By Jalen Turner, 15,
Pius XI High School
The Ebony Fashion Fair began in 1958 as the brainchild of Eunice Johnson of the Johnson Publishing Company.
Johnson initiated the yearly fashion show with the intent of raising money for medical research. However, she ended up doing far more. In fact, she was able to finally open the door to fashion for African American men and women.
Through her show, she assured African Americans that their bodies were beautiful and capable of touting any piece that made its way down her runway.
Now, a traveling …

By Ariele Vaccaro
This past week, some of us probably sat in our warm, cozy homes with a cup of hot coffee in our hands and a blanket around our shoulders.
We may have looked out the window into the bitter cold, white landscape, and struggled to imagine what it would be like to lose our homes and all that comes with it.
However, according to Executive Director of programming at Milwaukee’s House of Peace, it can happen to anyone.
“It only takes you missing one paycheck,” said Sheets. For those working check-to-check, this …

By Karen Stokes
Andre Lee Ellis is on a mission; a mission to help Black boys in Milwaukee. Ellis, an activist, is motivated by concern for boys who are surrounded by drugs, violence and crime.
Ellis moved to the Borchert Field neighborhood in 2011.
Within a week of moving there, he heard shots fired, came outside and found a young man lying dead on the sidewalk.
Soon after, there were more shootings and Ellis decided change was needed.
“We have to invest in ourselves,” said Ellis. “We have to take back our hood.”
Last summer, Ellis …

By Tiffany Crouse
Did you know that November is Native American Heritage Month? Most people don’t.
President Obama announced on Oct 31st, 2014 that Nov 28th will be Native American Heritage Day in 2014.
“Every year, our nation pauses to reflect on the profound ways the First Americans have shaped our country’s character and culture.
The first stewards of our environment, early voices for the values that define our nation, and models of government to our founding fathers — American Indians and Alaska natives helped build the very fabric of America” said President Obama’s …

By Ariele Vaccaro
Rashada Dawan recalls a priceless memory. She is only 8-years-old, and is joining her father at a movie theater to watch a new animated Disney film called “The Lion King”.
She remembers tearing up during an infamous scene, when the lion cub, Simba, finds his father, Mufasa, dead and tries futily to wake him from an endless sleep.
“The Lion King” hasn’t been in theaters since the mid 1990’s.
Nevertheless, this is a memory that Dawan shares with her own 9-year-old daughter.
The Chicago native brings her daughter to see “The Lion …

It’s been nearly ten years since I launched the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative to improve the well-being of our children by promoting responsible fatherhood.
Since 2005, it has connected more than 9,000 men to resources to better meet the emotional and financial needs of their children and families while improving their life outcomes.
The 9th annual Fatherhood Summit, which is a part of the Fatherhood Initiative, will take place Friday, Oct. 31 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 1 from 7:30 a.m. to noon at Destiny Youth Plaza, 7210 N. …

By Srijan Sen
On Thursday October 9, The Oriental Theatre on Farwell Ave. hosted its last day of the 2014 Milwaukee Film Festival.
The festival celebrated a plethora of African- American filmmakers via a segment titled Black Lens that ended with a final screening of ‘Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of People.’
Written and directed by Thomas Allen Harris, ‘Through a Lens Darkly’ tells the story of African- American families as far back as photographic records could stretch.
Inspired by the book, “Reflections in Black” (2000), author Debra Willis’s groundbreaking …

Find bushels of fun ideas to make this autumn memorable
MADISON – Colorful leaves fill the air of Wisconsin this time of year, awakening the senses of visitors to join the fun!
Although summer has drifted away, there are many reasons to smile while exploring Wisconsin this fall. Fallin’ in love with the state will be an unforgettable experience with endless fun activities.
Enjoy scenic fall routes, corn mazes, apple orchards, pumpkin patches, wineries and much more!
Color-Rama Daze
Red, yellow or orange, Wisconsin’s best colors are on display as the state’s 16 million acres …

A centuries-old Native American tradition will take place Oct. 17 to 19 as the tenth-annual Hunting Moon Pow Wow, hosted by the Forest County Potawatomi Community, moves from Potawatomi Hotel & Casino to UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena – formerly the U.S. Cellular Arena – in downtown Milwaukee.
“Due to the popularity of this event, we felt the time was right to move to a larger venue,” said Potawatomi Hotel & Casino General Manager Mike Goodrich.
“The new location will help attract the best dancers and drum groups from across the country and offer …

On Friday, Sept. 26th, a Wisconsin personal injury law firm presented Make- A-Wish Wisconsin, a nonprofit that works to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening diseases, with over 8,000 dollars.
Habush Habush & Rottier pledged to give 100 dollars for each extra base hit by a Milwaukee Brewers player at Miller Park throughout the second half of the 2014 season.
The Brewers were able to send plenty of batters to bases, to the pleasure of the Wisconsin division of Make-A-Wish.
Habush, Chairman of the Board at Habush Habush & Rottier and Patti …