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Monday, June 30, 2014

Mary Glass Appreciated Surprise from LinkedIn - asked to Publish


CITY CENTER MILWAUKEE |  DAY 85 |  On June 16, 2014, LinkedIn sent an Invitation to Mary Glass to publish on Special Edition LinkedIn.  Their offer suggested the following:
Publish on LinkedIn. Get recognized for what you know.
Strengthen your reputation by sharing your perspectives with your network.

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Since I was already posting articles on LinkedIn that were linked to MPA LLC Public Policy Review website, the offer would allow for a more designated audience connected to LinkedIn; and, to speak to what I know.  So, on June 18, 2014, I wrote my first post.

Thank You for the opportunity - a pleasant surprise

Each day I hit the floor running with anticipation of what can and will I offer the world today that will make a difference. It is an honor to serve my fellowmen - my neighbors near and far.
My centering starts with my daily readings and talk with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit - 
CLICK - MORE

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I have been contemplating over the last week or so my areas of sharing and should have my next article up on July 1, 2014.

When you visit the site, if you LIKE the blog, let me know.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC Invoked Atonement & Reparation identify the charter officers as culprits in high incarceration and recidivism in Milwaukee

Top, L-R:  Mayor Tom Barrett, Ald. Joe Dudzik, ex-Ald. & Common Council President Willie Hines, Ald. & Common Council President Michael Murphy, Ald. Milele Coggs; RIGHT - Down:  Ald. Jose Perez, Ald. Jim Bohls, Ald. Nik Kovac; LEFT - Down:  Ald. Bob Donovan, Ald. Willie Wade, Ald. Bob Bauman; Bottom L - Right: Ald. Ashanti Hamilton, Ald. Bob Puenta, Ald. Tony Zielinski, Ald. Terry Witkowski and Ald. Joe Davis
City Center Milwaukee | Day 81 | It is important that the public square is aware of who is in office and responsible for the 19-plus years of mismanagement, appearance of fraud and the act of recidivism in the 4-Phase North Avenue Commerce Center fiasco - Boldt Development, Irgens Development and Sisters of Assisi St. Ann Center.  

The fiasco failed to provide promised employment and business development to help curb the spiraling decline of employment for heads of household and families in the densely populated neighborhoods of the city of Milwaukee. 


Ethics in behavior and commitment to due process to avoid disenfranchisement of the Amani and nearby contiguous neighbors that were known areas of need as evident by the name on the document signed by the City Plan Commission - Central City Industrial Jobs Bank - of the city of Milwaukee as well as all the fingerprints involved by our city charter officers during the implementation or promised implementation of the 4-phase North Avenue Commerce Center.
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WI State Statute 66.46
(e) At least 30 days before adopting a resolution under par. (gm), holding of a public hearing by the planning commission at which interested parties are afforded a reasonable opportunity to express their views on the proposed project plan. The hearing may be held in conjunction with the hearing provided for in par. (a). Notice of the hearing shall be published as a class 2 notice, under ch. 985. The notice shall include a statement advising that a copy of the proposed project plan will be provided on request. Prior to such publication, a copy of the notice shall be sent by 1st class mail to the chief executive officer or administrator of all local governmental entities having the power to levy taxes on property within the district and to the school board of any school district which includes property located within the proposed district. For any county with no chief executive officer or administrator, this notice shall be sent to the county board chairperson.
f) Adoption by the planning commission of a project plan for each tax incremental district and submission of the plan to the local legislative body. The plan shall include a statement listing the kind, number and location of all proposed public works or improvements within the district or, to the extent provided in sub. (2) (f) 1. k., outside the district, an economic feasibility study, a detailed list of estimated project costs, and a description of the methods of financing all estimated project costs and the time when the costs or monetary obligations related thereto are to be incurred. The plan shall also include a map showing existing uses and conditions of real property in the district; a map showing proposed improvements and uses in the district; proposed changes of zoning ordinances, master plan, if any, map, building codes and city ordinances; a list of estimated nonproject costs; and a statement of the proposed method for the relocation of any persons to be displaced. The plan shall indicate how creation of the tax incremental district promotes the orderly development of the city. The city shall include in the plan an opinion of the city attorney or of an attorney retained by the city advising whether the plan is complete and complies with this section.
(g) Approval by the local legislative body of a project plan prior to or concurrent with the adoption of a resolution under par. (gm). The approval shall be by resolution which contains findings that the plan is feasible and in conformity with the master plan, if any, of the city.
(gm) Adoption by the local legislative body of a resolution which:
Describes the boundaries, which may, but need not, be the same as those recommended by the planning commission, of a tax incremental district with sufficient definiteness to identify with ordinary and reasonable certainty the territory included therein. The boundaries shall include only those whole units of property as are assessed for general property tax purposes. Property standing vacant for an entire 7-year period immediately preceding adoption of the resolution creating a tax incremental district may not comprise more than 25% of the area in the tax incremental district, unless the tax incremental district is suitable for industrial sites under subd. 4. a. and the local legislative body implements an approved project plan to promote industrial development within the meaning of s. 66.52. In this subdivision, "vacant property" includes property where the fair market value or replacement cost value of structural improvements on the parcel is less than the fair market value of the land. In this subdivision, "vacant property" does not include property acquired by the local legislative body under ch. 32 or property included within the abandoned Park East freeway corridor or the abandoned Park West freeway corridor in Milwaukee county.
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The document signed by the City Plan Commission of the city of Milwaukee, prepared by the Department of City Development Urban Design, in confirmation with the provisions of Section 66.46, Wisconsin statutes as amended November 15, 1993  titled:  Project Plan for Tax Incremental District Number 21 - City of Milwaukee (Central City Industrial Jobs Bank).

The many participants and persons of interest - elected-appointed-hired individuals, and organizations that were involved in the assembly, packaging, funding, citizen participation, signing-off and final approval of/for the city of Milwaukee for all aspects of Tax Incremental District 21.  

This includes any and all funding and construction of the four (4) phases of the North Avenue Commerce Center during the 19-plus years.

The companies zoned as for-profit and non-profit are:

  • Boldt Construction
  • Irgens Construction
  • Sisters of Assisi St. Ann

For this reporting, we will look at all ELECTED charter officers in place for the Sisters of Assisi St. Ann Center lack of vetting and give-away.  During the City Planning sign-off for Tax Incremental District 21, present Alderman - 10th District and Common Council President Michael Murphy were present and approving on November 15, 1993.

Officers
2-01. Officers of City. The officers of said city shall be a mayor, one alderman from each ward, constituting a common council, a city ward, constituting a common council, a city treasurer, a city comptroller, a city attorney, a city clerk, commissioner of public works, a city engineer, a commission er of assessments, district assessors, a board of commissioners of the public debt, commissioner of health, a chief of police, one chief engineer of the fire department, one or more harbor masters, 3 inspectors of election for each ward or election precinct and as many firemen, policemen and such other officers and agents as may be provided for by ch. 184, L. 1874, or as the common council may from time to time direct
(HISTORY: Ch. Ord. 310, File #64-4089,
Apr. 6, 1965. 

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

WISDOT and SEWRPC bring attendees up-to-date on Construction and Transportation in Milwaukee

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Left Top down:  U. S. Congress Candidate Gary George, Advocate Muhammed,  Advocate Fatima, WISDOT, Steve - SEWRPC,  Bottom L-R:  Architect Richard, Michelle WISDOT, Jason WISDOT, Michael WISDOT, Consultant Dyonyca, Advocate Auriea, Chair/CEO Mary, Top L-R:  Consultant Tameka , Rich and Mary, Consultant Jillian, Amani Commissioner Myrtle Skinner, Right Down:  Stakeholder Michael, Stakeholder Vera, Stakeholder Leon, Stakeholder Clay.
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City Center Milwaukee | DAY 80 of Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC 4-Month Invoked Atonement and Reparation assessment.

Assembly #3 of the 4-month Atonement was held on June 21, 2014 at Wisconsin Black Historical Society and Museum, 2620 W. Center Street, Milwaukee, WI  53206.  It is in the Amani Neighborhood and in the 15th District.

The audience received state-of-the-art information regarding WISDOT/ Wisconsin Department of Transportation proposed I-94 East-West Highway study and Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission  Vision 2050.

Goal
One of the main reasons for the 4-Month Invoked Atonement and Reparation is to help ensure that the citizenry is in-the-loop and out-in-front of what is happening in their census tract, neighborhood and city of Milwaukee.  

By being aware and knowledgeable, stakeholders can prevent mismanagement by the charter city officers - mayor, common council, treasurer, comptroller, city attorney; and, those they appoint and hire as staff in the city of Milwaukee for conducting the local government business of the People.



Stewardship
Milwaukeeans have a responsibility to do their part in stewardship to ensure that their city is ran properly by those they elect.  This starts and ends with monitoring and oversight with principle-centered leadership, ownership and where feasible, partnerships.

NACC Fiasco
The 4-Month Atonement and Reparation assessment was kicked off by major mismanagement errors of the 19-plus years of the 4-Phase North Avenue Commerce Center fiasco (17.5 acres in census tract 99) with Boldt, Irgens Development and proposed Sisters of Assisi St. Ann Center.

L-R:  Michael Treazise -  Project Manager, Jason Lynch - Project Supervisor and Michelle Carter DBE Chief
TRANSPORTATION and Construction
Projects coming to the city of Milwaukee should be known by the citizenry for support or non-support.

Construction brings employment in a large scale.  Innovative ways for utilizing un- and under-employed Milwaukeeans is vital to growth at the census tract and neighborhood level.

Vital to overcoming safety issues that are directly impacted by family-supporting jobs; i.e., illegal use of drugs.

Hidden trained talent in construction and vetted businesses in construction/contracting should be at the "front-of-the-line" for employment. 

MPA LLC leadership efforts will boost great and expected STEWARDS of the resources, land use and lifestyles forged by valuable foot-prints in the Construction and highway projects.  

We will vet the proposed plans - recent benefits from class-action suit and proposed I-94 E-W study relative to the city of Milwaukee.

June 21, 2014 - U. S. Congressional Candidate Gary George - 4th District
FOND DU LAC/State Highway 145
MPA LLC aka Campaign Neighborhood Fondy-North Business Association and members of the Amani Commission were the voice for the people (residential, light industrial and commercial) on and around the highway construction during 1999-2000 - Fond du Lac Restoration Plan of Highway 145 (17th and Fond du Lac to 35th Street and Fond du Lac).  

Mary Glass - Chair/CEO

Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC reminded the audience on Saturday, June 21, 2014, of the lead work of her organization and the stakeholders to provide customer care and customer support for the commercial and residential stakeholders.  Glass spoke of the efforts of the Amani Commissioners (steering committee formed by Glass); one of the members , Amani Commissioner Myrtle Skinner, now 82 years young, was present on June 21, 2014.  She was passionately vocal about the efforts then and needed efforts now for travel to jobs in the outer areas.  

She gave a personal family employment challenge that related to her grandchild having a job in the suburb; and how the granddaughter had to be transported by car to-and-fro by the family for more than a year.
U.S. Congress Candidate and ex-Wisconsin Senator Gary George was mentioned for his efforts to assist the citizenry during the Restoration of Fon du Lac Avenue/Highway 145 - He provided $1 millions - however the city of Milwaukee managers, mayor John Norquist, Common Council and Commissioner Julie Penman gave funds to cronies.
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Steve Adams, Outreach Manager, represented SEWRPC, our regional partner.
Jason Lynch, Project Supervisor, Michael Treazise, Project Manager, and DBE Chief Michelle Carter were on hand for information sharing.

Since Transportation Chair Michael Mayo - District 7;  V. Chair John Weishan - District 16, Supervisors Patricia Jurzik - District 8 and Theodore Lipscomb Sr - District 1; FAILED to respond regarding "transit" new payment system and a fact sheet of recent lawsuit, we note their unacceptable professionalism.

Glass said, "this type of arrogance, lack of customer care, disregard of oath of office for representation - privileges and rights of Milwaukeeans by Mayo, Weishan, Jurzik and Lipscomb Sr is why when the Board of Supervisors sought the people's support in denying the recent referendum on cutting pay by half, 70% denial came back to them."

We will return to the same folk and seek another opportunity for them to act responsibly.

Milwaukee County failed to respond, we asked WISDOT to provide a Fact sheet regarding the Agreement reached on Zoo Interchange claim.


click photo - Enlarge
Exhibits 1 & 2

Belvedere CNBC SQUAWK BOX - June 25, 2014

Matthew J. Belvedere -Squawk on the Street
In the news today
Concerns over Iraq continued to weigh on global markets. But Iraq's prime minister said today he's committed to the process of forming a new government, a move the U.S. has been pushing in hopes of stemming the violent insurgency there. (Reuters)
U.S. stock futures were little changed in early trading, after yesterday’s sharp decline on Wall Street, which saw the Dow have its worst day in a over a month and the S&P 500retreat from record highs. (CNBC)
Closely-followed investor Dennis Gartman thinks yesterday was the start of the long-awaited stock correction. He joins CNBC's "Squawk Box" to make his case at 7:30 a.m. ET.
Investors will be watching May economic data today to see if business spending is picking up, but any good news could be overshadowed by another big downward revision to first quarter GDP(CNBC)
Google (GOOG) is expected to unveil today at least one small set-top box that resembles products like Roku, Amazon's Fire TV, and Apple TV. It’ll be powered by new Android TV software. (WSJ)
GoPro is expected to price its IPO after the closing bell this afternoon. The video-camera maker is on track to be the largest stock debut by a consumer electronics company in 23 years. (CNBC)
Amazon (AMZN) won't be rolling out drones for delivery anytime soon. FAA documents stated that delivering packages to people for a fee will remain illegal, at least for the time being. (CNBC)
The Obama administration has quietly cleared the way for the first exports of unrefined American oil, allowing energy companies to chip away at the four-decade ban on selling U.S. crude overseas. (WSJ)
The government is considering whether to sue banks and other mortgage servicers to recover losses from alleged insurance kickbacks that may have cost Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac hundreds of millions of dollars. (AP)
Veteran Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi narrowly defeated tea party challengerChris McDaniel in a high-profile runoff that again tested the Republican establishment.(Reuters)
An 82-year-old steel truss bridge featured in the opening credits of "The Sopranos"is now the second span for which Gov. Chris Christie's administration is facing an investigation. (AP)
Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tennessee, joins us at 7:40 a.m. ET to push for a gas tax to pay for infrastructure projects.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

June 19, 2014 - Why African Americans Remember and why I think you should

City Center Milwaukee | DAY 74 | Today is Juneteenth Day - A day of remembering and Atonement.  It is a day that America bench-marked on the books in the state of Texas, for change in the practice of slavery and the enslavement of African American.

Dates to remember when remembering
The 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863, issued the Emancipation Proclamation.   It was over 2 years, before the state of Texas was forced to free African American People that were slaves.

On June 18, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived on the island of Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves.  On June 19, standing on the balcony of Galveston’s Ashton Villa, Granger read the contents of "General Order No. 3".

General Order No. 3
The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.

Notice the reading of the General Order No. 3.  
Notice the vulnerability and lack of transition, atonement and reparation for the centuries-old wrongdoings - African American males and females brutalized and their family members (offsprings) separated and sold on Auction blocks, never to be seen again - Freemen without Respect-4-Respect, dignity of passage and full protection from the monopoly-oligopoly greed of Caucasians that continued to violate their rights.   

Imagine the risky position the African American Freedmen were placed in when they attempted to remind the slave owners and other Caucasians the words of the General Order No. 3, especially:

"This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor".

The Freedmen were left at such a disadvantage - "The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.

In other words, you are on your own without the basics for quality of life and economic advantage".  You are suggested to stay on the plantations and work for wages (but no guidance and guarantees of rights of pay and medical care).  The Freedman were also told that they had very few options other than stay, since they could not seek refuge at the local military post and "idleness - loitering" would not be tolerated - this sounds just like it is today in the city of Milwaukee and across the United States.

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African Americans must never allow the torturous past to be looked over, not be remembered and Atoned.  Too many African American citizens were denied their rights and privileges - just as in today; too many African Americans are wrongfully, racially, disproportionately treated in yet a systemic and institutional way; i.e., jailed/incarcerated.
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Wikipedia
Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day, Freedom Day, or Emancipation Day, is a holiday in the United States that commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas in 1865, and more generally the emancipation of African-American citizens throughout the United States. Celebrated on June 19, the term is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth, and is recognized as a state holiday or special day of observance in most states.

The holiday is observed primarily in local celebrations. Traditions include public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, singing traditional songs such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Lift Every Voice and Sing", and readings by African American writers such as Maya Angelou and Ralph Ellison. Celebrations sometimes take the form of parades, rodeos, street fairs, cookouts, family reunions, park parties, historical reenactments, or Miss Juneteenth contests.

During the US Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863. Although it declared that slaves were to be freed in the Confederate States of America in rebellion against the federal government, it had minimal actual effect.   Even after the ending of military hostilities, as a part of the former Confederacy, Texas did not act to comply with the Emancipation Proclamation.

On June 18, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived on the island of Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves.  On June 19, standing on the balcony of Galveston’s Ashton Villa, Granger read the contents of "General Order No. 3":

The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.



So the struggle goes on.
What think and say you today - whomever you might be?
June 19, 2014

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

MCTS launches Real Time Schedule updates Routes 21, 22, 28, 30, 31, 80 - June 17, 2014

REAL TIME ALERTS
CITY CENTER MILWAUKEE | Day 72 | Milwaukee County Transit Service has updated its Real Time Service schedule for Routes:  21 - North Avenue, 22 - Center Street, 28 - 108th Street, 30 - Sherman-Wisconsin, 31 - State-Highland, 80 - 6th Street.  

It is another example that efficiency and state-of-the-art services are linked through access to the internet.  It is another reason why our local-state-federal government have much to do in the communication of options and access to the World Wide Internet. 

Use of Iphones come in handy here  if the customer is on the run and/or do not have a laptop or personal computer.

ROUTES:
  • 21 - North Avenue
  • 22 - Center Street
  • 28 - 108th Street
  • 30 - Sherman-Wisconsin
  • 31 - State-Highland
  • 80 - 6th Street
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You can sign up for ALERTS in text or online.

Visit RideMCTS.com 

Monday, June 16, 2014

A Video Message for New York from Artistic Director Robert Battle


A Video Message for New York from Artistic Director Robert Battle from Alvin Ailey on Vimeo.
Alvin Ailey @ the Lincoln Center June 11-22, 2014
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Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to Lincoln Center in June for two weeks only. Featured works include a world premiere by Robert Moses, as well as a new production of Hans van Manen’s Polish Pieces, David Parsons’ signature work Caught, the rare opportunity to see Asadata Dafora’s groundbreaking 1932 solo Awassa Astrige/Ostrich, an encore of Wayne McGregor’s Chroma, the “Ailey/Ellington” program, Mr. Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations, and more.

Sunday, June 15, 2014

ALL HANDS on Deck, WE CAN - The time is NOW Paradigm

Culture and Capacity
CITY CENTER MILWAUKEE |  DAY 70  | Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC ask on this Father's Day - Day seventy (70) of Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC 4-Month Invoked Atonement and Reparation, for All Milwaukeeans to JOIN US so that the wrongdoing that took place for 20 years does not happen again.

When:  Saturday, June 21, 2014
Place:  Wisconsin Black Historical Society & Museum
             2620 W. Center Street

Time:   9:00am-10:30am
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Discussionists
Top down:  Annette Hall - Unitedhealthcare - AARP, Candidate Gary George, Steve Adams - SEWRP,
Bottom l-r:  Mary Glass - MPA LLC, WISDOT, Christina Wright - Next Door
June 21, 2014 - 4-Month Invoked Atonement #3

Discussionists
  • Mary Glass - Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC
  • Annette Hall - UnitedHealthCare - AARP
  • WISDOT
  • Steve Adams - Southeastern Regional Planning Commission 
  • Christina Wright - Next Door Network
  • Candidate Gary George - 4th District
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In addition to the introduction of the 4-Month Atonement & Reparation; awareness building that includes capacity-building, access and literacy with the internet, and paradigm shifting are key benchmarks to obtain. We must incorporate principle-centered leadership for TRUST.

Background
A snapshot of the 19-plus years of the 4-Phase North Avenue Commerce Center fiasco of how the city of Milwaukee officers failed miserably to conduct oversight and due process to African American and other stakeholders that amount to discrimination, exploitation, bait-n-switch and disenfranchisement.  

Ex-mayor John Norquist and mayor Tom Barrett, along with the common council members over the 20 years disregarded oath of office, charter-statute-regulation responsibilities; and failed to honor 14th Amendment and other rights and privileges due the citizens of the designed area of the 4-phase North Avenue Commerce Center project.

Their failure to conduct due diligence is of a compounding nature due to the start-up conditions caused by the devastation of the Park West Freeway, high unemployment and quality of life disparities, and promises made to the People.  

The city of Milwaukee shared extensively from the city coffers (backed by federal resources) and included massive funding, rezoning, non-compliance of project plan signed by City Plan Commission of the City of Milwaukee November 15, 1993, state statute 66.46 for TID/Tax Incremental District 21 - Central City Industrial Jobs Bank, disregard for oversight and accountability of resources allowed for the 4 phases.  The primary developers of issue:
  • Boldt Construction
  • Irgens Partners
  • Sisters of Assisi St. Ann Center
In 2013, about 20 years later, the city of Milwaukee, proceeded (without the permission of the stakeholders of the area)  to re-zone the area, gift 7.5 acres for $1.00 to Sisters of Assisi St. Ann (the developed 2-phases).  In fact, most of the people knew not of the process until months had expired - some do not know now.  

Mayor Barrett, ex-Alderman and Common Council President Willie Hines failed to engage Amanians and contiguous stakeholders/taxpayers.  They failed to provide the people with the assurance of a "real vetting process" of Sisters of Assisi St. Ann Center that called for specifics to address high un- and under-employment of the area, business partnerships, conformity of an urban design architecture, and lack of due diligence presented by the City Attorney's office for annual city services and a token $300 per year for the questionable BID/Business Invest District #32.  Sisters of Assisi St. Ann Center has its corporate office in St. Francis, Wisconsin and Irgens is located in Chicago, Phoenix and Wauwatosa, WI. 
D-2-D Consortium

All Hands on Deck
All Hands on Deck, WE CAN Initiative is Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC District-2-District engagement after 5 years (2005-2010) Smart Growth (a national initiative created by 2010) empirical research of elected-appointed-hired-donor for hire representatives of government and power grabbers. Organizations - public and private - doing business with the city of Milwaukee on behalf of the people using federal, state and local government funding with double and triple standards depending on race, income revenue, class and side of town residence.

All Hands on Deck, WE CAN Initiative is to engage City of Milwaukee stakeholders-taxpayers in "Action" participation of leadership and Stewardship.  To engage best practices, transparency and principle centered leadership - paradigm shifting -  impacting the way we think. 

Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC chose the paradigm that broke with "we can not", to "WE CAN".  We can overcome the failing structure by "inserting" an infrastructure that is of LIKE-MINDS engaged in competitive advantages through discovering and supporting hidden talent at the census tract and neighborhood level. Identifying vetted businesses and hidden talent with re-defining, re-branding and UN-TRAPPING Milwaukeeans, especially African American, other People of Color and the Work Challenged.

To bear fruit, quantum leap through TRUST.

R.S.V.P. CLICK

Happy Father's Day - Sunday, June 14, 2014

Happy Father's Day
l-r Top:  President Obama and daughters, President Obama Oval office, Ace Eddie Talbert, Eddie Talbert w/Kirsten
l-r 2nd Row:  Langston Glass and 2 sons, Willie Edd Glass (Langston's Father), Milwaukee Father's Initiative logo
l-r Bottom:  Rev. Willie Glass, Willie Edd & Mary Glass father, Bobbie Sims, James Robertson (daughter Jennifer, Kenneth Taylor Wife, Kenneth Taylor and Aaron Robertson) 
President Obama and daughter riding bike


Enlarge - click photo
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Global | Father's Day |  The third Sunday in June, a day on which fathers are particularly honored by their children, especially with words of praise, surprises, family tributes, gifts and greeting cards.

Amani - 53206
In many families of the Amani Neighborhood the father is missing.
He is too often missing because he is away INCARCERATED. 
He is too often missing due to untimely deaths - self-, public- , law enforcement- and health-imposed.

Below are glaring points in the "About us" section of Milwaukee Father's Initiative.

Although father absence is now an epidemic affecting every class and sector of American society, its prevalence and impact within America’s urban communities is especially acute. At present:

Twenty-four million, or 34 percent of America’s children, live in a household in which the biological father does not live. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 50 percent of all white children and 75 percent of all black children born in the last two decades are likely to live for some portion of their childhood in a father-absent household.

In urban America, the numbers are often far higher. Whereas America has always experienced family fragmentation to some extent, today’s father absence is radically different in scale. We have moved from an occasional father-absent household to father-absent neighborhoods, where the absence, not the presence, of fathers has become the norm. 


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Saturday, June 14, 2014

DAY 69 - Meet Craig Jackson - 4-Month Invoked Atonement Photographer, Hidden Talent in Milwaukee

Craig Jackson - Photographer
CRAIG JACKSON PHOTOGRAPHY.

Since I was a teenager Photography has been my Love. As a child I was always drawn to the images of popular magazines especially musicians and pop stars, I would saturate my room with their images. As a teenager I would take pages out of my mother’s fashion magazines (Vogue, Elle, Mademoiselle, Harper’s Bazaar and even Life, GQ, and the New Yorker) and hang them on my wall in sections. I had a section for Calvin Klein and Guess Denim, men coats, shirts, and suits, women fur coats, bikini section (of course), portraits, head shots and other images that interested me. The images in those books inspired me because they fascinated me.

            I grew up in Chicago, Ill and I was influenced by the diverse architecture that the city provided. I didn’t get access to a camera until I moved from Chicago to Milwaukee, WI (at age 17), where again I was drawn to the architecture of churches and other interesting buildings.  Thanks to one of my brothers I owned my 1st camera at age 19, an Olympus AF-l film camera that took really great pictures. When I started taking pictures I started using film because at that time digital cameras didn’t exist. As a photographer shooting film made you a lot more critical in getting the correct shot because your rolls of film were limited and you couldn’t see the image until you received the finished product. So I’m thankful for that experience. At age 20 I brought my 1st 35mm camera. A Nikon N2000 that I had for 8 years before someone broke in my house and stole it. That hurt my heart and resulted in me not taking pictures for a number of years.

Eventually I started taking pictures of friends and family and that quickly expanded to other areas of interest like community events, weddings, outdoor festivals, school events (spelling b’s) etc. Photography started as a hobby for me but soon became lucrative enough to turn into a business “Craig Jackson Photography-Photography for all occasions.” I enjoy taking pictures of people and events because my goal is to capture the beauty, emotion, and essence of whatever it is I’m shooting. Photography requires a great deal of patience because you have to be patient enough to get that shot the way you see it or envision it. Being a photographer has afforded me many opportunities to meet and establish relationships with a host of wonderful people and families because through my images I tell their stories. I guess I’m in the business of selling memories because at the end of any event all you’re left with is the beautiful memories that the photographer captures through his images.

All words written and composed by
CRAIG C. JACKSON
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"Milwaukee Professionals Association LLC welcomes Craig's special 'skill-set' that is natural and earned.  He has already started his work with the 4-Month Invoked Atonement assemblies and we have asked him to consider being our Commissioned photographer to compile a photo gallery for the 4-Month Atonement White Paper - an end product for the public, said Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, MPA LLC.

A collage of his photos from the 4-Month Atonement Meeting held at Wisconsin Black Historical Society & Museum, 2620 W. Center Street, on May 17, 2014.

Photos by:  Craig Jackson, Photographer
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Stay tuned.