Group XI (2004-2006) News

Understanding Urban Life Seminar, November 9-12, 2004

by James Krueger, Group XI participant

The members of Group XI reconveniened for the Understanding Urban Life Seminar in Milwaukee during November. Upon arriving the group was asked to provide their initial and preconceived impression of Milwaukee and was challenged to reconsider these thoughts after a rigorously scheduled week. During the previous seminar on leadership at Treehaven, the group participated in a comfort zone exercise where we moved in and out of circle rings based on our strong or weak comfort levels of a situation. I recall how many people, including myself, stood on the outer rings of the comfort circle when we were asked to picture ourselves alone in Milwaukee. As past members of the program can probably attest to, we had an eye opening experience and received a drastic change in our perception toward Wisconsin’s largest city in only three and a half days.

Bright and early the next morning we boarded a bus and departed at city hall to meet with Mayor Tom Barrett who was recently elected in April 2004. Barrett’s relatively short time in the office has already delivered him many challenges. With overall crime in the Milwaukee area often making headlines with the mass media, the mayor is intent on not becoming “numb” to brutal crimes, which would cast these acts as being acceptable. Barrett has put a great deal of time into the re-development of the downtown Milwaukee area, such as economic growth, education, and city storm water runoff. In my point of view, Barrett is acting as a true leader for Milwaukee by admitting to the city’s conflicts and by encouraging community involvement to discover solutions.

Our group visited with many special interest groups and people that have a positive influence on daily life in Milwaukee. After visiting the YWCA, Career Youth Development Center, Hillside Terrace Housing Complex and several minority interest groups, our new awareness revealed the lives of diverse ethnicity and low income people. We were inspired by several individuals that are true heroes in their communities in how they accept and reach out to others in need.

While in Milwaukee, Group XI was pushed out of their comfort zone again by some of the ethnic cuisine during lunch and dinner. We tried Middle Eastern, authentic Hispanic, and other ethnic foods. The highlight seemed to be the African Hut, which supplied data about daily African life and how the food we ate allowed the people to survive during the rainy or dry seasons.

If you’ve ever been to Milwaukee, there are two things you will notice: traffic and development. These are two of the largest issues facing the Milwaukee area residents and travelers. A visit at the Milwaukee Transportation Partners in the community enlightened us to the massive reformation in progress of the Marquette Interchange Project. The demolition and replacement of the current interchange is expected to provide safer and more efficient traffic flow. The Menominee Valley and surrounding area is also clearing out old industrial warehouses and abandoned buildings to make way for all types of housing and commercial businesses along the Milwaukee River and in the valley. I was excited to see the city take back a virtual wasteland and make plans to transform it into a new landscape of productive developments.

In reflection, I realize many people have not been properly informed to the real issues or the great things that make up the greater Milwaukee area. Too often the perceptions of the city come from the headline news and radio stations that are biased to only report on turmoil to retain viewers and readers. Visiting Milwaukee with the WRLP made me realize just how much there is to do in the city; whether by visiting with special interest groups, attending art shows, a variety of museums, sporting events, farmers’ markets, and the list goes on. My final evaluation of the Urban Issues Seminar indicates that Milwaukee is comprised of more than what reaches the eyes and ears of rural Wisconsin. I now have a better appreciation and understanding of diversity through the many people that contribute to make Milwaukee a better place to live for tomorrow.

Chairing this seminar was José Vásquez, Diversity Initiatives Specialist, UW-Extension, Milwaukee.

Marquette Interchange Project

(L) Jeannetta Robinson, Executive Director, Career Youth Development and (R) Stephen Horvath, Group XI participant

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