Now that people have owned their homes for a few years and feel settled in, we are ready to begin work improving the broader community. The next step for us is Johnson Park, which we know with care can become an anchor for a sustainable neighborhood.
—Tony Gibson, chair of the Johnsons Park Neighborhood Association.

Local residents share in planning Johnson Park revitalization

Some of Milwaukee’s most poorly rated public spaces are receiving much needed attention through a joint public and private initiative underway in the Fond du Lac Avenue and North Avenue neighborhood.
The initiative is called "The Greater Johnsons Park: Imagine Tomorrow Initiative" and will hold a community design event and picnic in Johnsons Park on July 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The kick-off event is the first of several public meetings. In the months ahead, participants will have the chance to see how their input helped to shape park and school ground plans.
A new, broad-based partnership between the Urban Open Space Foundation, Milwaukee County Parks and many other community groups are working to add quality parkland and enhance existing facilities. Johnson Park, Alice’s Garden and the Brown Street Academy Schoolyard are the centerpieces of the first phase of revitalization efforts.
Though Milwaukee is known for its natural beauty accentuated by parks, Johnsons Park received the lowest standardized test scores in a 2002 Public Policy Forum survey entitled "Public Spaces, Public Priorities: An Analysis of Milwaukee County’s Parks."
Further, the neighborhood has long been characterized by a high rate of city-owned tax delinquent vacant property (16% of the total land area), diminished air, water and soil quality, schoolyards needing green activity space, harsh streetscapes and poorly maintained public infrastructure.
Now inner city residents near Greater Johnsons Park are stepping forward to help redesign the county park and surrounding landscapes. "For the last few year, the Johnsons Park Neighborhood Association (JPNA) has worked to create a safe and friendly neighborhood by encouraging our many new homeowners to take personal responsibility for their homes and immediate neighbors," said Tony Gibson, chair of the JPNA.
"Now that people have owned their homes for a few years and feel settled in, we are ready to begin work improving the broader community. The next step for us is Johnsons Park, which we know with care can become an anchor for a sustainable neighborhood."
A partnership including Milwaukee Public Schools, the City of Milwaukee, JPNA, Legacy Redevelopment Corporation, the NAACP, Park People, Preserve Our Parks, University of Wisconsin Extension and the Walnut Way Neighborhood Association has joined with the Urban Open Space Foundation (UOSF) and Milwaukee County Parks to bring Park and pedestrian improvements to the area.
Says UOSF Founder and Executive Director Heather Mann, "It’s exciting to see residents who have never before been involved with park planning taking charge of their community’s public spaces. I’m confident that—with input—we’ll design an urban playground that will delight people of all ages while attracting redevelopment dollars to the area and improving Milwaukee’s natural environment."
During the design event and the picnic we will allow citizens to share their dreams and visions for the park and neighboring Brown Street Academy and Alice’s Garden. Kids are encouraged to attend and share their ideas through art and games. A getting-to-know-you lunch will wrap up the day.
The initiative is funded through the generous support of the USDA Forest Service, Forest County Potawatomi Community Foundation, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and the Brisco Fund.

Al Jarreau celebrated as Ford Freedom Award Scholar for using his talents to make a difference

Detroit—A plaque bearing the name of songstress Ella Fitzgerald was recently added to the Ring of Genealogy in the Ford Freedom Rotunda at Detroit’s Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
The plaque was unveiled during a black-tie gala in the presence of hundreds of guests, celebrities, and dignitaries who gathered at the museum to help celebrate the life, love, and legacy of Fitzgerald, this year’s Ford Freedom Award recipient.
Musical innovator Al Jarreau, who was among the guests that paid tribute to Fitzgerald for her ability to bring people together through song, was honored as the Ford Freedom Award Scholar.
"It’s wonderful when companies like Ford recognize things that are going on in the community. Maybe this award is about what I ought to be doing as much as what I have done," said Jarreau. "I am proud to join Ford in trying to encourage youth and young people … in leading the way and trying to make a difference in people’s lives."
The Ford Freedom Award was created in 1999 to honor those whose life work and character have made a significant impact on our world.
The Ford Freedom Award is given posthumously to a distinguished individual who dedicated his or her life to improving the African American community and the world in general.
The Ford Freedom Award Scholar honor is given to a living individual who has excelled in the same field as the award recipient, carried forth the ideals of the recipient, and has in his or her own way, furthered the achievements for a new generation.
"Ford Motor Company has sponsored the Ford Freedom Award in partnership with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History for seven years.
"This celebration and awards presentation is the extension of our shared commitment to promote diversity, tolerance, and inclusion," said Ziad Ojakli, group vice president of Corporate Affairs at Ford Motor Company.
"Both of these musical geniuses have proved that one person’s life—and the use of his or her talents—can make a difference in this world. They have inspired us by showing us that the pursuit and good use of our talents can change our world forever—and for the better."
Dubbed the "First Lady of Song," Ella Jane Fitzgerald was the most popular female jazz singer in the United States for more than half a century. During her lifetime, she sold over 40 million albums and won 13 Grammy awards.
She performed at top venues all over the world, and her audiences were as diverse as her vocal range. Fitzgerald received the National Medal of Arts, France’s Commander of Arts and Letters Award, Kennedy Center Honors, and numerous honorary doctorates for her continuing contributions to the arts. Her son, Ray Brown, Jr., a musician in his own right, accepted the award on her behalf.
"This award helps to keep the memory of a truly great artist alive," said Brown. "To know that she is remembered and revered is special. It keeps all the things she did alive."
Jarreau also addressed more than 1,700 students, including the six winners of the annual Ford Freedom Award Essay Contest, at the Detroit Music Hall during the annual Ford Freedom Awards Scholar’s Lecture. He encouraged youth to stay in school, to discover their passion, and to use their gifts to improve the quality of life for others.
Now in its seventh year, the Ford Freedom Award program raises funds to support the museum’s educational programs, exhibits, and community outreach initiatives.
"The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is the largest museum of its kind in the nation and an invaluable resource to our city. Ford is proud that Detroit is its home, and we are honored to support this outstanding institution," said Jim Vella, vice president and chief of staff at Ford Motor Company. "We believe that cultural diversity is to everyone’s benefit … and hope that today’s events and celebration will inspire others to join in its pursuit."
Along with Ford Motor Company, key sponsors of the Ford Freedom Award program also included DaimlerChrysler, Comerica, and Compuware.

Family House, Inc. receives $5,000 from the Medical College of Wisconsin for Family Day 2005

Family House, Inc. (FHI)—announced recently it received a $5,000 donation from the Medical College of Wisconsin for its annual "Family Day 2005" event.
Family Day will take place on Wednesday, August 20, at Family House, Inc. 3269 North 11th Street.
The donation enables FHI to provide food, games, raffles, and live entertainment, from 1-4 p.m., at no cost to the attendees.
"This donation allows us to provide free and safe fun for families and children within the central city of Milwaukee," said Cordelia Taylor, CEO of Family House, Inc.
Under the direction of volunteers within the community and staff, Family Day 2005 will be operated by the community, for the community.
Family House, Inc. also invites neighborhood associations, youth centers, and other organizations for the elderly, homeless or low-income families throughout the city.
Family House, Inc. is a non-profit entity with the mission to improve the overall quality of life for the Greater Milwaukee community as guided by Christian precepts and actions through programs and activities that serve.