve on the services that
people want to see.
Preservation
of Cultural Music and Arts
 Today, I attended and made remarks
at the conceptual dedication of a new building for the Institute
for the Preservation of African-American Music and Arts (IPAMA). The
establishment of IPAMA is part of an ongoing initiative by Holy Redeemer
Institutional Church of God in Christ, through its Bishop's Creek
Community development Corp. affiliate, that
seeks to re-develop parts of our city by embracing traditional
African-American culture and the many artistic ways it has been expressed
throughout the years. The project is transforming a vacant warehouse into
a venue that will include outdoor seating for a planned cafe, a 170-seat
theater, museum, e-library, classrooms for visual arts and music studios.
I look forward to attending events at IPAMA soon and applaud the work of
Bishop Daniels and the entire team for taking on this amazing project of
opening a location at West Hampton Avenue and North 32nd Street, which is
in my district!
Sonic
Boom of the South
 On Saturday, I have the honor of
giving the keynote speech at the Jackson State University National Alumni
Association's (JSUNAA) Midwest Regional Meeting hosted in Milwaukee. As
one of many Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Jackson
State University was built on the premise that higher education should
accurately reflect the diversity of our society, and that regardless of
the color of one's skin, all of us should have the opportunity to pursue
a meaningful education.
Today, Jackson State still represents those ideals. Its alumni
community spans the entire country and carries the University's values in
both professional and personal lives. Also, known for its music program
and award-winning band, the Sonic Boom of the South, many Wisconsin
residents have attended the University over the years and have returned
to the state working in an array of professions and industries. I look
forward to meeting them and discussing ways to introduce and connect
local students to JSUNAA alumni that attended Milwaukee area high
schools. It's my hope that together we can educate our city's youth about
HBCUs like Jackson State and enlighten them to some of the many possibilities
those institutions provide. Follow the link below to learn more about
JSU.
Jackson State University
MATC
Promise for Adults Information
 I was excited to hear that Milwaukee
Area Technical College (MATC) will now offer free tuition for eligible
students to finish their associate degree. This program, known as the
MATC Promise for Adults, aims to meet the needs of the community by
providing higher education to those who may not be able to afford it.
There are several requirements for eligibility and once enrolled,
students must take a minimum of six credits per semester. Applications
are due by July 5th for the 2018 Fall semester. You can find more
information about the Promise for Adults program by following the link
below.
MATC Promise for Adults
Intern
Spotlight
We're bringing back the intern spotlight for our new summer interns!
Danny Farber, a new intern who works as an editor for the Daily
Cardinal--a student-run newspaper at UW-Madison--will be writing the
spotlights on fellow interns in each week's update. Of course, we will
turn the spotlight on Danny himself at the end of the summer. Take it
away Danny!
 Claire Frank-Carr
is a policy intern in Senator Taylor’s Madison office. She is a rising
junior set to graduate in May of 2020 from UW-Madison. Claire is a double
major in Human Development and Family Studies as well as Education
Studies. Her interests in these fields come from her passion for working
with children and her belief in the awesome impact a good early education
can have an individual's chances for success later in life. Currently,
Claire also works in a day care center as a teacher’s assistant for 2
year old children. After graduating she may want to pursue a career in
the education system, either through policy or teaching. Claire wanted to
intern in Senator Taylor's office to gain hands-on experience in the
policy-making process. After completing her first week in Senator
Taylor's Madison office, she has enjoyed seeing all of the moving parts
involved in the office's functions and is looking forward to getting into
the nitty-gritty of moving Senator Taylor's policy agenda forward!
Community Action
Alerts
Safe & Sound
Donations: June 19-28
Dear City of Milwaukee Residents:
For their 20th anniversary the Safe & Sound Campaign will be
accepting donations June 19-28 to support projects and other efforts that
create stronger and safer communities in the Milwaukee area.
Free “Little Libraries”, neighborhood cleanups and community gardens are
some examples of how Safe & Sound has been a positive influence in
the Milwaukee community.
Also, Safe & Sound has partnered with the Milwaukee Police Department
in holding monthly Crime and Safety Meetings for each Milwaukee district.
4th district meetings are held 6 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month
at in the Safety Academy at 6680 N. Teutonia
Ave.
For more information on these meetings contact Community Liaison Officers
Tracey Geniesse at (414) 935-7248 or Carrie
Resnick at (414) 935-7373.
If you can please help Safe & Sound reach their $5,000 goal to
continue these incredible programs!
Celebrate Wisconsin
Bike Week with Mayor Tom Barrett, Alderpersons, the Wisconsin Bike Fed,
and Bublr Bikes
Wisconsin
Bike Week is June 2-9, 2018
Mayor Tom Barrett, along with members of
Milwaukee’s Common Council, the Wisconsin Bike Fed, Bublr
Bikes, and Department of Public Works (DPW) staff, will bike to work on
Monday, June 4, 2018 to celebrate Wisconsin Bike Week. Again this
year, there will be three (3) separate, concurrent rides from different
areas of the city. This bike-to-work event is open to all –
interested bicyclists are welcome to join any of the three rides.
Mayor Barrett will use a Bublr Bike to ride downtown, and will host a press
conference after the ride in Red Arrow Park.
WHEN:
Monday, June 4, 2018
7:30 a.m. – Rides begin
8:00 a.m. – Press conference at rides’ end: Red Arrow Park at the Bublr Bikes station (south end)
WHERE:
Mayor’s ride: Meet at W. Washington Boulevard and N. 51st
St.
Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton’s ride: Meet at N. 10th
& W. Capitol Dr.
Ald. Kovac’s ride: Meet at Gordon Park,
2828 N. Humboldt
WHO:
Mayor Tom Barrett
Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton, 1st Aldermanic District
Ald. Nik Kovac, 3rd Aldermanic District
Caressa Givens, Wisconsin Bike Fed &
Path to Platinum
Work Continues Along
Milwaukee's Valley Bridge
Please see the briefing below from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation on continuing work on
Milwaukee's Valley Bridge
On the evening of Wednesday, May 30, the
Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT)
will begin the next phase of the Valley Bridge overlay project in the
city of Milwaukee. This phase will shift southbound I-43 traffic allowing
for the 11th Street / Wisconsin Avenue on-ramp to I-43 south to reopen.
As the project advances, access to certain
system ramps will continue to become available. Please note that these
closures are weather dependent and subject to change.
Current long-term ramp closures:
- I-794 West to I-43
South
(Until Late June)
- I-43 North to I-94
West
(Until Late June)
- I-43 North to 10th
Street and Michigan Avenue Off-Ramp
(Until Late June)
- I-94 East to I-43
South
(Until Late July)
- Mineral
Street/National Avenue On-Ramp to I-43 North
(Until Late August)
The primary detour route for navigating
interchange access continues to be the I-794 Hoan
Bridge. For more information on closures and detour routes, visit 511
Wisconsin or visit their website.
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