The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will hold a free, interactive Open House on Friday and Saturday, October 31 and November 1.

It will be held at the UWM Union, 2200 East Kenwood Boulevard. It offers more than 175 booths representing the university’s 12 schools and colleges, and all of its student services.

The open house will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Participants can take part in hands-on displays, speak with advisers from each school and college, take tours of campus and individual buildings or ride the trolley by Lake Michigan and through UWM’s neighborhood.

Last year, the event drew nearly 4,000 participants to campus.

Registration is on the ground level of the Union the days of the open house. For more information, call 229-2222 or visit www.openhouse.uwm.edu.

Milwaukee Recreation promotes Fire Safety Awareness

MPS students and local dignitaries will celebrate National Fire Prevention Week at Milwaukee's Survive Alive House, 2059 South 20th Street, during the 2008 Fire Prevention Kick-off on Monday, October 6 from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. This year’s theme is “Prevent Home Fires.” Students from Garland School will join the celebration with Mayor Tom Barrett, Fire Chief Douglas Holton, MPS Superintendent William Andrekopoulos, the Survive Alive Foundation board, and other city officials. At 10:30 a.m., the students will learn to escape from a “burning” house. A news conference will begin at 12:30 p.m.

“This annual event helps to remind us all about the importance of fire safety, smoke detectors, and practicing a home fire escape plan,” says Milwaukee Fire Department Lieutenant and Survive Alive House Director Mark Grade. “The main purpose of this event is to promote fire safety and prevention while celebrating the success of Milwaukee's Survive Alive Program.”

Milwaukee's Survive Alive House is governed by the Survive Alive Foundation and jointly managed by the Milwaukee Fire Department and Milwaukee Public Schools. Every second and fifth grader in MPS visits the Survive Alive House each year, and over 200,000 children have experienced the fire safety program since its inception in 1992. As a result, Milwaukee's fire-related fatalities amongst school-aged children have decreased dramatically in the past fifteen years.

For more information, visit www.MilwaukeeRecreation.net or contact Brian Hoffer at (414) 475-8938.

Want REAL Security? Try Grassroots Organizing!

Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice will hold its annual Fall Assembly Saturday, October 4 at 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., in the Alumni Memorial Union #227, Marquette University, 1442 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee. The event is being hosted by G. Simon Harak, S.J., director, Marquette University Center for Peacemaking 414-288-8445 Peacemaking@marquette.edu.

Those from Madison needing transportation of the event should meet at the Infoshop, 1019 Williamson Street, to leave at 7 a.m. To make arrangements, call 608-262-9036. The keynote speaker will be Dan Kenney, whose topic will be: “Looking Beyond Blackwater: Organizing for Peace and Stability.”

The special guest speaker will be Patricia Isasa, a torture victim survivor.

Second annual symposium on poverty to be held

Almost one quarter of Milwaukee residents live in poverty according to recent U.S. Census figures. With that in mind, a coalition of community groups and individuals will hold the 2nd Annual Symposium on Poverty this December.

The first Symposium was held last fall and attracted hundreds of community members and leaders. Attendees identified three major challenges to eliminating poverty: job opportunities, education, and racism. Three committees were formed to pursue those areas with the goal of creating concrete recommendations.

The Second Annual Symposium on Poverty will be held Thursday, December 11 at the Midwest Airline Center in Downtown Milwaukee. The day will feature a Job and Resource Fair from 10 am to 2 pm and then a formal program at 5:30 pm. The three work groups will report out on their studies and recommendations and the public will be asked to get involved with the coalition in moving forward the process of addressing poverty in the Milwaukee area.

The Second Annual Symposium on Poverty is being sponsored by the Social Development Commission (SDC). For more information on Symposium, call SDC at 414-906-2804. 

Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin to hold daylong activities related to health advocacy

Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin, Inc. (BHCW), a community-based health advocacy organization, invites the community to join them as they celebrate their 20th anniversary on October 10. “And Still We Rise: Using Community Empowerment to Achieve Health Equity” is the theme for a day filled with health advocacy activities. A community Health Symposium will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to provide the community an opportunity to resolve problems with social programs that may impact their quality of health. Please plan to attend if you are having problems with: BadgerCare-Plus, W2, Medicaid, Childcare, Food Share, Housing, Bureau of Child Welfare, Paid Sick Leave, Adolescent Sexual Health and Child Support.

Invited agencies include: Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Family Planning Waiver Program, Milwaukee 9 to 5, Milwaukee Housing Authority and Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). A Legislative Forum and Reception will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. BHCW will release their 2008 legislative agenda. All activities are free and will be held at the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin, 3020 West Vliet Street. Contact Clarene Anderson at 933-0064 Ext. 207 or canderson@bhcw.org if you have any questions about any of these activities.

Fast Break Foundation will hold its first annual youth basketball winter league, with games running from November 1 to January 24, 2009. There will be teams for boys and girls.

The age range runs from Pee-Wees (6- to 8-years-old), college (9- to 11-years-old) and professional (12- to15-years-old).

The games will be played at Milwaukee Vincent High School, 7501 North Granville Road. Registration for the league will take place at Hospitality Childcare Center 6107 West Leon Terrace daily, Monday through Friday, 6-8 p.m. The last day for registration will be October 15.

Proof of age will be required at the time of registration.

For more information, contact Kevin Johnson at 349-4325. Also, coaches and volunteers are wanted.

WISN’S Mike Anderson tabbed for Lifetime Achievement in Television News

The Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has selected WISN 12’s Mike Anderson to be inducted as a charter member of the Milwaukee Silver Circle on Sunday, November 2 at the Marcus Center.

The Television Academy established the Silver Circle in Chicago 12 years ago to honor individuals who have devoted 25 years or more to the television industry and who have made significant contributions to television.