Developing Story - Young Global Leaders Water Campaign - Water Resources Group & FEMA

January 31, 2012

MILWAUKEE, USA - Milwaukee Professionals Association [MPA], an independent Milwaukee-based group, launched All Hands on Deck, WE, Not Me Initiative on January 23, 2010 to address Enduring Concentrated Poverty in the iconic city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin with the largest population of African American, other People of Color and the Work Challenged (un-, under-employed; un-, under-degreed and certificated; un-, under-financed neighborhood-level business; disabled; and re-entry - especially those returning from WAR, INCARCERATION, BOOMERANG EMPLOYMENT, BOOMERANG RETIREMENT and DEGREED students without employment).

Today, Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, announced that three(3)"NEW" emerging initiatives are added to strengthened the Urban/Rural North America Neighborhood Level Impact of Water Sustainability and Stewardship Commission. They are:

-- YGL, Young Global Leaders
-- Water Resources Group
-- FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency
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World Economic Forum/WEF
This year in Davos, Switzerland at the 42nd forum, the YGL/Young Global Leaders introduced its Water campaign with a video. CLICK for viewing.

Water Resources Group/WRG is also a contributor at the WEF. Its focus is to share its new model for impact-orientated development.

An emerging new model that has demonstrated initial success, the WRG has yet many new partnerships to form and lessons to learn. Driven by the spirit of innovation and continuous improvement at its core, reinforced by the support of multistakeholder champions globally, it is an important step towards securing access to water for human and economic development in water-scarce countries.
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USA
On Thursday, January 26, 2012, FEMA/Federal Emergency Management Agency, had its kick-off of the FEMA Think Tank. The FEMA Think Tank is spearheaded by Deputy Administrator Richard Serino.The Mission of the meeting was to get input from the stake-stockholders at the neighborhood level.

Unfortunately and much too often, the People are left out.

Mary Glass, Chair/CEO was present during the Conference Call session of the FEMA Think Tank Meeting and shared the following similar comments for future meetings:

1. Stakeholders are identified at the neighborhood level for partnership.

2. Neighborhood partnerships should be with local-state-federal FEMA representatives.

3. Massive and ongoing communication to get the word out for education of intent and how the People can be part of the leadership, citizenship and problem solving.

4. Community Mapping will come more easily if the stakeholders are aware and talking at the neighborhood level to each other and across district lines for safety prevention, intervention and sustainability.

She prefaced her statement by saying, it was insensitive to find the room without someone that looked like her, African American - especially since the city of Milwaukee has a predominate group of African American. That if the outreach to the public was correct, the room would be packed. She was referring to the recent families in Milwaukee, Shorewood, Glendale and Whitefish Bay area that experienced major damages more than once; and, did not feel they received quick turnaround and customer care appropriate to need.

Steven Fronk, Director, Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security - Milwaukee, quickly echoed the comments of Glass regarding who should be present; and, after the meeting spoke face-to-face about how he had tried to get people at the neighborhood present - including contacting each of the 15 alderperson of the Common Council of Milwaukee. NO Alderperson, Mayor or County Executive was present.

It is important to note that Mr. Thomas Harris, Director of Community Relations, County Executive Abele was present and also spoke to Glass regarding the attendance.
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After-the-Meeting
Glass spoke after the event with Deputy Administrator Serino and was encourage to be part of the exchange and sharing of information to the FEMA Think Tank. He also mentioned that what she was saying was inline with what the Mission of the visit - Think Tank was about.

He also shared with Glass a list of elected officials that were contacted for the event; i.e., Mayor Tom Barrett, County Executive Chris Abele, Sheriff David Clarke. Whereas each of the three mentioned had a representative, they did not have representation of the constituents that were directly affected - that they are to help provide 1st responder service.

Glass talked after the meeting to Lawrence C. Reed III, Deputy Administrator - Director, Bureau of Planning and Preparedness, Department of Military Affairs. He strongly recommended that Glass take the initiative and help provide "inclusiveness" of the People in this Think Tank effort.
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Over the weekend, a decision was made to quick and fast, add the FEMA Think Tank and the other two World Economic Forum Water Campaigns to the Phase One of the Urban/Rural North America Neighborhood Level Impact of Water Sustainability and Stewardship Council (Milwaukee Professionals Association All Hands on Deck Initiative).
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How you can get involved
CLICK to read about this Saturday's Meeting and to REGISTER. Saturday TALK, February 4, 2012.

Contact us at:
Email: mpapublicpolicyreview@gmail.com