Milwaukee’s Choice Neighborhood Initiative Announces Summer Talent Search

HERE!

MILWAUKEE, WIS. – The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) and MKE <-> LAX are pleased to announce HERE!, a summer talent search for people and places in the CNI area on Milwaukee’s northwest side. The talent search is supporting the production of a creative placemaking plan to stimulate long-term art, civic engagement and cultural leadership throughout the CNI area.

CNI is a City of Milwaukee project focused on helping the emerging area of Westlawn Gardens and the surrounding neighborhood on the northwest side of Milwaukee reach its full potential as a sustainable, green community with quality housing, schools, businesses, services, and amenities.

HERE!, which is directed by Milwaukee-based artists MKE<->LAX, Mikal Floyd-Pruitt and Anjail Floyd-Pruitt in collaboration with Fondé Bridges, Adam Carr, Manny Vibe$ and HACM will highlight the many cultures of the CNI area, encouraging neighbors to learn about and appreciate each other. The project seeks to understand where neighbors are currently gathering in the CNI area as well as where they might like to gather more.

Artists are holding pop-ups throughout the CNI through September and will be generating videos highlighting local talent. Pop-ups have already occurred at CNI area assets, including Havenwoods State Forest, National Night Out, Collier Creations, Richard Kluge Elementary School, and Milwaukee Public Library Express Library.

The videos captured at pop-ups will be screened at neighborhood gatherings and through spontaneous streetside engagement. The initial video screening will take place in connection with Mayor Barrett’s Walk 100 Miles in 100 Days Challenge and the CNI Summer Block Party. This event will be held at the Westlawn Gardens Heritage Green at 62nd and Custer Avenue on Tuesday, August 22 from 5:00-7:30pm, with the walk starting at 6:30pm.

In addition, the videos will be shared on CNI social media platforms. CNI residents and workers, as well as others connected to the area are encouraged to make and post media of their own creation, using the hashtag #HERECNI. The pop-ups will also include the creation and distribution of physical markers highlighting neighborhood cultural treasures.

If you would like to participate in the talent search, please contact Paul Williams at Paul.Williams@hacm.org or visit www.mke-cni.org.

ABOUT CNI
The Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) is a City of Milwaukee project focused on helping the emerging area of Westlawn Gardens and the surrounding neighborhood on the northwest side of Milwaukee reach its full potential as a sustainable, green community with quality housing, schools, businesses, services, and amenities. Learn more at www.mke-cni.org/ and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

ABOUT MKE <-> LAX
MKE<->LAX investigates cultural exchange between two American regions, with Milwaukee and Los Angeles as epicenters, through residencies and public programs. The agency explores cultural exchange across the boundaries that typically isolate ideas regionally, with an emphasis on regional poetics and expansion of market. Through ongoing mobility, MKE<->LAX asks questions about the influence location, size, market, cultural values and other regional factors have on production of the arts and cultural identity. Learn more at http://www.mke-lax.org/.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

Recent Press Releases by Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee

HACM Board Moves Forward With Section 8 Contractor Award

Oct 31st, 2024 by Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee

Vote signifies an important step for voucher program

Affordable High-Speed Internet Comes to Westlawn Gardens

May 4th, 2022 by Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee

Residents of the revitalized housing community will be eligible to receive free internet access thanks to a partnership between PCs for People, the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, and Microsoft.

HACM to Expand Access to Affordable Housing on Milwaukee’s Near West Side

Apr 26th, 2022 by Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee

Leveraging public-private partnerships, the agency has awarded 149 project-based vouchers to developers and property owners in the area.