Ana Martinez-Ortiz

Recent Articles

How To Keep Your Employees

How To Keep Your Employees

Shayla Burtin’s business, Yes I Can Help You, advises small businesses and entrepreneurs.

BID Provides Manufacturing Leadership Training

BID Provides Manufacturing Leadership Training

Granville BID trains future shift supervisors to collaborate, communicate effectively.

The Dance Journey Of DeMar Walker

The Dance Journey Of DeMar Walker

Rising from childhood trainee at Ko-Thi Dance to become the company’s artistic director.

FlexRide Milwaukee Changes Service Areas

FlexRide Milwaukee Changes Service Areas

Service takes riders to and from work in outlying areas.

Did 2020 Census Undercount City Residents?

Did 2020 Census Undercount City Residents?

National data shows much higher undercount of Blacks, Latinos than in 2010.

We Energies-MPS Program Trains Young Workers

We Energies-MPS Program Trains Young Workers

Including internships and apprentice jobs in trades paying up to $19 per hour.

Youth Apprenticeship Program Nurturing Culinary Ambitions

Youth Apprenticeship Program Nurturing Culinary Ambitions

Brigade MKE is attempting to train a generation of culinary professionals and entrepreneurs.

Balancing Two Businesses And Marriage

Balancing Two Businesses And Marriage

Married couple Jesus Enrique and Thaime Nañez own Farmhouse Paint Bar & Banquet Hall and Chucho’s Red Tacos.

How Alan Goodman Baked a New Business

How Alan Goodman Baked a New Business

Launched in 2018, A Goodman’s Desserts sells cookies, bread pudding, cakes and more.

‘Don’t Give Up,’ Adult Learners Counsel

‘Don’t Give Up,’ Adult Learners Counsel

Going back to school to get your GED isn’t easy, but ‘keep fighting.'

‘Latino Wisconsin’ Documentary Wins Midwest Emmy

‘Latino Wisconsin’ Documentary Wins Midwest Emmy

Film by Georgia and Ralph Pabst shows impact of state’s Latinos.

Nonprofit Diversifying Construction, Manufacturing Trades

Nonprofit Diversifying Construction, Manufacturing Trades

WRTP BIG STEP is building a pipeline for women and people of color into the trades.

7 Places Teaching English Skills To Adults

7 Places Teaching English Skills To Adults

Basic English or as a second language, with work on reading, writing, listening, speaking.

Business Helps Pregnant Women and New Mothers

Business Helps Pregnant Women and New Mothers

Lola's New Beginnings provides parenting classes and job training for mothers.

Six Adult Education Programs In Milwaukee

Six Adult Education Programs In Milwaukee

Offering reading instruction, GED preparation and more.

Meet Amani’s Newest Ambassador

Meet Amani’s Newest Ambassador

Maricha Harris is the new executive director of the Dominican Center.

Dominican Center Director Was A Quiet Force

Dominican Center Director Was A Quiet Force

Sister Patricia Rogers retires after years of leadership in Amani neighborhood.

Riverworks Clinic Teaches Clients Financial Literacy

Riverworks Clinic Teaches Clients Financial Literacy

Learning about rent payments, utilities, FoodShare, unemployment, homeownership and credit repair.

Group Connects Girls to Indigenous Traditions

Group Connects Girls to Indigenous Traditions

Daughters of Tradition teaches indigenous girls about their cultures.

Company Helps Businesses Recruit, Support Diverse Talent

Company Helps Businesses Recruit, Support Diverse Talent

Colorful Connections has local, national customers seeking a more diverse workforce.

How Hmong Women Created a Support System for Themselves

How Hmong Women Created a Support System for Themselves

Hmong American Women's Association provides a welcoming space for women in the community.

One Store With 25 Entrepreneurs

One Store With 25 Entrepreneurs

Wisconsin Curated Creations, in Mayfair Mall, sells hand-crafted items by local artisans.

Dining: 16 South Side Places for Good Eats
Dining

16 South Side Places for Good Eats

Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese, burgers, pizza and more.

Community Organizations Tackle Vaccine Hesitancy

Community Organizations Tackle Vaccine Hesitancy

A southside group is emphasizing informed choice, answering questions.

Dining: 16 Places for Good Food on North Side
Dining

16 Places for Good Food on North Side

Including BBQ, soul food, desserts and Peruvian fare.

Urban League Program Provides Transportation to Jobs

Urban League Program Provides Transportation to Jobs

The organization also runs free programs that prepare students for employment.

SHARP Literacy Goes Virtual

SHARP Literacy Goes Virtual

Milwaukee non-profit combines STEM and art instruction, worked with 40 schools last year.

VIA Continues Mission of Affordable Housing, Economic Development

VIA Continues Mission of Affordable Housing, Economic Development

Formerly known as Layton Boulevard West Neighbors, organization rebranded as 'VIA' to better connect with Spanish-speaking community.

Guide to Black History Month Events

Guide to Black History Month Events

Black history, art, films, food trucks and more.

Herbalist Connects Community With Nature

Herbalist Connects Community With Nature

Angela Kingsawan teaches classes, works with non-profits, believes city can develop herbal industry.

Mentorship Program Helps Boys Without Fathers

Mentorship Program Helps Boys Without Fathers

Youth are partnered with mentors, learn first aid and lifesaving skills.

Documentary Tells Story of ‘Latino Wisconsin’

Documentary Tells Story of ‘Latino Wisconsin’

New film in many ways a culmination of 35 years of reporting by Georgia Pabst.

A New Leader for City’s Library System

A New Leader for City’s Library System

Who is Joan Johnson and how will she be changing the libraries?

27 Years As a City Librarian

27 Years As a City Librarian

Retiring Milwaukee Public Library director Paula Kiely reflects on how system has changed.

Upstart Kitchen Supports New Entrepreneurs

Upstart Kitchen Supports New Entrepreneurs

And a community meal program feeds 7,000 people monthly

Children’s Theater Digs for City History

Children’s Theater Digs for City History

New play by First Stage revolves around quest to find Solomon Juneau’s treasure.

These Places Help with Childcare and Virtual Learning

These Places Help with Childcare and Virtual Learning

They offer a place for children before, during and after school.

America’s Black Holocaust Museum Responds to Historic Events

America’s Black Holocaust Museum Responds to Historic Events

CEO looks to future of institution, and the role it can play "in these challenging times".

Making It Safer for Runners of Color

Making It Safer for Runners of Color

Milwaukee group Forget Everything And Run, or F.E.A.R., seeks to shift the narrative.

How To Understand These Historic Protests

How To Understand These Historic Protests

These resources will put the nationwide protests in a proper context.

Liberate MKE Pushing to Defund MPD

Liberate MKE Pushing to Defund MPD

Defunding advocates want money funneled to communities, not police.

Neighborhood Groups Working Hard On Census

Neighborhood Groups Working Hard On Census

For every person not counted, the state could lose $1,600 federal funding a year.

7 Resources for Support During Pandemic

7 Resources for Support During Pandemic

These resources can help you with essential items, services you need to get by.

Making Life Sweeter for Essential Workers

Making Life Sweeter for Essential Workers

Confectionately Yours gives 500 or more cookies a week away to pandemic’s frontline workers.

20 More Good Places for Takeout Food

20 More Good Places for Takeout Food

All in the city, mostly ethnic, with pickup and/or delivery or drive-through service.

Jump Roping Amid a Pandemic

Jump Roping Amid a Pandemic

LaDonna Telford has Facebook group of 30,000, watching her jump for joy.

13 Local Livestreams To Check Out

13 Local Livestreams To Check Out

Art, dancing, yoga, wellness, Ex Fabula, meditation — many ways to stay active during pandemic.

14 Resources to Help You During the Pandemic

14 Resources to Help You During the Pandemic

The shutdown is hurting everyone, these resources are for small businesses and residents.

Where to Get Free Tax Assistance

Where to Get Free Tax Assistance

Don’t throw your money away. Three organizations at six locations offer free help.

How a Milwaukeean Got on the Right Path

How a Milwaukeean Got on the Right Path

Elijah Tucker-Carter hasn't caught many breaks in life, so he took it on himself to change that.

Why The Census Matters to Milwaukee

Why The Census Matters to Milwaukee

What you need to know about the Census and why it matters to state, nation.

Four Unique Coffee Shops

Four Unique Coffee Shops

All independent, city-based, minority-owned, neighborhood cafes.

How to Become a Homeowner

How to Become a Homeowner

Tired of renting? Here are tips, experts to help you make transition.

Where to Donate Toys for Needy Kids

Where to Donate Toys for Needy Kids

These groups run toy drives and gather donations to help collect presents for those in need.

How to Get a Criminal Record Expunged

How to Get a Criminal Record Expunged

It’s complicated, but can be done under certain circumstances within Wisconsin law.

9 Questions About the 2020 Census

9 Questions About the 2020 Census

It can take as little as 10 minutes. But the results matter so much.

Lupe Martinez Went From Migrant Worker to CEO

Lupe Martinez Went From Migrant Worker to CEO

He's led United Migrant Opportunity Services for the past 45 years.

Local Baker Wins Small Business Competition

Local Baker Wins Small Business Competition

Alan Goodman has been baking with family recipes since he was a teen, and his bakery just won $10,000 as the winner of Rev-Up MKE.

8 After-School Programs for Students in Milwaukee

8 After-School Programs for Students in Milwaukee

These programs can help to keep kids engaged outside of the classroom.

8 Resources for Adult H.S. Learners

8 Resources for Adult H.S. Learners

Where and how to get a high school equivalency diploma or GED.

Call Her a Yoga Entrepreneur

Call Her a Yoga Entrepreneur

Joanna Brooks went from hating yoga to running her own studio at the Sherman Phoenix.

How I Created an Employment Agency

How I Created an Employment Agency

Reggie Reed grew up in 53206 ZIP code, started Mindful Staffing Solutions three years ago.

Transportation: Group Pushes Higher Wheel Tax for Transit
Transportation

Group Pushes Higher Wheel Tax for Transit

Higher vehicle licensing fee pushed as County Transit System considers 10% budget cut.

Hispanic Convention Should Draw 20,000 People

Hispanic Convention Should Draw 20,000 People

League of United Latin American Citizens will celebrate 90th anniversary with July convention held in Milwaukee.

A Primer on Sexually Transmitted Diseases

A Primer on Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Where to seek information, protection, testing and other resources.

4 Questions and Answers on The Domes

4 Questions and Answers on The Domes

What's going to happen? That could be the toughest question of all.

Diversity Changing Local Dining Scene

Diversity Changing Local Dining Scene

Tables Across Borders showcases refugee chefs serving food from Ethiopia, Rohyinga, Congo, Syria and Serbia.

2019 MANDI Nominee: Community Group Keeps the Music Going
2019 MANDI Nominee

Community Group Keeps the Music Going

Washington Park Neighbors creates summer concert series that reflects neighborhood.

Warming Shelters Rescued Many From Cold

Warming Shelters Rescued Many From Cold

United Way, We Energies helped fund warming spaces at St. Ben’s, other places.

Muslim Center for Youth Opens

Muslim Center for Youth Opens

New non-profit at 2110 W. Hampton opened in December, offers youth activities.

New Boutique Opens On North Avenue

New Boutique Opens On North Avenue

Basia Rose Designs grew from pop-up, now at 1617 W. North Ave. in Innovations and Wellness Commons.

Washington Park Celebrates Holidays with New Decorations

Washington Park Celebrates Holidays with New Decorations

New solar-powered holiday wreaths decorate Lisbon Avenue.

Ex Fabula For Children

Ex Fabula For Children

Workshops by the group with MLK school fifth graders help children become story tellers.

St. Anthony Apartments Has First Tenants

St. Anthony Apartments Has First Tenants

60-unit complex on 10th and State offers apartments for the homeless.

City Launches Children’s Savings Accounts

City Launches Children’s Savings Accounts

City and United Way will start all MPS K-5 students with $25 in a savings account.

Conference Spotlights Human Trafficking

Conference Spotlights Human Trafficking

Milwaukee a "hot spot," with more than 1000 arrests in three years. experts say.

Entrepreneurs “Bootcamp” Helps Minorities

Entrepreneurs “Bootcamp” Helps Minorities

Founders of 12 companies picked for program run by Young Enterprising Society.

Youth Council Works to Curb Violence

Youth Council Works to Curb Violence

The Youth Council called for a cease-fire over the Labor Day weekend.

We Aim to Clothe 1,000 Kids This Year

We Aim to Clothe 1,000 Kids This Year

For 50 years, local Ladies of Charity has given clothing to countless children.