Dasha Kelly
"We cannot continue to dismiss MPS as a problem for 'those people’s' kids."
“I’d like to see Milwaukee integrate its creative communities in non-artistic endeavors, like Austin, Providence, Seattle and Oklahoma City.”
What is your job and it’s responsibilities?
As a teaching artist, I visit schools, businesses, prisons and organizations to leverage my artistic process as a means to facilitate crucial discussions about communication, creativity, self-confidence and team building. I also founded and direct an outreach organization, Still Waters Collective, that delivers similar programming into more than two dozen schools throughout greater Milwaukee.
What is your favorite Milwaukee event?
My favorite events are the many outdoor music series. I enjoy visiting different ones throughout the summer with my daughters.
What have you seen in other cities that you’d like to see in Milwaukee?
I’d like to see Milwaukee embrace its arts programs as well as integrate the city’s creative communities in non-artistic endeavors, like Austin, Providence, Seattle and Oklahoma City.
Its fear of novelty and innovation. I would also like to see a dismantling of the city’s institutional classism and racism. First place to start – on both counts – should be a complete overhaul of our educational priorities. We cannot continue to dismiss the complexities of MPS as a problem for “those people’s” kids.
What is the most effective way to implement change in Milwaukee?
Don’t just bring new faces and voices to the table, change the table.
(But while we’re still in the “bringing” phase, make sure those new faces are shaped and shaded differently and make sure those voices represent the FULL range of opinion.)
Newaukeean of the Week
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Dan Panozzo
Oct 28th, 2019 by Newaukee
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Olivia Menzia
Oct 21st, 2019 by Newaukee
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Israel “Izzy” Lugo
Oct 7th, 2019 by Newaukee
Where does one start with MPS? I agree we need to “change the table”. It seems like an absolute mess at the high school level. I have many friend that like the grade schools and the middle schools but will not send their kids to an MPS high school and I don’t blame them. As a Milwaukee resident I would like to see an emphisis on neighborhood schools. I don’t understand why we send kids across town on MCTS buses to attend a school ten miles away. I understand that maybe demographics (number of kids exceeds school space) play a role, but kids should attend schools in their neighborhoods when possible. Its good for the kids and the neighborhoods.