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>> WELCOME TO "BLACK NOUVEAU."
THIS IS OUR EDITION FOR
DECEMBER 4, 2014.
I'M JOANNE WILLIAMS.
THIS WEEK, TO FIGHT THAT CURE
TEE DINNER HAZE, WE'LL VISIT THE
LADIES WORKOUT EXPRESS.
WE HAVE REVIEW OF THE ART OF THE
XENOBIA BAILEY.
WE'LL PROFILE WES MOORE, A
RHOADES SCHOLAR, AUTHOR AND
MILITARY VETERAN AND TALK ABOUT
HOW YOU CAN HELP MILWAUKEE'S
HOMELESS VETERANS THIS HOLIDAY
SEASON AND WE BEGIN THIS HOLIDAY
SEASON WITH A FAMILIAR SOUND.
THAT BELL IS THE SOUND OF THE
SALVATION ARMY'S RED KETTLE
CAMPAIGN.
IT WILL CONTINUE AT OVER 100
LOCATIONS IN THE MILWAUKEE AREA
UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE.
BUT THE CAMPAIGN WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2014.
THE GOAL THIS YEAR IS TO RAISE
$3.5 MILLION.
AND WE ARE JOINED BY THE
SALVATION ARMY'S MAJOR DAN
JENNINGS.
DIVISION COMMANDER FOR WISCONSIN
AND UPPER MICHIGAN.
THAT'S A BIG AREA.
>> THAT IS BIG AREA, BUT IT'S A
BEAUTIFUL AREA.
WE LOVE WISCONSIN AND UPPER
MICHIGAN.
IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.
>> GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
NOW THIS CAMPAIGN YOU'RE GOING
TO SHOOT FOR 3 MILLION PLUS?
>> $3.5 MILLION.
LAST YEAR THE GOAL WAS
$3 MILLION, BUT THE NEED HAS
INCREASED IT DOES EVERY YEAR AND
THIS YEAR TO KEEP PACE WITH THE
NEED, WE HAVE TO RAISE
$3.5 MILLION.
>> WHAT KIND OF NEED ARE WE
TALKING ABOUT?
WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED?
>> THIS IS THE BASIC, BASIC
NEEDS.
PEOPLE NEED FOOD, HOUSING AND
CLOTHING, SO THOSE ARE THE TYPES
OF THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO
WITH THE MONEY THAT WE PRAISE
OVER THE CHRISTMAS SEASON --
RAISE OVER THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.
>> WHY IS THERE NO DECREASE IN
THE NEED, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
SOCIETY?
>> THE PRESSURE HAS BECOME
GREATER AND GREATER.
AS YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING HAS
BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE.
JOBS HAVE BECOME MORE RARE AND
SO IN THIS ECONOMY THAT'S
DIFFICULT, WE HAVE MORE AND MORE
PEOPLE WHO ARE BECOMING JUST
POOR, YOU KNOW.
THE AMOUNT OF THE POOR IS
INCREASING.
AND SO THE THING THAT WE SEE IS
AS WE LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
COMING TO US FOR SERVICE, WE'RE
REALLY ALARM BY THE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE NEVER COME TO THE SALVATION
ARMY BEFORE FOR SERVICE WHO ARE
COMING FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME
AND SOME OF THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE
COMING, WHO ARE PEOPLE IN THE
PAST WHO USED TO GIVE TO US,
USED TO BE PART OF THE
CONTRIBUTING PUBLIC, BUT NOW ARE
HAVING TO COME TO US FOR THE
FIRST TIME FOR NEED.
>> SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE
WHO WERE MIDDLE CLASS, IF WE
WANT TO CATEGORIZE THEM, WHO
HAVE NOW DROPPED THEIR STATUS TO
NEEDY CLASS.
>> RIGHT.
>> I DON'T WANT TO CALL THEM
POOR NECESSARILY, BUT PEOPLE WHO
NEED HELP FROM SOMEBODY ELSE.
IS IT HARD FOR THEM TO COME TO
YOU?
>> IT'S VERY DIFFICULT IN MANY
CASES FOR SOME PEOPLE TO COME,
BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER HAD TO
NAVIGATE THIS WHOLE SYSTEM
BEFORE.
THEY NEVER HAD TO COME IN AND
ACTUALLY ASK FOR HELP, SO IT'S
HARD FOR PEOPLE TO COME IN,
THERE'S SOME SWALLOWING OF THE
PRIDE THAT HAS TO HAPPEN, SO WE
TRY TO BE AS SENSITIVE AS WE CAN
THOSE ISSUES AND REALLY TRY TO
MAKE THEM FEEL LIKE WE'RE HERE
TO HELP.
IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO COME.
>> DO A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE
THEN, IMPROVE THEIR
CIRCUMSTANCES AND COME BACK AND
BE DONORS ONCE AGAIN, CAN THAT
HAPPEN?
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY.
IT CAN ALWAYS HAPPEN.
ALL IT TAKES IS A JOB OR
EDUCATION, OR THOSE TYPES OF
THINGS THAT IF YOU EITHER LOSE
THEM OR GET THEM, IT REALLY
TRANSPORTS YOU TO ONE SIDE OR
THE OTHER OF THE ECONOMY.
>> WHEN THE PEOPLE COME TO YOU
FOR SERVICES, WHAT KIND OF
SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?
>> WE OFFER A VARIETY OF
SERVICES, ONE IS SOME PEOPLE
COME JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO GET THROUGH
THE END OF THE MONTH SO THEY
COME AND ASK FOR FOOD BOXES.
WE GATHER UP THINGS, PUT IT IN A
BOX AND GIVE IT TO THIS FAMILY
TO TAKE HOME AND JUST TO GET
THROUGH TILL LIKE I SAID THE END
OF THE MONTH.
IT MAY BE AN EXTRA BILL CAME
THROUGH THAT MONTH, IT MAY BE
THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT
THEY WEREN'T EXPECTING, AND THEY
JUST CAN'T MAKE ENDS MEET, SO
THAT'S LIKE THE REAL BASIC
LEVEL.
SOME PEOPLE COME TO US BECAUSE
THEY'VE JUST RECEIVED A NOTE
THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO LEAVE YOUR
APARTMENT OR YOUR HOME.
AND SO THEY HAVE NO PLACE TO
TURN, NO PLACE TO GO, TO BE ABLE
TO HOUSE THEMSELVES, AND SO THEY
COME TO US AN WE HAVE A VARIETY
OF THINGS THEY DO.
IN SOME CASES, WE PAY THEIR RENT
FOR A MONTH OR TWO TO MAKE SURE
THEY CAN STAY IN THEIR HOUSE AND
IN OTHER CASES WE TAKE THEM IN
TO OUR FACILITIES BECAUSE THEY
NEED SOMEPLACE TO.
NO, SO WE TAKE THEM IN THE
SHELTER.
IN OTHER CASES PEOPLE HAVE A DUE
DUAL DIAGNOSIS.
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WE
TALKING ABOUT WHO NOT
NECESSARILY HAVE THE DOUBLE
PROBLEM OR EVEN THE TRIPLE
PROBLEM, BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE DO
YOU SERVE?
>> WE SERVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
EVERY YEAR.
WE HAVE ABOUT A 40 ROOM
APARTMENT BUILDING WHERE WE JUST
HOUSE PEOPLE WHO ARE BOTH
MENTALLY HALE AND HOMELESS --
ILL AND HOMELESS TAME, SO YOU
THINK ABOUT THE STAGGERING
NUMBERS OF THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE
WE HAVE TO HELP IN THOSE
CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT WE HAVE HELP
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
THROUGH WHATEVER THEY HAPPEN TO
NEED WHEN THEY COME IN.
SOME PEOPLE CAN'T FILL THEIR
PRESCRIPTIONS, PAID THEIR RENT
AND NOW HAVE NO MONEY TO BUY THE
PRESCRIPTIONS THEY NEED SO THEY
COME TO US AND PROVIDE
PRESCRIPTION HELP.
>> TELL ME WHERE THE SALVATION
ARMY IS LOCATED, WHERE IS THE
HEADQUARTERS AND WHERE ARE YOUR
OTHER OFFICES?
>> WE HAVE SEVERAL OFFICES IN
TOWN.
OUR HEADQUARTERS IS LOCATED IN
WAUWATOSA, BUT WE PROVIDE NO
SERVICE OUT OF THAT BUILDING.
THE THAT BUILDING IS THERE TO
SUPPORT THE OTHER THINGS THAT
HAPPEN.
ON WALNUT, WE HAVE A BUILDING
AND ALSO 40th AND VILLARD WE
HAVE A BUILDING AND IN OAK
CREEK, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A
BRAND NEW CENTER IN DECEMBER ON
COLE SPRING, THAT WILL SERVE
THAT AREA, SO THAT GIVES US GOOD
COVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
>> THE REASON I ASK THAT IS SO
THAT PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND THAT
IT'S NOT JUST A CENTRAL CITY
SERVICE.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND YOU THINK ABOUT OAK CREEK,
IT SEEMS LIKE A RELATIVELY
AFFLUENT AREA, BUT THERE ARE
PEOPLE IN OAK CREEK WHO ARE
HURTING JUST AS MUCH AS THEY'RE
HURTING IN THE CENTRAL CITY AND
WE PROVIDE THOSE SAME ESSENTIAL
SERVICES IN OAK CREEK THAT WE
PROVIDE RIGHT ON, YOU KNOW,
5th AND WALNUT.
>> NOW IF PEOPLE WANT TO GET IN
TOUCH WITH THE SALVATION ARMY
ASIDE FROM PUTTING MONEY IN THE
KETTLE, WHICH YOU WANT THEM TO
DO EVERY TIME THEY SEE A RED
KETTLE, HOW DO THEY GET IN TOUCH
WITH YOU?
>> HERE'S THE EASIEST WAY.
WE HAVE A TELEPHONE NUMBER YOU
CAN CALL WHICH IS A CENTRALIZED
TELEPHONE NUMBER AND THAT WILL
GET YOU TO WHERE YOU NEED HELP.
SO THAT'S A NUMBER THEY CAN
CALL, THEY CAN GET A HOLD OF US
AND DIRECT THEM TO THE OFFICE
WHERE NETTA NEED TO GO TO GET
HELP.
>> WE'LL SEE IF YOU HIT THAT
$3 MILLION MARK THIS YEAR.
>> $3.5 MILLION.
IT WENT UP A LITTLE BIT THIS
YEAR.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
COMING AND TALKING WITH US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MAJOR JENNINGS FROM THE
SALVATION ARMY.
>> WHEN YOU EXERCISE IT MAKES
YOU FEEL GOOD.
IT'S A GREAT STRESS RELIEVER, AN
MANY OF US ARE UNDER A LOT OF
STRESS, SO THIS IS A GREAT WAY
TO DO IT.
>> THIS IS LADIES WORKOUT
EXPRESS.
A GYM DESIGNED WITH WOMEN IN
MIND.
IT'S HELPFUL TO BE IN AN
ENVIRONMENT WITH OTHERS SIMILAR
TO YOU.
AND BEING INVOLVED IN A FORMAL
EXERCISE PROGRAM HAS BENEFITS.
>> OF COURSE, LOSE WEIGHT, MAKES
YOU FEEL GREAT.
THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO RELIEVE
STRESS.
WE HAVE SO MANY WOMEN WHO HAVE
TAKEN ON SO MUCH THAT YOU KNOW,
THEY NEED THIS.
REDUCE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE,
THERE ARE A LOT OF WOMEN WHO
HAVE -- WHO ARE NO LONGER TAKING
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION
OR DIABETES MEDICATION AS A
RESULT OF EXERCISE.
>> WHAT WE DO HERE IS CALLED
CIRCUIT TRAINING, WHICH IS WHAT
THIS IS HERE.
IT'S WEIGHT BEARING EXERCISES IN
ADDITION TO A CARDIOVASCULAR
WASHINGOUT.
IT TAKES 30 MINUTES TO DO THE
CIRCUIT, YOU'RE GOING TO WORK
EVERY MUSCLE GROUP IN YOUR BODY
AT LEAST FOUR TIMES.
THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE HERE
IS HYDRAULIC EQUIPMENT, SO IT'S
BASED ON A PUSH-PULL MOTION, SO
IT'S VERY EASY ON YOUR JOINTS,
AND THE FASTER YOU PUSH AND
PULL, THE MORE RESISTANCE YOU'RE
GOING TO FEEL, SO YOU'RE IN
CONTROL OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING, SO
IT'S A VERY EASY WAY TO GET
STARTED WITH WORKING OUT.
>> ALSO, WE DO ZUMBA HERE, WE DO
REGULAR ZUMBA CLASSES, WE DO
ZUMBA TONING CLASSES AND ALSO
ZUMBA GOLD AND ZUMBA GOLD IS A
ZUMBA CLASS FOR OLDER WOMEN OR
PEOPLE WHO ARE SEDENTARY, JUST
STARTING OUT TO WORKOUT.
ZUMBA MEANS JOIN THE PARTY, SO
ANYBODY CAN DO WHETHER YOU'RE
OLD, YOUNG, HAVE NOT WORKED OUT
IN A WHILE, BECAUSE BASICALLY,
YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE -- YOU ONLY
DO WHAT YOU CAN DO, SO ANYONE
CAN DO ZUMBA, IT'S EASY, IT'S
FUN, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO SCULPT
AND TONE YOUR BODY.
I LOST 160 POUNDS, AND I WALKED
IN AND SAID, PLEASE WORK ME OUT
AND CHERYL DID JUST THAT AND SO
FIRST I STARTED ON THE CIRCUIT
AND THEN WHEN I GOT A MORE
STRESSFUL JOB AND NEEDED TO DO
OTHER THINGS, I DID THE ZUMBA
AND THE CIRCUIT AND WALKED TO
THE GYM EVERY MORNING.
>> I HAVE LOST WEIGHT, I HAVE
TONED UP, AND MY MOOD IS BETTER,
AND MY STRESS IS LESS, AND I'M
HAPPIER AND MORE JOYFUL.
>> TO WHAT DEGREE ARE THE
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
CONNECTED?
>> AS WOMEN, WE TYPICALLY TAKE
ON SO MUCH, AND WHAT WE HAVE A
TENDENCY TO DO IS WHEN SOMEONE
GETS SICK, WE GIVE UP OUR
EXERCISE, AND YOU KNOW, WE DON'T
TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES, SO THIS
IS A GREAT WAY TO KEEP OURSELVES
MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY GOING.
>> IT'S SUCH A STRESS RELIEVER.
IT'S A GREAT WAY TO RELAX
YOURSELF AND NOT HAVE TO DO --
EAT OR GO HAVE A DRINK AFTER
WORK, BECAUSE COME AND WORK OUT
AND RELAX YOURSELF.
IT'S REALLY GREAT.
>> I'M A CHURCH PASTOR, AND I
WORK A LOT OF HOURS, AND PART OF
MY WORK IS HELPING PEOPLE MANAGE
THEIR STRESS.
PART OF WHAT CHURCH IS FOR.
AND SO WHEN I COME HERE, IT'S
THE WORKOUT, IT'S THE PEOPLE,
IT'S THE -- IT'S CHERYL WHO IS
AMAZING AND SUPPORTIVE AND THAT
JUST HELPS ME BE BETTER AT
EVERYTHING I DO.
>> ANYONE CAN LOSE WEIGHT.
IT'S ABOUT MONITORING WHAT
YOU'RE EATING, DRINKING WATER
AND EXERCISING, AND YOU KNOW, IT
TAKES US A WHILE, WE WANT QUICK
FIXES AND THAT'S NOT HOW THAT
WORKS.
WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS YOU KNOW,
JUST TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY AND
THEN JUST BE PATIENT, BECAUSE IT
WILL COME OFF, BECAUSE IT TOOK
US A WHILE TO PUT THE WEIGHT ON
AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE
TO TAKE THE WEIGHT OFF.
>> MY DOCTOR IS REALLY BROAD OF
ME THE -- PROUD OF ME.
I LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT TOO.
I WAS A DIABETIC, I WAS TAKING
INSULIN, NOW I DON'T TAKE ANY
INSULIN, I MANAGE IT WITH MY
DIET AND EXERCISE.
>> HOW MUCH WEIGHT DID YOU LOSE?
>> ABOUT 50 POUNDS.
>> SEE YOUR DOCTOR OR
NUTRITIONIST, AND THEY CAN
MODIFY, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR
HEALTH ISSUE IS, SO THEY'RE THE
ONES THAT WOULD MODIFY THAT
AND -- MODIFY THAT AND WE'RE THE
ONES THAT WOULD HELP YOU TO LOSE
THE WEIGHT.
>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGES OR CHALLENGES TO
STICKS WITH AN EXERCISE PROGRAM.
>> WITH EXERCISE, YOU HAVE TO
MAKE IT AN APPOINTMENT.
YOU HAVE TO USE EXERCISE, LIKE
EVERYTHING ELSE.
WHEN YOU HAVE A DOCTOR'S
APPOINTMENT, YOU KNOW THAT
APPOINTMENT, SO WITH EXERCISE,
IT'S THE SAME THING.
YOU HAVE TO SET THAT
APPOINTMENT, SO IF YOU KNOW THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO BE HERE AT
8:30 A.M. ON MONDAY MORNING, YOU
NEED TO WRITE THAT DOWNnd A
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR
YOURSELF, BECAUSE YOUR HEALTH IS
JUST AS IMPORTANT AS EVERYTHING
ELSE THAT YOU DO.
I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
WOMEN TO KNOW THAT OUR CHILDREN
ARE LOOKING AT US, AND THAT WE
HAVE TO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE
ROLE MODELS FOR THEM, AND IF WE
EXERCISE, OUR CHILDREN ARE GOING
TO EXERCISE.
>> SO ROLE MODEL FOR YOUR FAMILY
AND GET INVOLVED.
EXERCISE FOR BETTER HEALTH, AND
ONE WAY TO DO THIS IS WITH
LADIES WORKOUT EXPRESS.
THE
>> IN THE AMERICAN STORY,
ARTISTS FROM FAR AND WIDE FUSE
PERSONAL IDENTITY WITH CULTURAL
HERITAGE.
XENOBIA BILLY DODGED INTO THE
AFRICAN AESTHETIC OF CROCHET.
>> WHAT YOU LEARNED IN SCHOOL
AND WHAT YOU'VE GROWN UP WITH,
IS THIS A COMBINATION OF THOSE
WORKS OR IS THIS YOUR IDEA OF
THE AFRICAN AESTHETIC?
>> MY INSTRUCTORS TOLD ME THERE
IS NO SUCH THING AS AN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN AESTHETIC AND I
TOLD THEM THERE WAS, THAT'S HOW
I WAS IN ART SCHOOL, BECAUSE I
WAS -- THAT'S THE AESTHETIC THAT
I WAS RAISED ON, BECAUSE I DEAL
WITH THE AESTHETIC OF FUNK.
IT'S REALLY BASED ON AN
EMOTIONAL RHYTHM, PATTERN, KIND
OF DEVELOPMENT, AND THE COLOR
COMBINATIONS, THERE'S NO SET
TECHNIQUE TO DO IT EXCEPT FOR
THE STITCHING, BUT AS FAR AS THE
SURFACE DESIGN, YOU KNOW WHEN IT
WORKS, AND YOU KNOW WHEN IT
DOESN'T WORK.
>> WHEN DID YOU START DISPLAYING
YOUR WORKS, OR THIS COLLECTION?
>> WELL, THIS COLLECTION STARTED
AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.
STARTED DURING A RESIDENCY I WAS
IN IN STUDIO MUSEUM OF HARLEM.
NOTHING WAS DONE AS FAR AS THAT
RESIDENCY WAS CONCERNED.
AND I TITLED THAT PARADISE ON
UNDER RECONSTRUCTION AND THE
AESTHETIC OF FUNK, THAT WAS THE
FIRST STAGE.
FROM THERE, I WAS JUST WORKING
FOR SEVEN YEARS, THIS WAS A
SEVEN YEARLONG E I WAS WORKING
ON DIFFERENT COMPONENTS.
KIND OF TRYING TO BUILD THE
WHOLE CONCEPT TOGETHER.
STARTED WITH THE HATS.
THE HATS ARE USED, MYSELF AS A
MUSE, AND I STARTED DESIGNING
HATS THAT WOULD -- I COULD WEAR
TO THE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS AND
DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I GO TO --
DEVELOP THAT LIFESTYLE.
HATS TAKE ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO DO
THE OTHER PIECES ARE THE
MANDALAYS, THEY ARE A POINT OF
CONCENTRATION FOR MEDITATION.
THESE ARE BASED OFF OF A LOT OF
INSPIRATIONAL AND SPIRITUAL
ARTIFACTS FROM DIFFERENT
CULTURES AND COMBINING THE
AESTHETIC OF FUNK TO IT.
>> DOES EACH ONE OF THESE
PIECES, LIKE SOME OF THESE ARE
JUST -- THEY LOOK TO
EXTREMELY -- SO EXTREMELY VAST
AND TIME CONSUMING.
HOW LONG DOES IT NORMALLY THANK
YOU TO DO A PIECE?
>> WHAT I DO WITH EACH PIECE, I
JUST DO INDIVIDUAL CIRCLES.
AND I JUST DO LIKE, A BUNCH OF
DIFFERENT CIRCLES, DIFFERENT
SIZES AND THEN I'LL JUST ALL OF
A SUDDEN STOP AND TAKE THE
LARGEST PIECE, AND PUT IT ON THE
WALL, AND THEN I'LL TAKE ANOTHER
PIECE AND I'LL START COMPOSING
THE DIFFERENT PIECES, AND THEN
AFTER I SEE THAT IT'S WHERE I
WANT IT TO BE, THEN I START
PUTTING THE BLANKET STITCH,
STITCH THEM ALTOGETHER, BUT
IT'S -- IT'S A PHASE OF A LOT OF
CROCHETING, AND THE LARGEST
PIECES TAKE A MONTH TO DO AND
THE SMALLER PIECES, I DON'T EVEN
KNOW, BECAUSE I NEVER REALLY
TIME THEM OR ANYTHING.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT THE TENT TOOK ABOUT SIX
MONTHS TO DO.
THIS TENT TOOK ABOUT SIX MONTHS
TO DO.
>> AND YOU PUT THE GARMENTS FOR
EACH ONE OF THESE?
>> YEAH, I MADE THE GARMENTS.
I MADE EVERYTHING FOR THEM.
THE FACES ARE MADE OUT OF TERRA
COTTA, AND I PAINTED OVER WITH
ACRYLIC PAINT AND I MADE THE
DRESSES.
>> IN ADDITION TO HER ARTWORK,
XENOBIA HAS ALSO DEVELOPED A
WORKSHOP.
>>
>> WHAT IS THE WORKSHOP ITSELF?
>> THE WORKSHOP ITSELF IS ABOUT
CREATIVITY AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT'S WHAT
THIS IS.
THIS IS A COMMUNITY AND THIS IS
A COMMUNITY THAT'S LIKE GYPSIES
ON THE ROAD, YOU KNOW, AND LIKE
WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE SET UP CAMP
HERE AND WE HAVE THE WORKSHOPS
AND FROM THAT WORKSHOPS, WE'RE
TRYING TO STIMULATE, INSPIRE
CREATIVITY WITHIN THE
COMMUNITIES WHEREVER WE GO AND
REALLY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT
EVERYBODY CAN DO RIGHT NOW.
BECAUSE LIKE, IN EVERY
HOUSEHOLD, SOMEBODY KNOWS HOW TO
CROCHET, SOMEBODY KNOWS HOW TO
KNIT, HOW TO SEW, YOU KNOW, SO
IT'S JUST BEING INSPIRED TO DO
IT, YOU KNOW, BUT ALL THIS --
NOTHING IS NEW.
NONE OF IT IS NEW.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE NEEDLE, THE
IMAGINATION, AND JUST TAKING THE
TIME TO DO IT.
WITH A HEAP OF YARN AND
IMAGINATION AND YOUR IMAGINATION
TAKES YOU TO, YOU KNOW, WHEREVER
YOU WANT TO GO, YOU KNOW, IT'S
LIKE YOUR MAGIC CARPET RIDE.
>> WE CAN NEVER HAVE AN HONEST
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF
OUR COMMUNITY IF ONLY A SLIVER
OF THE POPULATION IS EVEN BEING
THOUGHT ABOUT IN THAT
CONVERSATION.
>> WES MOORE IS A MOTIVATIONAL
SPEAKER, A RHOADES SCHOLAR, A
WHITE HOUSE FELLOW, AND A
DECORATED COMBAT VETERAN.
HE SPOKE AT MATC RECENTLY ABOUT
HIS FIRST BOOK, THE OTHER WES
MOORE, ONE NAME, TWO FATES.
THE BOOK IS ABOUT THE LIVES OF
TWO BOYS, WITH IDENTICAL NAMES,
GROWING UP IN BALTIMORE.
BOTH COMING FROM SINGLE PARENT
FAMILIES, AND CHOOSING DIFFERENT
LIFE PATHS.
>> SO THE OTHER WES MOORE IS
BASICALLY ABOUT THE JOURNEY OF
MYSELF AND ANOTHER GUY, WHO GREW
UP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WHO
ACTUALLY HAS THE SAME NAME, WE
HAVE A LOT OF OTHER SIMILARITIES
BESIDES THAT, BUT HE'S CURRENTLY
SPENDING THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN
PRISON FOR THE *** OF A
POLICE OFFICER, AND REALLY WHAT
I TRY TO DO IN THE STORY WAS TO
DEVIL INTO THE -- DELVE INTO THE
TWO STORIES AND COME UP WITH
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE TWO LIVES
THAT EVENTUALLY CAUSES THE
SPLIT.
>> WITH THAT SPLIT, WHAT
PROMPTED YOU TO CONTACT THE
OTHER WES MOORE.
YOU DIDN'T KNOW HIM.
>> I HEARD ABOUT WES MOORE,
RIGHT OF A THE CRIME, BUT I
NEVER MET HIM BEFORE.
AND THERE WAS SO MANY QUESTIONS
THAT I WANTED TO ASK AND I KNEW
HE WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT COULD
ANSWER THEM, SO ONE DAY I JUST
DECIDED TO WRITE HIM A NOTE AND
I WASN'T SURE WHAT TO EXPECT, I
WASN'T EVEN SURE IF HE WOULD
WRITE BACK, BUT EVENTUALLY AFTER
THE NOTE I GOT BACK FROM HIM, IT
ONLY REALLY FORCED SOME MORE
QUESTIONS PANNED SO I DECIDED TO
REACH OUT TO HIM FURTHER HAND
NOW I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR CLOSE TO
A DECADE.
>> MOORE SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT THE AUDIENCE ITS UNDERSTAND
THAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT MORE THAN
TWO KIDS WITH THE SAME NAME.
>> I TRY TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR
THE STORY IS ABOUT MORE THAN
JUST THESE TWO KIDS.
IT'S ABOUT MORE THAN JUST ONE
NAME AND ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AND
ONE RACE AND ONE SOCIOECONOMIC
GROUP AND ONE GENERATION.
ABOUT THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE
IN OUR LIVES AND TANTAMOUNT TO
THAT, THE PEOPLE WE HAVE IN OUR
LIVES WHO HELP US TO MAKE THE
DECISIONS.
>> I WANT TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT
THE IDEA OF CHOICES AND GOING
THROUGH OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL LIVES
HOW SOMETIMES THE SMALLEST
DECISIONS CAN MAKE THE BIGGEST
IMPACTS ON OUR LIVES AND ALSO AS
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT, YOU
KNOW, TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT
LINE IS VERY THIN BETWEEN OUR
LIFE AND SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE AND
SOMETIMES THE MORE WE APPRECIATE
THAT AND UNDERSTAND THAT AND
EMBRACE THAT, THE RICHER WE NOT
ONLY MAKE OUR OWN LIVES BUT OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY
TRY TO UNDERSTAND, EVEN WITH THE
PROCESS OF THIS BOOK WAS -- AND
PEOPLE SOMETIMES EVEN SAY, SO
LIKES WHAT'S THE ONE THING, THE
THING WE CAN HELP GIVE A KID, GO
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WAY AND THE
THING I REALLY PULLED AWAY FROM
IT, THERE IS NO ONE THING.
RAISING KIDS IS AMAZINGLY
COMPLICATED AND WHEN YOU HAPPEN
TO BE RAISING KIDS IN SOME OF
THE MOST PRECARIOUS COMMUNITIES
OF HOUR COUNTRY, IT'S THAT MUCH
MORE COMPLICATED.
I DO KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF
THINGS THAT FUNDAMENTALLY MATTER
THINGS LIKE SUPPORT, MENTORSHIP,
FAMILY, EDUCATION ETC. BUT
ANOTHER THING THAT MATTERS ARE
EXPECTATIONS.
THE EXPECTATIONS THAT WE PLACE
ON OURSELVES AND EXPECTATIONS
THAT WE PLACE ON OTHER PEOPLE
GENERALLY COME TO FRUITION.
>> MOORE SERVED AS A PARATROOPER
AND CAPTAIN IN THE HARMONICA AND
DID COMBAT DUTY IN AFGHANISTAN.
HE ALSO COMMITTED TO HELPING
MILITARY VETERANS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON RIGHT NOW
IS LOOKING AT THE SITUATION FOR
VETERANS.
AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE
KNOW THE STATISTICS THAT'S
HAPPENED WITH VETERANS AND THE
CHALLENGE VETERANS ARE FACING.
THE FACT THAT WE LOST MORE
VETERANS LAST YEAR TO SUICIDE.
MORE ACTIVE-DUTY SOLDIERS TO
SUICIDE THAN WE DID TO COMBAT.
THE FACT THAT ON AVERAGE, WE'RE
LOSING 22 VETERANS A DAY TO
SUICIDE INSIDE THIS COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A REALITY THAT
OUR VETERANS COMMUNITY IS FACING
AND WRESTLING WITH EVERY SINGLE
DAY AND PART OF THE CHALLENGE IS
THAT FOR SO MANY PEOPLE WHO
FIGHT OVERSEAS, WHEN THEY COME
BACK HOME, THEY REALIZE THAT
THERE ARE THINGS THEY THOUGHT
WOULD BE THERE ARE NOT.
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW,
CLOSE TO 9.8% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE,
BELONGING TO VETERANS COMMUNITY
WHICH IS 2 FULL PERCENTAGES
POINTS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE.
THE FACT WE HAVE SO MANY
VETERANS ENTER SCHOOL AND NOT
FINISH.
THIS CREATES A CERTAIN LEVEL OF
DISILLUSIONMENT AND REALLY HELPS
TO HINDER THE TRANSITION PROCESS
AS THEY'RE.
COMING BACK HOME, SO THIS
COUNTRY HAS A MORAL OBLIGATION,
FOR THE 2.6 MILLION PEOPLE WHO
HAVE HAD TO GO OVERSEAS AND
FIGHT IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN
AND THAT'S JUST IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN.
WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION THAT
WHEN THEY COME HOME, THEY CAN
GET THE SAME KIND OF SUPPORTS
FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES WHEN
THEY COME BACK HOME.
>> THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN
WES'S FIGHT FOR VETERANS AND THE
STORIES HE OUTLINES IN HIS BOOK
ARE THE CONSTANT BATTLES FOR
SUPPORT AND THE ISOLATION PEOPLE
CAN FACE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
HE HAS A MESSAGE SUITABLE TO
BOTH STUDENTS AND VETERANS.
>> I THINK THE ADVICE I WOULD
GIVE TO PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT
THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN IS TO TELL
THEM YOU'RE NOT.
YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT
OR NOT, YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE
FIGHTING AND ADVOCATING FOR YOU
EVERY DAY.
SOMETIMES THEY ARE FAMILY
MEMBERS, SOMETIMES THEY ARE
AUNTS, UNCLES, COUSINS,
SOMETIMES FRIENDS AND SOMETIMES
PEOPLE WHO YOU HAVE NEVER MET
BEFORE, WHO ARE OUT THERE EVERY
SINGLE DAY FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE
THAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE FOR
YOU, DOORS CAN BE OPENED FOR
YOU, THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE A
WORLD, A BIGGER WORLD THAT
INCLUDES YOU AS A KEY PART OF
IT.
SO EVEN IN OUR DARKEST MOMENTS,
WHEN WE THINK WE'RE ALL ALONE,
REMEMBER, THAT WE'RE NOT.
WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT
PEOPLE OUT THERE SUPPORTING US,
WE HAVE A GREAT GOD THAT IS
WILLING TO SUPPORT US, AS LONG
AS WE REMEMBER THAT AND REMEMBER
THAT THIS WALK IS NOT BEING MADE
HAS A SOLO JOURNEY, IT MAKES THE
PATH A BIT EASIER.
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S ESTIMATED THAT
BETWEEN 300 AND 400 HOMELESS
VETERANS SLEEP ON THE STREETS OF
MILWAUKEE EVERY NIGHT.
TRACEY SPERKO IS THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE MILWAUKEE
HOMELESS VETERANS INITIATIVE.
WELCOME, TRACEY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WHAT'S THE MISSION OF THE
INITIATIVE.
>> TO NOT LEAVE OUR WOUNDED
BEHIND AND THOSE THAT ARE OUT ON
THE STREET, AND THOSE AT RISK,
BECAUSE THERE'S ALSO 5,000,
ROUGHLY 500 A NIGHT, A DAY, AT
RISK IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY, OF
BECOMING HOMELESS.
AND WE ARE HERE TO HELP THEM IN
THE WAYS, VARIOUS DIFFERENT
WAYS, THAT THEY NEED HELP.
>> YOU SAY THEY'RE AT RISK.
WHAT'S THE RISK, WHAT ARE THEY
FACING?
>> THEY'RE LIVING SO MUCH ON THE
EDGE THAT IF ONE PAYCHECK, ONE
THING GOES WRONG, THEY CAN END
UP BEING HOMELESS.
AND IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY, AND AS
WE'RE SITTING HERE, THERE'S
PROBABLY SOMEBODY WHO IS EITHER
BURNED A LAST BRIDGE, COME TO
THE END OF THE LINE, AND NOW
THEY'RE OUT ON THE STREETS.
>> WHEN WE SEE VETERANS COMING
HOME FROM AFGHANISTAN OR IRAQ OR
WHEREVER THEY'VE BEEN SERVING,
NOW HEY DAYS THERE'S SUCH A
GREAT CELEBRATION.
HERE THEY THEY'RE HOME,
IT'S SO WONDERFUL, BUT WE DON'T
GO BACK TWO OR THREE MONTHS
AFTER THAT TO FIND OUT WHAT
HAPPENS TO THEM.
IS THAT WHERE THINGS TEND TO
FALL OFF THE TRACKS?
>> TWO TO THREE MONTHS IT CAN BE
YEARS LATER.
THERE'S SOMETHING IN SERVING
THAT WE ARE TAUGHT TO DO IT
OURSELVES, AND EVEN WHEN YOU
START TO STRUGGLE, AS WHAT WE
FIND, THAT PEOPLE DON'T ASK FOR
HELP, AND THEY KEEP TRYING ONE
MORE THING AND THEN THEY'RE
LIVING IN THEIR CAR AND THEN
THEIR CAR GETS TOWED AND THEN
THEY'RE ON THE STREET AND IN
MILWAUKEE, WE DO HAVE A NUMBER
OF SHELTERS, SO THAT MANY OF THE
PEOPLE AREN'T SEEN DAILY.
BUT THEY ARE THERE.
AND THEY ARE PEOPLE WITHOUT A
HOME.
AND THERE ARE RESOURCES TRYING
TO FIND THEM A HOME AND THAT'S
ONE OF OUR LARGEST MISSIONS, IS
THAT WHEN THEY ARE WORKING WITH
THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, OR
THE CENTER FOR VETERANS ISSUES,
AND THEY GET A SUBSIDY FOR AN
APARTMENT, THAT WE COME IN AND
WE HELP THEM WITH EVERYTHING
THAT YOU NEED.
AND IT'S A PLACE TO PUT YOUR
BUTT, A PLACE TO PUT YOUR HEAD,
AND A PLACE FOR YOUR COFFEE CUP.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALL
TAKE FOR GRANTED IN OUR FOUR
WALLS.
>> AND YOU WANT PEOPLE TO DONATE
TO HELP THESE VETERANS.
>> THAT'S HOW WE EXIST.
IT'S ON THE GENEROSITY OF THE
MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY.
EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE, THE
FURNITURE, THE KITCHEN KITS, SO
THAT YOU CAN USE YOUR KITCHEN
AND THE EMERGENCY FOOD THAT YOU
GET AT THE PANTRY, ALL OF THOSE
ITEMS COME FROM THE PEOPLE IN
THE COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE
THINGS THAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR
OWN HOMES, MAYBE THEY'VE DOWN
SIZED, MAYBE SOMEONE HAS PASSED
AWAY, OR SOMETIMES THEY GO OUT
AND THEY PURCHASE THINGS THAT
THEY BRING TO US.
>> IF PEOPLE WANT TO FIND OUT
MORE ABOUT THE INITIATIVE, THE
MILWAUKEE HOMELESS VETERANS
INITIATIVE, HOW CAN THEY GET IN
TOUCH WITH YOU?
>> WELL, I THINK THE EASIEST WAY
WOULD BE TO CALL 414-763-5596.
>> IS THIS JUST DURING THE
HOLIDAY SEASON?
>> THIS WOULD BE ALL FIVE DAYS A
WEEK, TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY,
9 A.M. TO 1:00 P.M.
>> IS THE NEED JUST WHEN WE HAVE
THANKSGIVING AND OTHER HOLIDAYS
ON OUR MINDS, OR IS THE NEED ALL
YEAR-ROUND.
>> THE NEED IS ALL YEAR-ROUND.
I THINK WE FEEL IT PARTICULARLY
IN THE COLD WEATHER.
I WAS VERY COLD COMING IN HERE,
BUT I HAD SOMEPLACE TO GO, AND I
HAD A COAT ON AND I HAD GLOVES
AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
TALKING WITH US, TRACEY SPERKO
OF THE MILWAUKEE HOMELESS
VETERANS INITIATIVE.
AND YOU WANT US TO REMEMBER OUR
VETERANS.
365 DAYS OF THE YEAR.
THANKS FOR COMING AND TALKING
WITH US.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> AND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR
THIS WEEK.
FOR "BLACK NOUVEAU," I'M JOANNE
WILLIAMS.
GOOD NIGHT.