Ted Bobrow

Imagine a More Just Milwaukee

By - Oct 23rd, 2008 02:52 pm

Go ahead. Take a few seconds and give it some thought.

If you had a magic wand and could do anything you wanted, how would you change Milwaukee to make it a better place to live, work and raise a family?

Better schools? More jobs? Improved transit? More statues of fictional characters?

We all have our ideas about how to improve our city. We talk about it all the time.

And that’s okay. It’s good to talk about things we care about.

But you know what? Just talking about it isn’t going to change a damn thing.

We’d all like to think that simply voting on Election Day and paying our taxes will be enough to insure that all of our community’s needs are taken care of.

Well I’ve got news for you. It ain’t.

So do something. Anything.

Want to see better schools but don’t know where to start? Confused by all the news reports that say MPS schools are underfunded or riddled with waste?

Here’s an idea. Wherever you live, there’s a school near by. Stop by or call and get contact information for the PTA (that’s Parent Teacher Association for those of you who just arrived on this planet).

Chances are they’ll have an idea or two about what you can do to help. Mentor a student. Help raise some money. Donate some materials. Whatever. You’ll be doing something concrete and you’ll feel better for it.

Need other ideas? Visit Volunteer Milwaukee and look at all the local opportunities to make a difference.

Don’t want to do it alone? Well here’s a suggestion. MICAH is holding its annual public meeting tonight to recruit members and solicit ideas about improving our community. MICAH stands for Milwaukee Innercity Congregations Allied for Hope.

It’s a whole bunch of folks who believe that God helps those who help themselves. Yes it’s a faith-based organization but it’s open to everyone who cares about our city.

Are you tired of religion being used as a cudgel of intolerance and divisiveness? Come and see how people of all faiths can join together to do something constructive. After all, whatever you believe, you gotta believe there’s strength in numbers.

So check out MICAH’s public meeting tonight at 6 pm at St. Adalbert Catholic Church, 1923 W. Becher Street.

As they used to say, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.”

It’s really that simple.

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