University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Helen Bader Foundation and FEMA come under fire

MILWAUKEE, WI - On January 26, 2012, the kick-off of the online FEMA THINK TANK was held at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, 2200 E. Kenwood, Fireside Lounge. It was hosted and coordinated by dean Stan Stojkovic of the Helen Bader School of Welfare and UWM alumnae Desiree Matel-Anderson, a project manager/fiscal and compliance monitor at the Milwaukee of Homeland Security and two Criminal Justice students. The planning was over a four (4) month timeframe.

Milwaukeeans and neighbors northeast in Shorewood, Glendale and Whitefish Bay were not present. Why?

2010 Flood Disasters
Milwaukee and the neighbors to the north east have had two major flood disasters in 2010, where the People lost homes, basement areas flooded more than once, basements caved in, Nicolet High School and homes in Glendale, Shorewood and Whitefish Bay were also hard-hit.

We lost UW-Milwaukee student, Kyle Prelesnik, a 19 year old that drowned in the swollen Lincoln Creek flood.

For video of Kyle and Lincoln Creek CLICK
Damages were over $28.5 million dollars, according to Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke's report.

Missed Opportunity
So, how did we have this needed strategic planning with the Deputy Administrator of FEMA and only two students are present and they are two interns from Helen Bader School of Welfare. This was an opportunity to have galvanized so many students and families in the Milwaukee area - secondary, technical and higher education. Most of all, to have invited the stakeholders of the Milwaukee area. There were NO students of Color, 3/4 of Milwaukee's half-million people. Those who should be presenting leadership here and definitely involved in the upgrade and humane treatment needed in the Criminal Justice arena.

Goal
The event's mission was to bring the People of the Milwaukee area to the table for sharing ideas and "brainstorming" for neighborhood Preparedness in the event of a disaster. NO one from the neighborhoods of Milwaukee were present.


Media Hype and Spin
At the kick-off, Chancellor Michael Lovell heaped high praise for the Helen Bader School of Welfare and dean Stojkovic for coordinating the event; dean Stojkovic praised the the two students, Stephanie Sikinger and Andrew Boese and deputy Serino praise UW-Milwaukee, Chancellor Lovell, staff, students and Desiree Matel-Anderson - Homeland Security office in Milwaukee. According to Deputy Serino, he was in Milwaukee in August, 2011 and met with the students and others coordinating the event. That was the time for his office to help ensure that the People would be present. It was a time to stress INCLUSION.

Helen Bader Foundation

Since Dan Bader is the President of the Helen Bader Foundation, a local donor organization that is known in the Milwaukee area; and, he is President of UWM Research Foundation, Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association has forwarded a Notice of Discrimination.

Glass said, "Dan Bader is a recognized leader in Milwaukee and he has a Code of Conduct responsibility to the People of Milwaukee as a goodwill donor organization, as the head of the UWM Grant Foundation for our Urban public university and as a public square non-profit donor."

"The students attending the school of his namesake (Helen Bader School of Social Work) must be INCLUSIVE and ensure that the Milwaukee population is represented in critical mass - if it is to be considered a serious school of social welfare."

"African American and other People of Color are disproportionately placed in adverse situations and our families and neighborhoods suffer - these are some of the organizations the Helen Bader Foundation supports."