88Nine: Community Stories

Golf is a multibillion-dollar sport played in many places around the world. Its modern origins date back to 15th century Scotland, but the game didn't really gain traction in the United States until the turn of the 19th century. Eventually, modern legends like Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods took the game to new heights. Still, after all these years, it's a sport that lacks diversity. According to the Professional Golfers Association (PGA), African Americans make up just 7% of the general golfing population and a mere 1-3% of touring professionals. In Milwaukee, there's a group dedicated to introducing the game to many more. WeBlackWeGolf (WBWF) is a social nonprofit building community from the tee box. They're open to all but focused on getting more people of color active in the sport. In this episode, host Kim Shine takes to the the fairways and greens at Lincoln Park Golf Course in Glendale for the group's opening day. In a golf cart alongside WBWG board member and mentor Calvin Lee, Kim talks with different members and newer golfers about why they love the sport and the group.To learn more about WeBlackWeGolf, visit their website and follow the organization on Instagram.—Episode host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library and supported by our Radio Milwaukee members.

We're continuing our motherhood conversation – but this time, from the perspective of Dads, or non-birthing partners. In this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee, we're going inside Dad Doula University.Though pregnancy is physically experienced by the mother, or birthing parent, it is a process that impacts the entire family – and sometimes, Doulas are involved. A Doula is a trained professional who provides support and guidance to their clients throughout the entire process.  (Listen to our Mother's Day episode.)Joshua Liston-Zawadi is the creator of Dad Doula University. The free program offers classes to help expectant fathers & non-birthing partners prepare for parenthood. In this episode:Visiting Dad Doula University: Inside a Saturday morning class with Josh and two expectant fathers (9 minutes)Conversation w/ Josh about why he created Dad Doula University and how it's helping families. (14 minutes)Dad Doula University has serviced more than 500 families. Cohorts are available every month from April-September over two consecutive weekends. Right now, they are held in Milwaukee inside the Sherman Phoenix. Find upcoming sessions and at daddoulauniversity.com.  Episode host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library. 

In honor of Mother's Day, we're dedicating this special episode of Uniquely Milwaukee to moms (and even those considering motherhood). We're making sure to acknowledge the love, guidance, protection and sacrifice you give to — and for — your children. Thank you.——————Becoming a mother can happen at any age and stage in life. Increasingly, though, it seems that age and stage fall later and later. In March, the National Center for Health Statistics released a report showing that, for the first time, women 40 and older are having more babies than teenagers. In 1990, just more than 50,000 births happened for women 40 and older. Thirty-three years later, that number has almost tripled. Inspired by that trend, we decided to focus on moms over 40 with this Mother's Day episode in three parts:Shayvon McCullum already had two children, now 15 and 20 years old. But after meeting her partner who had none of his own, she agreed to try again. Now, at 42, she's got a 1-year-old girl and a very happy life (18 minutes).Dr. Marie Forgie, an OB/GYN from Aurora Health Care, gives her professional insight to motherhood for older women and things to consider when making the decision (11 minutes).Finally, a heartwarming conversation between my Radio Milwaukee colleague Carolann Grzybowski and her mother, Diane Cohen, who was in her 40s when she had both Carolann and her sister (25 minutes).Episode host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library. 

The Milwaukee Film Festival returns for another season of inviting film lovers to "enjoy the show." In this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee, we're talking to filmmakers -- including two from Racine -- about stories of resistance and justice.Representing southeastern Wisconsin are Laura Dyan Kezman & William Howell, co-directors of CYCLE, a documentary that explores the narrative of police violence, profiling and accountability through the death of 18-year-old Ty'Rese West of Racine. In June 2019, West was shot two in the head by a Mount Pleasant police officer who stopped him for not having a light on his bicycle.   There was no body camera footage, no witnesses and no charges were filed.Our second conversation is with Elegance Bratton, director of Move Ya Body: The Birth of House, which confronts biased systems and spotlights a movement of freedom, resistance and innovation. The film shares the genres history through the life Vince Lawrence, who in 1984 in Chicago -- along with his friend Jesse Saunders -- recorded what many consider to be the first house song.Episode host: Kim ShineUniquely Milwaukee is sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library. For more episodes, visit radiomilwaukee.org/ourstories.

Everyone needs it. An informal, neutral setting within a community that supports the individual. It encourages conversation. It embraces differences. It's a park, a bar, a coffee shop, a hair salon, a library — any spot that welcomes diversity and, sometimes, action.It isn't home.It isn't work. It's a third place.This isn't a new concept. Sociologist Ray Oldenburg is credited with solidifying it in his 1989 book, The Great Good Place, and it has since evolved over the decades as our increased access to things like money, technology and travel – while great – have shifted our need and desire for a blended community.“The idea that we spend so much time at home, then we leave our home and go to work, and then for most folks they leave work and go home, there's nothing necessarily wrong with that,” said Michael Carrier, urban historian and professor at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). “In a lot of times that's almost done out of necessity because people may be working multiple jobs, they may have childcare issues. But, when your life is that bifurcated, you don't get the sociability that people need.”Carrier does his own exploration of the topic in his book, The City Creative: The Rise of Placemaking in Urban America. On this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee, we dive into the significance of having places where people can just exist, including a new “third place” on the East Side called The Washroom.At first, the activity of doing laundry may not seem social — until you give it more than a passing thought.“ I think a laundromat is a perfect place to make into a third space because you're getting folks from all different walks of life going to one space once a week,” The Washroom owner Kelli Johnson said. “That, within itself, is very powerful … building and creating community.”Uniquely Milwaukee is sponsored by the Milwaukee Public Library.

We successfully made it through another Radio Milwaukee Spring Membership Drive! That's 10 days of our listeners hearing us (and folks in the community) explain why supporting this station matters. Whether through sustaining memberships or one-time gives, everything helps keep us on the air and in the Cream City.Radio Milwaukee is a nonprofit organization, and membership accounts for nearly a third of our annual revenue. As membership manager Maddy Riordan explains in this episode, members help sustain 88Nine and HYFIN, but also efforts like Grace Weber's Music Lab, this very podcast and our Black Small Business Initiative.Let's not forget about those who donate their time. We asked one of our longtime volunteers, Rachel Bourbon, to talk about what attracted her to Radio Milwaukee 17 years ago and how the station has evolved in nearly two decades.We also decided to have a little fun with this episode and lean on the fact that our organization is an award-winning media outlet. But that got us wondering: How many honors have we won since our 2007 launch? We'll find out together as we take an “Award Tour” with HYFIN program director Element Everest-Blanks.

This week on Uniquely Milwaukee, Radio Milwaukee's intern, Amelie Stella Lichte, takes over to share her unique experience working at the Grohmann Museum.

On Uniquely Milwaukee, we wrap up Suicide Awareness Month and reflect on the complex emotions that surround loss, especially for those affected by suicide. In this final episode, we're bringing back some of the voices you heard in Episode 1, mental health experts Emily Vander Velden and Jeremy Schumacher, unpacking strategies for coping with and balancing mourning and healing. 

On this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee, we explore deeply personal stories that reveal the challenges and triumphs of navigating mental health. Featuring co-founders of Black Space, we discuss the detrimental effects of inadequate care and the importance of finding the right mental health provider. Together, they highlight the critical need for accessible, culturally competent mental health resources for Black and Brown communities. 

The role of community and connection in suicide prevention by hearing from local organizations, support groups and individuals working to create safe spaces.

In this opening episode, we dive into the complexities of suicide. Experts in mental health, Emily Vander Velden and Jeremy Schumacher provide insights into the underlying issues that can lead to suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This episode will lay the foundation for a month of deep exploration, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of suicide and why it remains a critical public health issue.

On this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee, we sit down with Amy Horst and Stephanie Rhodes to delve into The Great Milwaukee Block Party. We explore the spirit behind this vibrant event and discover how community organizers united to make it a reality. 

On this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee, we sit down with program director Michelle Lyle to talk about the summer hydroponics program and spend a day with students conducting a fluid dynamics water balloon lab experiment.

On this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee, I sat down with Dawn Springer and dancers Rachel Malehorn, Janel Hutchison and Sejain Bastidas to talk about “Step of Two”, bringing your life into your dance and what it means to move the needle toward more inclusivity within the industry. 

This week on Uniquely Milwaukee, we head over to Bembé Dance & Drum to learn about Afro-Latino musical culture. 

Be sure to tune in to this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee where host Salam Fatayer interviews Tonda Thompson; discussing "She Slangs Wood," a carpentry company focused on empowering women through the art and craft of woodworking. You'll hear about Tonda's life-altering experiences and how they shaped her mission to instill confidence and skills in women everywhere.

This week on Uniquely Milwaukee, 88Nine's Kenny Perez takes over the episode as he sits down with Eric Kleppe-Montenegro and Sergio Rincon to talk about the origins of Oak Leaf Familia and its mission to foster inclusivity and diversity within the local biking scene. Later Kenny shifts the conversation from biking to running and highlights another athletic club that's doing the same thing, Buena Tierra Run Club.  

Eight years ago, local historian and writer John Gurda sat down with 88Nine to share stories from Milwaukee's neighborhoods. The idea for the series came after the release of Gurda's 2015 book, Milwaukee: City of Neighborhoods, which chronicles 37 contemporary portraits of Milwaukee's neighborhoods.With the weather warming and conditions ripe for exploring the city, we decided it was the ideal time to look back at this collection and share Gurda's very well-informed perspective on these well-known areas of Milwaukee. We've taken you from the south end of town to the east side and then swung around to the north. Now, we wrap things up out west with the most colorfully named neighborhood of the bunch: Piggsville.In addition to its curious moniker, this is probably the most isolated of Milwaukee's neighborhoods. In fact, you've probably driven past — or through it — without even knowing.Piggsville is nestled in the northeast corner of where the stadium freeway and I-94 meet. The interstate accounts for its southern border, Wisconsin Avenue marks its northernmost point, and it only stretches as far east as 39th street. This tiny chunk of Milwaukee has just 11 streets — and seven of them are dead ends.So what's the story behind this small neighborhood with a big (or, um, pig) name? How did it end up with that porcine label? And why do most of us refer to it as “The Valley” instead of its original name? Listen to get your answers from Gurda and to discover more about this hamlet.

Eight years ago, local historian and writer John Gurda sat down with 88Nine to share stories from Milwaukee's neighborhoods. The idea for the series came after the release of Gurda's 2015 book, Milwaukee: City of Neighborhoods, which chronicles 37 contemporary portraits of Milwaukee's neighborhoods.With the weather warming and conditions ripe for exploring the city, we decided it was the ideal time to look back at this collection and share Gurda's very well-informed perspective on these well-known areas of Milwaukee. After starting on the south end of town, this episode finds us moving north.North MilwaukeeAlthough this neighborhood borrows the name of our fair city, its history is rooted in independence. In fact, it's one of just two Milwaukee neighborhoods (Bayview is the other) that were once independent suburbs.Both of those areas have industrial foundations, with North Milwaukee's clustered around the intersection of two railroad lines: one going to Minneapolis and the other to Green Bay. This crossing defined the neighborhood and is still visible in a map of its rectangular setup, with a big iron “X” running through it. The transportation benefit had people moving from other parts of town to the newly established North Milwaukee, which remained independent from 1918 to 1929.HarambeeThis long, narrow neighborhood stretches from North Avenue to Capitol Drive and I-43 to Holston Street. While its name comes from the Swahili word that means “pulling together,” neither the name nor its cultural heritage were present in the early days. Instead — like many parts of Milwaukee — it was originally settled by Germans in the mid-1800s.More than a century later, the neighborhood became an epicenter for civil rights in the 1960s and 1970s, fighting against institutional racism such as segregation in schools and housing. Around that time that, it officially adopted the name “Harambee” and remains a stronghold of Black culture and commerce in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee's preemminent historian shares stories from Milwaukee's neighborhoods-- this week from the East Side to Riverwest.produced by Marcus Doucette

Eight years ago, local historian and writer John Gurda sat down with 88Nine to share stories from Milwaukee's neighborhoods. The idea for the series came after the release of Gurda's 2015 book, Milwaukee: City of Neighborhoods, which chronicles 37 contemporary portraits of Milwaukee's neighborhoods.With the weather warming and conditions ripe for exploring the city, we decided it was the ideal time to look back at this collection and share Gurda's very well-informed perspective on these well-known areas of Milwaukee. We start on the south end of town with one neighborhood that was there from the city's beginning, Walker's Point, and a gateway to the immigrant experience, the Historic South Side.Curated by Jordan Lee Produced by Marcus Doucette

On this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee, in celebration of International Women's Day, we delve into the story of two generations of Palestinian women, Muna Sharma and her mother,  navigating the complexities of identity in a politicized world through food. From tales of resilience in the kitchen to the harrowing experience of making a meal during a home raid, we explore why cultural preservation is essential and how Bint Jamila's Table is bringing Palestinian cuisine to Milwaukee through its cooking workshops.

In this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee, I sit down with Jimmy Banks' son, Jordan Banks, and close friend Wendell Willis to delve deeper into his legacy, why his story remains largely untold, and the invaluable lessons for those on and off the field.

In this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee, I interview Makenzie Kojis, a Music Therapist from Milwaukee, to explore the field of music therapy. We delve into the scientific relationship between music and the brain, and discuss the advantages of this type of therapy.

From serendipitous encounters to enduring partnerships, join us, on Uniquely Milwaukee as we celebrate the diverse and beautiful stories of couples who have found each other against all odds

On this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee, Host Salam Fatayer explores the profound impact of Black culture on mainstream culture. Listen to a conversation with Lexi S. Brunson from CopyWrite Magazine, delving into topics such as fashion, labor, and music and their origins within the Black community - revealing the multifaceted contributions of Black culture.

Listen to this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee as I engage in a conversation with Geraud Blanks to delve deeper into Culture x Design. And learn about this month's Black History Program featuring Black History Trivia and bringing back In Retrospect: The Life & Times Of Lauryn Hill w/ Dr. Joan Morgan.

On this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee, we explore the heart of the community at Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. It's more than a coffee shop here; it's a flourishing hub for the Arab South Asian and Muslim communities in Milwaukee.

Join Uniquely Milwaukee host, Salam Fatayer, as she reflects on the history behind Martin Luther King Jr. Day turning into a federal holiday... and how Stevie Wonder plays a role.

This week on Uniquely Milwaukee, join us as we grab a drink at Agency, Milwaukee's first hybrid bar. Immerse yourself in the choice of indulging in an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage. Plus, hear from the founder, Ryan Castelaz, as he shares the story of how this innovative concept came to fruition.

This past February, for Black History Month, Hyfin's Element Everest-Blanks speaks with Dr. Gina Paige, the co-founder of African Ancestry, a DNA test that places your African ancestry in a present-day country and ethnic group or tribe. During the podcast, Element reveals her results.

We are continuing to recap our favorite stories of 2023, this time taking us back to the beginning of the year for an intensive weekend-long music camp, Ladies Rock MKE, which teaches campers of all skill levels to learn an instrument, form a band, write a song and perform it in front of a live audience.

This week on Uniquely Milwaukee, I spent a day at Milwaukee County Zoo with zookeeper, Ryan Taylor, where we learned how he takes care of some animals at the zoo.

On this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee, dive into the tumultuous world of parking enforcement as we shadow a parking enforcement officer, a figure often vilified for their role in issuing tickets and regulating parking spaces. Explore the challenges they face, the misunderstood life of a parking enforcement officer and the behind-the-scenes realities that shape this universally disliked line of work.

In a special edition of Uniquely Milwaukee, B~Free steps into the spotlight to conduct an intimate interview with R&B sensation Grace Weber. Delve into the raw realities of musician life, explore the challenges of mental health, and uncover the unglamorous side of touring in this exclusive Artist on Artist talk. Don't miss this installment of 'Odd Job' month for a behind-the-scenes look at the music industry.

For November, we are on a mission to find the most intriguing and unique jobs in Milwaukee. Our first stop brings us to Colectivo, a beloved coffee establishment, where we speak to an individual about her job.

As we come to the end of our series on death, we invite you to listen to community confessions and personal thoughts on death and grief. Later, Kim Shine joins us to discuss the lessons we have learned while working on this topic this month.pic this month.

This week on Uniquely Milwaukee, we continue to discuss death, but this time we explore its connection to our media and culture. Featured in this episode are UW-Madison Professor Jonathan Gray and Pine Lawn Park Office Manager Kerri Balliet.

In this episode of Uniquely Milwaukee, I speak with an individual who lost both her parents at different stages in her life. Listen as we delve into her experiences, the lessons she's learned, and how her journey with loss has shaped her into the person she is today.

In this installment of Uniquely Milwaukee, we delve deeper into the profound subject of mortality, shifting our focus to the individuals who work closely with it. Our featured guests include Dr. Lara India, a compassionate Palliative Care specialist, followed by the insightful investigative journalist, Gina Barton.