Milwaukee Professionals Association

SAFETY PREVENTION & SAFETY INTERVENTION LINK-TO-LINK COALITION

Strategic Action Issues Report for Mayor Tom Barrett

November 5, 2004

On October 12, 2004, the first of four "CALL FOR ORDER" Meetings was held to begin collective dialogue regarding the upswing of "gang-like" beatings taking place in the Milwaukee area.

The meetings were host by and held at Campaign Neighborhood - CFNBA, 2600 W. North Avenue, 9:00am - 11:00am.

The purpose of the meetings:

>>>To take a LOOK at a CRISIS taking place in/out of the Inner City area that needs "proactive neighborhood leadership" for resolve.

>>>To identify collective strategies for resolve.

>>>To share recommendations Mayor/Chief of Police/Sheriff/Public Defender's office/DA Office/Children's Court/County Executive/ Aldermen/ Supervisors/State-National elected officials.

>>>To Request a Formal Response from Mayor Tom Barrett by Black History Month - February 1, 2005.

>>>To Recruit for Safety Prevention and Safety Intervention Link-to-Link Think Tank Members.

MEETINGS HELD
So far there have been meetings held: October 12, October 26 and November 3, 2005.

The highlights include:
Meeting #1 - Mr. Stanley Cole - Consultant/Milwaukee Violence Free Zone
provided a telling presentation on Gang Awareness, followed by discussion.

Meeting #2 - Unveiling of two Safety Slogans w/banners for this Campaign.

They are:
- Safety Prevention and Safety Intervention is EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS. Are YOU doing your part?

- Safety Prevention and Safety Intervention in the INNER CITY is EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS.

The two banners are located at Johnson's Park, 20th and Fond du Lac and 17th & Fond du Lac.

Johnson's Park was the scene of one of the beatings.

The banners were donated by CNI/Fondy/North Business Association.

During Meeting #2, a discussion was held to address one of the centerpiece articles from the Journal Sentinel - Editoral, August 4, 2004, Shameful Summer. In the article, the author spoke of an urgent call for action from six groups of our city. They are:

>>Parents
>>Neighborhood Organizations
>>The authorities, i.e., Chief Nan Hegerty
>>Mayor Tom Barrett
>>Government - state, local, federal
>>The Metro area

Other articles and comments by Eugene Kane, Leonard Sykes, John Diedrich, Michael Jakubowski, Jamaal Abdul-Alim, Carlos Guzman, and Adam Bergstrom were used for background information on what has taken place from 2002 to now.

Meeting #3 - Attorney Kimberley Motley and Mr. Ron Pounds, Author - Boyz to Men were the two speakers.

Attorney Motley who is an attorney for the Racine Public Defender's Office, is also the reigning Mrs. Wisconsin.

She provided the group with information related to the incarceration and court process.

Attorney Motley also shared her platform as Mrs. Wisconsin which deals with non-punitive measures for solving juvenile deliquency.

Mr. Pounds provided information from the perspective of an author of Boyz to Men, Developing an Afrocentric Framework, and, as is the Community Information Services Coordinator for the City of Milwaukee.

He shared "Website tools" that are available, discussed possibilities and shared copies of his latest book.

CFNBA will host a Meet & Greet for further sharing of the book Boyz to Men in November.

Additionally, CFNBA will host a Safety Roundtable Luncheon Meeting for Youth Leaders in November; Attorney Motley has been invited as the Guest Speaker.

Meeting #4 is scheduled for Tuesday, November 9, 2004, 2600 W. North Avenue, 9:30am - 11:00am.

There are two panels scheduled to address the CALL TO ORDER Crisis Meetings. The two panels are:
>>Youth Panel
>>Media Focus Panel

Call and RSVP: 414.933.9845, Ext. 2.

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