Media

Milwaukee Flood-Health Vulnerability Assessment

Milwaukee Flood-Health Vulnerability Assessment

Groundwork Milwaukee, Wisconsin Health Professionals for Climate Action, The New School Urban Systems Lab, Data You Can Use, Medical College of Wisconsin, December 8th, 2022

Our most current report, Milwaukee Flood Health-Vulnerability Assessment, and the storymap that accompanies it, tell the history of housing discrimination in Milwaukee, and the impacts of climate change in one neighborhood, Metcalfe Park. We’ve spent the last year assisting neighbors developing and installing green solutions in areas which are vulnerable to flood and extreme heat.

Milwaukee Heat Mapping Campaign Featured on the Weather Channel

Milwaukee Heat Mapping Campaign Featured on the Weather Channel

The Weather Channel, June 28th, 2022

Groundwork Milwaukee’s Outreach and Organizing Director, Jess Haven, is interviewed on the The Weather Channel about the upcoming Milwaukee Heat Watch Mapping Campaign. Watch the video at the link below or sign-up to volunteer to participate in the mapping campaign. Watch. Volunteer.

Left Turn: Dr. Rene Settle-Robinson

Left Turn: Dr. Rene Settle-Robinson

Alexander Kostal and James Wieland, WXRW, May 24th, 2022

What is 'environmental justice?' Milwaukee practitioner Dr. Rene Settle-Robinson sat down with Alex and James of Riverwest Radio’s Left-Turn production and discussed impacts of climate change and pollution on our most vulnerable neighborhoods. They discuss the political will it will require to address the greatest impacts and prioritize equity. Listen.

Beating the heat: Milwaukee to join cities across the nation in measuring heat island effect

Beating the heat: Milwaukee to join cities across the nation in measuring heat island effect

John Davis, WPR, May 9th, 2022

This piece on Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) discusses extreme heat events in Milwaukee. This summer the Wisconsin DNR is leading a NOAA funding campaign to map heat in Milwaukee using a method that involves enlisting volunteers to drive traverses across the city collecting data points at three times on a hot summer day. The data is hoped to provide detailed insight into places that are most exposed to heat. Groundwork’s Outreach and Organizing Director Jess Haven talks about the issue and the mapping campaign in the context of the Climate Safe Neighborhoods initiative. View article.

Focus on Energy helps homeowners with rebates, improved efficiency. Activists want to expand it to help renters as well.

Focus on Energy helps homeowners with rebates, improved efficiency. Activists want to expand it to help renters as well.

Corrinne Hess, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 3rd, 2022

This article summarizes a press conference held by the Sierra Clubs’ Wisconsin Chapter. At the event residents and local social organizations advocated for the State of Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program to be extended to renters to relieve energy burden in Black and Latinx communities. Groundwork Milwaukee’s Climate Safe Neighborhoods Organizing Associate, Keviea Guiden, spoke at the event in support of expanding the program. View full article.

What I learned from pruning Milwaukee’s orphaned fruit trees

What I learned from pruning Milwaukee’s orphaned fruit trees

Lina Tran, Grist, April 28th, 2022

City’s like to plant trees, but don’t always set aside resources to care for them after they are planted. This article in Grist explores the gap between planting trees and caring for them. Groundwork Milwaukee’s Greenspace Actions Coordinator, Samson Srok, provides valuable insight from his experience in the field.

Building Buy-In for Green Jobs Seen as Path to Climate Resilience and Racial Equity in Milwaukee

Building Buy-In for Green Jobs Seen as Path to Climate Resilience and Racial Equity in Milwaukee

Susan Bence, WUWM 89.7 FM, August 31st, 2021

Local environmental reporter, Susan Bence, reports on the Milwaukee City-County Task Force on Climate and Economic Equity’s most resent forum. The meeting aimed to address the economic opportunity green jobs present as efforts to improve local climate resiliency increase. Groundwork Milwaukee’s Ground Corps Crew Leader, Bree Jackson, speaks up with an important question for the task force. Listen.

Positively Milwaukee: Healing Spaces Initiative

Positively Milwaukee: Healing Spaces Initiative

TMJ4, August 28th, 2021

TMJ4 featured the Healing Spaces Initiative in their Positively Milwaukee segment. The clip covers the construction of a sculpture garden at the intersection of Richards Street and Locus Street. Groundwork Milwaukee played a significant role in the construction of this space. View clip.

Volunteers Hope to Bring Art, Other Attractions, to Blighted Lots in Harambee

Volunteers Hope to Bring Art, Other Attractions, to Blighted Lots in Harambee

Sarah Volpenhein, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 28th, 2021

This article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel discusses a sculpture garden that was installed on Locus Street and North Richards as part of the City of Milwaukee’s Healing Spaces Initiative. Groundwork Milwaukee played a large role in facilitating the build out of this space. View full article.

Pandemic Garden Out of Control? Local Nonprofit Can Help!

Pandemic Garden Out of Control? Local Nonprofit Can Help!

Tyler Nelson, Shepherd Express, August 27th, 2021

The Shepherd Express interviews Groundwork Milwaukee’s Community Programs Manager, Matt Vogt about Fresh Food Connect. If you have extra garden produce in your backyard garden. Sign up for Fresh Food Connect and Groundwork staff and volunteers will pick it up from your doorstep and donate it to a local food pantry. Just download and install the Fresh Food Connect app on your mobile device and, if you live in one of our activated zip codes, you’ll be able to post your donations. View full article.

Planting Trees to Offset the Legacy of Racist Housing Policies

Planting Trees to Offset the Legacy of Racist Housing Policies

Joe Purtell, Undark, August 16th, 2021

Undark magazine explores the relationship between urban green space and the legacy of redlining. The article focuses on Richmond, CA and features interviews with members of Groundwork Richmond. To aid the conversation, Climate Safe Neighborhoods maps prepared by Groundwork Milwaukee were included. View full article.

Doors Open Benefit and Other Things to Know in Milwaukee Food and Drink News this Week

Doors Open Benefit and Other Things to Know in Milwaukee Food and Drink News this Week

Elaine Rewolinski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 9th, 2021

This article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel mentions Groundwork Milwaukee’s Shared Harvest programming. If you’d like to donate your excess garden produce to local food pantries, sign up for Fresh Food Connect in one of our qualifying zip codes and we’ll come pick up your produce right from your front door step. View full article.

Resilience and Equity in a Time of Crisis: Investing in Public Urban Greenspace is Now More Essential Than Ever in the US and Beyond

Resilience and Equity in a Time of Crisis: Investing in Public Urban Greenspace is Now More Essential Than Ever in the US and Beyond

Jean C. Bikomeye, et al., International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, August, 8th, 2021

Jean Bikomeye of Medical College of Wisconsin, alongside a team of researchers and community partners, recently had this article approved for publication by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. The article includes an exhaustive literature review that indicates the importance of equitable expansion and improvement of public greenspaces in urban settings. A more thorough argument for Groundwork MIlwaukee’s mission has probably never been written. We’re proud to have had the opportunity to review and contribute. View full article.

Gardening with a Cause this Season

Gardening with a Cause this Season

Milwaukee Community Journal, August 3rd, 2021

The Milwaukee Community Journal interviews Groundwork Milwaukee’s Food Systems Specialist, Samson Srok, and Kayla Birdsong, CEO of Fresh Food Connect, about Groundwork’s role as a Fresh Food Connect operator. Have a look at the article to learn how to get register for Fresh Food Connect and/or visit our Shared Harvest page to learn more about Groundwork’s food rescue efforts. View full story.

Racism is Magnifying the Deadly Impact of Rising City Heat

Racism is Magnifying the Deadly Impact of Rising City Heat

Nature, Alexandra Witze, July 14th, 2021

This article in Nature explores the relationship between institutional racism and the dangerous impacts of extreme heat events in American cities. Scientists are mapping correlations between race, poverty and heat in cities, and suggesting solutions to reduce the dangers. The article includes map layers created by Groundwork Milwaukee’s Deputy Director of GIS, Lawrence Hoffman, in his role as the lead GIS expert for Groundwork USA’s Climate Safe Neighborhoods initiative. View full story.

Community Garden Fights Hunger in Heart of Milwaukee

Community Garden Fights Hunger in Heart of Milwaukee

TMJ4, July 7th, 2021

This spring, local news team, TMJ4, interviewed our Community Programs Manager, Matt Vogt, about the Groundwork Milwaukee-led Kilbourn Community Garden. The interview emphasizes the giving garden beds where anything that grows is free to the community. The clip also features some thrilling drone footage of the garden. Watch for their follow-up story in the coming weeks. View full story.