Every month, Adam Carr from the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service joins Lake Effect to talk about some of the exciting events happening in the area. In normal times, these events spanned the city, encouraging people to get out and engage with the community. But of course, the times we’re living in are anything but normal.
"What’s happening in our community with the pandemic and the protests is kind of constantly evolving. We almost don’t know what’s going to happen from day to day," says Carr.
Like the world we're living in, the events happening in July are a hybrid of in-person and digital experiences:
1. Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service Coverage
Carr recommends three pieces that dive deeper into stories you may have heard about recently:
Milwaukee Police Department’s stay-at-home arrests reveal deep racial disparities
MPS wants police out of schools. A state-mandated contract could complicate things
2. Fondy Farmers Market
The regular season Fondy Farmers Market is back, with a few adjustments. You can still buy local produce and ready-made food, but masks are required.
"This is not only a chance to get community but to get something delicious to put in your kitchen," he says.
It's open Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
3. Protest murals
"One really beautiful manifestation of energy in our community has been some of the murals that have gone up," says Carr. "There have been murals going up on a near-weekly basis since the protests began."
There's a trio of murals on Holton Street at the crossroads on North Avenue, Center Street and Locust Street, and another next to city hall. There will be more put up throughout July.
4. "March On Milwaukee" digital history series
Carr and Marquette Professor Robert Smith partnered with the Milwaukee County Historical Society to give a virtual talk about the 200-day open housing protest in Milwaukee from 1967-1968.
The Historical Society is continuing to do virtual learning sessions every week on its YouTube and Facebook pages to connect Milwaukee's history with what is going on in the city today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIj8xDHWnJk
5. TRUE Skool Block Party
TRUE Skool will hold its annual block party on July 25 at the Marcus Center for Performing Arts' Peck Pavilion. It goes from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"If you don't know TRUE Skool, it's a phenomenal youth program that focuses on using hip-hop and elements of hip-hop as a vehicle for education of teenagers and young adults," says Carr.
There will be live performance stages, break dancing, Circulatemke Market, food, beverages, a skate park with competitions, children games, and community resources.
