Sam Woods

Recent Articles

Meet The New Leader of the Milwaukee Food Council

Meet The New Leader of the Milwaukee Food Council

Solana Patterson-Ramos brings focus on systems, with a side of fun, to growing organization.

Public Allies Has New Board, New CEO

Public Allies Has New Board, New CEO

After a turbulent summer when former CEO laid off 30 staff, the nonprofit has reorganized.

Groups Urge We Energies to End Shutoffs For Nonpayment

Groups Urge We Energies to End Shutoffs For Nonpayment

Utility's 11% hike in rates is 'outrageous,' could leave many unable to pay, advocates say.

Food Pantries Brace For Surge With Federal Program Ending

Food Pantries Brace For Surge With Federal Program Ending

Federal SNAP emergency allotments end this month.

FoodRight Teaches Kids About Healthy Foods

FoodRight Teaches Kids About Healthy Foods

Nonprofit serves 1,200 students in five MPS schools with hands-on approach.

City Offering $1,500 Grants To Early Childhood Workers

City Offering $1,500 Grants To Early Childhood Workers

Funded by federal grant, effort is designed to grow the childcare workforce.

Where to Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Where to Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Numerous events in Milwaukee Monday.

Many Residents Unaware State Moved Out of Coggs Center

Many Residents Unaware State Moved Out of Coggs Center

Individuals keep showing up at old location for FoodShare, other benefits.

La Familia de Arte Makes Art By The People

La Familia de Arte Makes Art By The People

Southside residents help make 16 new bollards on Cesar Chavez Drive.

IMPACT 211 Data Reveals Community Needs

IMPACT 211 Data Reveals Community Needs

For 20 years confidential helpline has connected residents to food pantries, housing shelters.

MKE County: Program Pays Small Businesses to Feed Seniors
MKE County

Program Pays Small Businesses to Feed Seniors

Milwaukee County Dine Out Program Launched in 2021.

Updated Guide to Free and Affordable Meals

Updated Guide to Free and Affordable Meals

Including food pantries, pay what you can, and free or low-cost food delivery.

Here’s Where to Find or Donate School Supplies

Here’s Where to Find or Donate School Supplies

More than a dozen events this month offering free or reduced cost school supplies.

Public Allies CEO Resigns

Public Allies CEO Resigns

Faced backlash after ‘restructuring' that led to terminations of 30 staffers.

State’s Eligible Families Will Get $391 For Summer Food Costs

State’s Eligible Families Will Get $391 For Summer Food Costs

Summer Pandemic Benefits program helps lower income children.

Layoffs at Milwaukee-Based Public Allies Cause Uproar

Layoffs at Milwaukee-Based Public Allies Cause Uproar

CEO says part of restructuring, while some employees call it retaliation.

MPS, Most Schools Plan Free Lunches Next School Year

MPS, Most Schools Plan Free Lunches Next School Year

Federal funding for this ends June 30 but most schools plan to continue offering them.

MKE County: County Renews Program Doubling Food Shares
MKE County

County Renews Program Doubling Food Shares

Doubles amount FoodShare participants spend at farmers markets up to $20 per day.

Pandemic Benefits for Kids Under 6 Approved

Pandemic Benefits for Kids Under 6 Approved

Federal Pre-6 Pandemic program gives more FoodShare funding to 90,500 children in state.

Will County Renew Fresh Food Share Program?

Will County Renew Fresh Food Share Program?

ARPA money doubles food share dollars spent at farmers markets. Board must approve plan.

Dominican Center Offers Garden of Opportunities

Dominican Center Offers Garden of Opportunities

Agriculture center and hydroponics lab helps Amani residents create indoor gardens.

YMCA Program Helps Teens Think About Future

YMCA Program Helps Teens Think About Future

Teen Achievers program helps teens develop interpersonal skills and define success for themselves.

Black Students Get 81% of MPS Suspensions

Black Students Get 81% of MPS Suspensions

But they are 50% of all students. Disproportionate rate has barely changed in 10 years.

Student Pandemic Benefits Approved for 2021-22

Student Pandemic Benefits Approved for 2021-22

Students unable to attend school due to COVID-19 can get money through national school lunch program.

Where To Get Free Meals For Thanksgiving

Where To Get Free Meals For Thanksgiving

And how you can help: where you can donate food.

Bumblebee Haven Garden Changes Neighborhood

Bumblebee Haven Garden Changes Neighborhood

Building a sense of community on Mitchell Street.

New Public Allies Leader Comes Full Circle

New Public Allies Leader Comes Full Circle

After three separate stints with group, Adriana “Nanis” Rodriguez becomes executive director.

Meet 14 Urban Farmers

Meet 14 Urban Farmers

14 Milwaukee residents growing a rich variety of crops.

Trouble Finding Affordable Child Care? Here’s Why.

Trouble Finding Affordable Child Care? Here’s Why.

76% of early childhood education centers in Wisconsin have reported a staffing shortage.

FoodShare Benefits Will Increase in October

FoodShare Benefits Will Increase in October

A breakdown of benefits, what you need to know.

Coggs Center Welfare Office Resumes Full-Time Hours

Coggs Center Welfare Office Resumes Full-Time Hours

Limited hours made it difficult to access services like FoodShare, childcare subsidies.

MPS Relief Funds Don’t Air Condition Buildings

MPS Relief Funds Don’t Air Condition Buildings

Temperature hit the 90s last week and many buildings lack AC.

How Can High Schools Be Improved For Young Black Men?

How Can High Schools Be Improved For Young Black Men?

A group of students and educators developed six plans for Milwaukee schools.

Where To Get Free Food, Low-Cost Meals

Where To Get Free Food, Low-Cost Meals

Updated list of food pantries, meal distribution sites and more.

Milwaukee Stilt Walker Goes Viral

Milwaukee Stilt Walker Goes Viral

Video of 'Milwaukee’s Moko Jumbie’ brings recognition of 18-year-old Allenton Riley.

Where the Needy Can Get Food

Where the Needy Can Get Food

Food pantries, meal distribution sites and meal delivery programs in town.

Food Pantry Served 36,600 Meals in 2020

Food Pantry Served 36,600 Meals in 2020

Friedens Community Ministries has three pantry locations in city and a fourth it hopes to reopen.

How To Get $375 Per Child for Summer Meals

How To Get $375 Per Child for Summer Meals

Eligible parents can collect from Summer P-EBT program run by state DHS.

How to Get Free Meals for Kids This Summer

How to Get Free Meals for Kids This Summer

Program by MPS and two foundations delivers free meals in three ZIP codes.

Parents Eligible for Pandemic Food Aid

Parents Eligible for Pandemic Food Aid

FoodShare funding reimburses parents whose kids under age 6 would have gotten free school meals.

Tips for Youths Seeking Summer Jobs

Tips for Youths Seeking Summer Jobs

It’s not too late to apply. Here’s the best way to do it.

School Board Member Moves Into Her District

School Board Member Moves Into Her District

Aisha Carr won MPS District 4 race though she lived outside district.

Milwaukee’s ‘Food Fairy’ Keeps Giving

Milwaukee’s ‘Food Fairy’ Keeps Giving

Laura Manriquez volunteers at food banks, delivers food to needy people.

How to Get Pandemic School Lunch Benefits

How to Get Pandemic School Lunch Benefits

Low-income families whose children were at home during pandemic can apply to state for federal aid.

Meet the District 4 School Board Candidates

Meet the District 4 School Board Candidates

Aisha Carr and Dana Kelley both have a flock of endorsements.

Meet the District 5 School Board Candidates

Meet the District 5 School Board Candidates

Alex Brower and Jilly Gokalgandhi compete to replace outgoing school board director Larry Miller.

School Board Candidates Live Outside District

School Board Candidates Live Outside District

Aisha Carr and Dana Kelley both would have to move into MPS District 4 if elected.

The Gathering Served 53,000 Meals In 2020

The Gathering Served 53,000 Meals In 2020

39-year-old nonprofit has soup kitchens at four locations in town.

How To Be Reimbursed for Meals During Virtual Learning

How To Be Reimbursed for Meals During Virtual Learning

Federal program will pay families up to $1,248 per child that qualifies for free or reduced lunch.

The Many Lives of Walter Lanier

The Many Lives of Walter Lanier

Pastor, lawyer, educator, family man. Not to mention the son of Bob Lanier.

How Milwaukeeans Helped Texas

How Milwaukeeans Helped Texas

In response to Texas crisis, local community effort raises money and delivers supplies.

A Primer on City School Board Races

A Primer on City School Board Races

Who is running in February primary and why the Milwaukee school board matters.

Many MPS Students Can’t Get Drivers Ed

Many MPS Students Can’t Get Drivers Ed

Hundreds of students left out as pandemic causes reduced class sizes in schools.

MPS Finalizes Reopening Plans

MPS Finalizes Reopening Plans

Schools will bring students back in phases.

COVID-19 Survivors Reflect on 2020

COVID-19 Survivors Reflect on 2020

Many this year have 'confronted the reality of death' and faced unexpected challenges.

Milwaukee Succeeds Solicits Education Ideas

Milwaukee Succeeds Solicits Education Ideas

Consortium offers grants for most promising proposals to improve education of young Black males.

MPS Still Tougher on Black Students?

MPS Still Tougher on Black Students?

Federal settlement cited disproportionate discipline. Posley says progress being made.

Where to Get Free Thanksgiving Meals

Where to Get Free Thanksgiving Meals

And how you can help the needy this holiday.

MPS Joins Suit Against E-Cigarette Companies

MPS Joins Suit Against E-Cigarette Companies

Suit alleges that e-cigarettes are deliberately marketed to minors.

MPS Faces Exodus of Younger Students

MPS Faces Exodus of Younger Students

District’s kindergarten and pre-K enrollment down by 1,544 students.

COVID-19 Survivors Talk About Recovery

COVID-19 Survivors Talk About Recovery

It takes time. And family and friends can help.

30% of City’s School-Age Kids Lack Computer

30% of City’s School-Age Kids Lack Computer

And 8.5% of families lack broadband, survey finds. MPS foundation, non-profit work to address virtual learning issues.

Youth Agencies Learn Lessons From Pandemic

Youth Agencies Learn Lessons From Pandemic

'We had to think about how we engage youth differently,’ says a Boys & Girls Clubs leader.

How Students Feel About Reopening Schools

How Students Feel About Reopening Schools

Here’s what a cross section of Milwaukee students said.

MPS Updates Equity Plan

MPS Updates Equity Plan

Some community leaders say it still lacks clarity.

Private, Charter Schools Plan Virtual Reopening

Private, Charter Schools Plan Virtual Reopening

Schools say they are putting safety above everything else.

What To Expect with MPS Reopening

What To Expect with MPS Reopening

Answers to questions about testing, childcare and sick leave for teachers.

Will MPS End Truancy Program?

Will MPS End Truancy Program?

Under state law school system pays for four police officers in TABS program.

MPS Didn’t End Every Police Program

MPS Didn’t End Every Police Program

Three things to know about decision by Milwaukee School Board.

Groups Push MPS, Stop Funding Police

Groups Push MPS, Stop Funding Police

Community groups say MPS should stop paying for Milwaukee Police security programs, spend it on education.

What It’s Like to Have COVID-19

What It’s Like to Have COVID-19

Three Milwaukeeans talk about their experience with the disease.

Community Organizers Adapt to Social Distancing

Community Organizers Adapt to Social Distancing

Mertcalfe Park organizers are using mass texting to stay in touch, deliver food and supplies.

Milwaukee Food Pantries and Meal Programs Still Running

Milwaukee Food Pantries and Meal Programs Still Running

Plus, ways you can help.

What the DNC Could Mean for Locals

What the DNC Could Mean for Locals

Volunteering, traffic and doing business.

Milwaukee County Wants Alternatives to Youth Incarceration

Milwaukee County Wants Alternatives to Youth Incarceration

After the legislature failed to fund new facilities, Milwaukee County continues to explore alternatives to locking kids up.

Morales Listening Session Gets Mixed Reviews

Morales Listening Session Gets Mixed Reviews

Police chief held session on North Side. Here’s the reaction of some attendees.

Black Organizing Group Tripling in Size

Black Organizing Group Tripling in Size

BLOC looks to increase turnout, political power of city’s African American voters.