Housing

We have taken pictures of 450 foreclosed homes.  150 people participated in taking these pictures.  We have met with bankers, real estate agents, home rehabbers and community leaders.

We are holding a public hearing on Foreclosed Homes on November 19 at 7:00 pm at the Milwaukee County War Memorial.  Please plan to attend

Health Care

The Health Care reform discussions in Wisconsin are impacting our work on the Health Insurance Cooperative.  We expect to be able to “roll out” the Co-op in January with the insurance in effect in March or April.  The behind-the-scenes planning for the marketing and administration of the Co-op continues.  Whatever reforms are approved will take two or three years to implement so we expect the Co-op to be operative and strong and perhaps play a part in whatever the future brings.  We thank everyone for their patience.  We get calls each week about the Co-op.  Last week a lady called from a non-profit telling us that their rates are to be increased by 42%.  Believable and appalling.

Friends of Common Ground

We continue  efforts to raise $300,000 over the next years in order to hire 1 1/2 new organizers to staff Common Ground.  To date we have 38 gift commitments for $120,732.  There are a number of major gift requests we hope to hear about very soon.  Thanks to those who have contributed.  If you would like to make a gift contact our treasurer, Bob Connolly at 414-272-0101 or bconnolly@jamescompany.com

Youth Jobs

Common Ground leaders have been working closely with the Milwaukee Workforce Investment Board (MAWIB) to develop a strategic plan.  A planing meeting with 17 business and government leaders was held on October 21st to strategize as to how we might get more private sector participation for 2010 Summer Youth Jobs.  Some of the organizations attending were Wisconsin State Fair Park, Pearls for Teen Girls, Palermo’s Pizza, Johnson Controls, GRAEF, Summerfest, Marcus Corporation, and We Energies.

The next Youth Jobs team meeting is December 1 at 7:00 pm. If you are interested in attending please contact Denise Fried at 414-453-8025.

Sherman Park/North Milwaukee

The Sherman Park/North Milwaukee team continued to meet in October with the aldermen from the area to continue work on our list of items.  We are making significant progress with school signs erected, lighting fixed and replaced, and construction at an intersection.  Our next meeting will be with Aldermen Murphy and Hines on November 9th.

Youth Jobs:

Common Ground leaders are working closely with MAWIB to develop a strategic planning session for October 21st where we will bring about 30 business and government leaders together to strategize as to how we might get more private sector participation for 2010 Summer Youth Jobs.

The next meeting of the Youth Jobs team is November 3 at 7:00 pm at Progressive Baptist Church, 8324 W. Keefe Ave., Milwaukee.

Health Care:

The Health Care Committee continues to work with the Wisconsin Healthcare Cooperative (WHC) on the final stages in the development of a health cooperative for small businesses, non-profits, unions and the self employed.

We anticipate “rolling out” the Wisconsin Healthcare Cooperative in October.  WHC will conduct a series of information sessions throught the region to enroll people into the Coop during Novemberand December.

 Sherman Park/North Milwaukee:

On Wednesday, September 23, Common Ground Sherman Park/North Milwaukee leaders met with Alderman Wade to discuss their current relationship, ways to build on this relationship, and current issues in the 7th Aldermanic District.  Leaders are scheduled to meet again with Alderman Wade in the coming weeks to check on the progress of issues discussed.

On Monday, October 5, Common Ground Sherman Park leaders conducted a highly productive meeting with Alderman Murphy and City Engineer Bob Bryson.  Common Ground Leaders received an update on actions taken and studies that were done on neighborhood issues.  Most concerns brought to Alderman Murphy’s attention should be taken care of by November by means of work orders and legislation.  This is an ongoing campaign; we will continue to work with the elected officials to improve the Sherman Park, North Milwaukee areas.

At Common Ground we believe that improving job opportunities for Milwaukee youth will improve the economic and social well-being in our four-county area.  The City of Milwaukee’s Earn & Learn Summer Job Program addresses that goal by providing opportunities for qualified high school students to gain valuable workplace experience.  The program lays the foundation for a trained workforce, provides job readiness skills, offers real work experiences and a variety of career possibilities, and allows experienced employees to participate in positive change in their community.

Last year Common Ground successfully lobbied the City to increase the number of summer youth jobs from approximately 1,300 in 2008 to a record 3,000 in the summer of 2009.  We successfully campaigned for the City to provide $250,000 in flexible funding to the program. Working with the Greater Milwaukee Committee (GMC), the Milwaukee Workforce Investment Board (MAWIB), and the City to increase private business participation in the project by establishing a goal of 1,000 private sector jobs in 2010, we are creating momentum for the development of a future workforce.

The Youth Jobs Issue Campaign and The City of Milwaukee’s Earn & Learn Partnership

Print a copy.

At Common Ground we believe that improving job opportunities for Milwaukee youth will improve the economic and social well-being of the area.  Given the current crisis it is even more critical that opportunities are provided to our youth so they may participate in the economic recovery.  On behalf of Milwaukee youth, Common Ground is asking Milwaukee area businesses and foundations to participate in this program by providing jobs and/or by making grants to assure that Earn and Learn has adequate resources.

Provide a Job and Transform a Life

The City of Milwaukee’s Earn & Learn Summer Job Program provides opportunities for qualified high school students to gain valuable workplace experience, and puts a few dollars in some empty pockets.  By breaking the cycle of joblessness and exposing young adults to the culture of work, Earn & Learn:

- Lays the foundation for a trained workforce
- Provides job readiness skills
- Offers real work experiences and a variety of career possibilities
- Allows experienced employees to participate in positive change in their community

The Greater Milwaukee Committee and Southeastern Wisconsin Common Ground, a broad-based citizen organization, have supported the expansion of the Earn & Learn program and are now helping to recruit businesses and area foundations involvement.  The goal of this effort is to increase the number of summer jobs from about 1300 last summer to 3000 in the summer of 2009.

Earn & Learn Program Information

Earn & Learn is a collaborative partnership of the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board (MAWIB), the City of Milwaukee, businesses, and community based organizations.  Its mission is to assist young people from Milwaukee to make a successful transition from adolescence to productive adulthood.  The MAWIB staff works with employers to place students in meaningful work and ensures the program’s effectiveness.

All youth participating in private sector Earn and Learn jobs have at least one previous job experience and receive job readiness training prior to starting the job.  MAWIB staff provides support and service for the employer throughout the duration of the youth’s employment.  At the end of their job, students go through an evaluation that determines what they have learned and what they need to do to improve their work perfomance.

Participating employers are asked to provide summer jobs which:

- Provide student workers with a written job description
- Provide at least 20 hours of work per week for a minimum of seven weeks
- Pay at least minimum wage
- Are located in the Milwaukee County area for youth accessibility to the job location

After positions are posted MAWIB staff will assess the request, prescreen applicants and then recommend one or more youth that meet employer requirements to fill the position.

More Information on the Earn & Learn Program

City offers Options for Jobless Teens – December 2008:  http://www.jsonline.com/business/36770639.html

Editorial:  Work for Kids – The Milwaukee Common Council should boost funding for the Summer Jobs Initiative to provide more opportunities for youth. – November 2008:  http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/34054794.html

Hope in the Lives of Young People:  1500 gain experience through Earn and Learn – July 2008:  http://www.jsonline.com/news/29411434.html

Youth to Get a Slice of the Pie:  Palermo Villa a Leader in City’s Summer Jobs Program – April 2008:  http://www.jsonline.com/business/29588764.html

Open Letter from Earn & Learn Co-Chairs Mayor Tom Barrett and Giacomo Fallucca, President/CEO of Palermo’s Pizza – March 2008:  http://www.mkedcd.org/earnlearn/pdf/Letter031408.pdf

The mayor talks about the importance of the Youth Jobs program in his February 13th E-Newsletter:  http://www.city.milwaukee.gov/thebarrettreportarchives/Feb.06.09NewsFromTheMayor.htm

Earn & Learn Website at www.earnandlearnmke.com

Contact Information

Interested businesses can attain more information about the program and post a youth job opportunity by contacting:

Bill Malone, Youth Jobs Coordinator, via phone 414.286.5894 Email

Or Common Ground Issue Campaign Leaders:
- Debra Schneider:  414-550-2167 or Email
- Denise Fried:  414-333-0709 or Email

The Milwaukee Common Council should boost funding to the Summer Jobs Initiative to provide more opportunities for youth.

Thursday morning, October 30, the Finance & Personnel Committee of the City of Milwaukee Common Council approved an increase of $250,000 for the Summer Youth Jobs Program next year.   The Council will spend the money if it is matched by the private sector or other money.  City panel backs reversing cuts in proposed budget  (scroll down page to find article.)

This Friday, November 7, the full Common Council will rule on the budget.  Please let us know if you would be willing to contact your Alderperson to support this.

Last night, 250 Common Ground leaders attended the City of Milwaukee 2009 Budget Hearing held by the Mayor and Common Council.  We arrived in the Council Chambers before the doors opened.  Upon entering, we filled two and one-half of the three sides.  Five CG leaders eloquently spoke of the need for the Common Council to invest an additional $500,000 into the Summer Youth Jobs program (Rev. Bobby Sinclair, Rev. Rolen Womack, Ken Hanson, JoAnn Craft, and Traven Wilder).    Their testimony amplified the letter written from Eileen Asbell published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Monday morning (scroll down page).

Thank you all for your hard work on this campaign.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR CG INVOLVEMENT
In addition, below you will find additional opportunities for CG efforts over the next weeks.  Please keep in mind the deadline for the next round of Common Ground U is Friday, October 31.   Contact us at carol.treadwell@commongroundwi.org for a Common Ground U brochure.

COMMON GROUND U:
TRACK 1
WHEN
Tuesdays, November 11, 18 and December 2
6:00 PM (sharp) – 9:00 PM
Optional dinner served @ 5:30
WHERE
Trinity Episcopal Church
1717 Church Street

Wauwatosa, WI 53213

TRACK 2
WHEN
Saturdays, November 8 and 15
8:15 AM (sharp) – 1:00 PM
A continental breakfast will be provided
WHERE
St. Frances Cabrini Church
1025 South 7th Ave.

West Bend, WI 53095

 YOUTH/JOBS MEETING
Tuesday, October 28, Progressive Baptist Church, 8324 W. Keefe Avenue, Milwaukee, 7:00 PM -8:30 PM

HOUSING
Meeting – Thursday, October 23, Pilgrim UCC, 1621 2nd Ave., Grafton, 6:00 PM-700 PM

Action - November 3, Grafton Village Board Offices

 NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS
Amani Neighborhood – Friday, October 24, Greater New Birth Church, 2207 W Center St, Milwaukee, 5:30 PM 
Sherman Park – Tuesday, October 28, Yeshiva Elementary School, 5115 W Keefe Ave, Milwaukee, 6:45 PM-8:15 PM

HEALTH CARE
Please contact Bob Connolly at bconnolly@jamescompany.com if you are interested

UNDERSTANDING THE PRESENT DAY ECONOMIC SITUATION WORKSHOP
Monday, December 1, Zion Rock Baptist Church, 10230 W Fond Du Lac Ave, Milwaukee, 7:00 PM-8:30 PM

BUILDING A COMMON GROUND CORE TEAM WORKSHOP
Tuesday, December 9, Wauwatosa Presbyterian Church, 2366 N 80th St, Milwaukee, 7:00 PM-8:30 PM