Milwaukee Community Journal December 14, 2016 Page 2 a Fellows of Distinction Award Honors Thelma A
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www.communityjournal.net 25 Cents BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE VOL. XL Number 21 December 14, 2016 PAID MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN The Milwaukee PERMIT NO. 4668 OMMUNITYOMMUNITY OURNAL CC WISCONSIN’S LARGEST AFRICAN AMERICANJJ NEWSPAPEROURNAL Milwaukee Urban League President/CEO Ralph Hollmon presides over last Equal Opportunity Day Luncheon before retiring Hollmon takes final photo with past and present members of the MUL board. Ralph Hollmon holds one of two gifts presented to him MUL staff members pose for by the MUL board during the recent 57th Equal Oppor- one last photo with their tunity Day Luncheon, which was his last as president boss before he retires at the and CEO of the organization. end of 2016. Retiring Milwaukee Urban League (MUL) forces the organization’s mission of stressing the importance • Thelma Sias, vice president of Local Affairs, We Energies President and CEO Ralph Hollmon recently of diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity. • Tom Capp, chief operating officer, Gorman and Company This year, four individuals were honored who were instru- • Larry Waters, retired executive, MillerCoors. presided over his last Equal Opportunity Day mental in supporting MUL and helping the organization re- MUL, established in 1919, has--for the past 97 years--pro- Luncheon before stepping down at the end of gain financial stability during Hollmon’s tenure: vided education, employment, economic development and the year. • Cory Nettles, founder and managing director of Genera- ancillary services to help people become more self-reliant so The 57th annual MUL lunch, held at the Pfister Hotel, rein- tion Growth Capital, Inc. they can improve their lives.-- Yvonne Kemp photos PULSEPULSEOFOF THETHE COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY Photos and question by Yvonne Kemp QUESTION OF THE WEEK: “Do“Do ourour childrenchildren knowknow thethe REALREAL meaningmeaning ofof ChristChrist-- mas?mas? WhyWhy oror whywhy not?”not?” “No. No one has “No. Children today taught them the don’t know the real true meaning of meaing of Christ- As Bishop Sedgwick Christmas. In their mas. Back in the OPEN FOR BUSINESS!...The Daniels looks on, Charles minds, it is all day, we were “Butch” Walton, Robin- about receiving brought up by our son’s son, his wife An- Jeannetta Robinson House gifts; to them (chil- parents, grandpar- isha, and Walton’s son, dren) the true ents and the neigh- LORRETTA New 24 bed community-based residential treat- Terrance Smith (pictured MICHAEL meaning IS ‘giving borhood. They KINGSBY above), cut the ribbon offi- SMITH ment facility named after late Career Youth gifts.’” taught us the real (Mrs. Claus) cialy opening the new (Santa Claus) Development founder/CEO Jeannetta Robinson meaning of Christmas: Jesus is the reason Robinson Jeannetta Robinson for the season.” House, a 24-bed state-li- censed community-based “No. Christmas has “No. It seems like residential treatment facil- become too com- our younger gener- ity (CBRF), one of several mercialized. The ation has forgotten throughout Wisconsin. kids today think the true meaning The facility was created and is Christmas is all of Christmas be- run by Genesis Behavioral Serv- cause they are not about receiving ices, Inc. being taught the gifts. They have for- The facility, located at 5427 W. way our parents Villard Ave., is a former convent. gotten the true ELZEE OWNENS taught us. The val- TARA TURNER The CBRF is a residential treat- meaning (of the (Santa’s ues (of today’s (Santa’s ment program for women experi- season) is the birth encing substance use disorders, helpher) youth) are just not helper) Walton and his family with Genesis officials, Jeannetta Robinson Home staff and political fig- often with co-occurring trauma of Christ.” the same, and it’s sad. Our children are ures. Walton holds the proclamation presented to him by state Senator Lena Taylor.--Photos by Yvonne Kemp. Photo of Robinson is an MCJ file photo. (continued on page 5) supposed to be our future.” The Milwaukee Community Journal December 14, 2016 Page 2 A Fellows of Distinction Award Honors Thelma A. Sias with a Lifetime Recognition Thelma Sias Thelma A. Sias is a pioneer business and civic leader 2016, and initiated by Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, in in this community. Sias has been a tireless advocate for connection with the 2016 Fellowship Award, it is unique virtually every important cause affecting Milwaukee and because it brings special recognition to exceptional per- has been instrumental in both civic and public affairs. An formance of its recipients. Many have already hit the moun- came slavery, Jim Crow and adviser to key government leaders and a person who in The recipients not only have a particularly strong aca- tain base—rock bottom you could “American Apartheid.” And still we her role has created enormous benefits for the commu- demic performance, but have demonstrated exceptional say—and will be “standing on prospered. nity. community service and involvement. Cecelia Gore, Ex- shaky ground” as they face a future Our African roots were grounded She has been recognized with awards, most recently by ecutive Director of Brewers Community Foundation, Inc. standing on lava coals protected in a system of communalism, nu- the Milwaukee Urban League, and now has the designa- stated, “When you survey the Milwaukee community only with expensive tennis shoes clear family and spirituality. God tion of creating the Thelma A. Sias Fellows of Distinction there is probably no one who has done more to help com- made of cheap rubber (“pleather”). doesn’t make mistakes, and His cre- Award. munity initiatives than Thelma Sias.” Not only has she In other words, they will be ation of Africans as the first people, The Fellows of Distinction Award is a special recogni- been a tireless advocate for making change, she has been “soul-less” (that’s not an incorrect and His oversight of our cultural de- tion for exceptionally talented young men who serve in instrumental in causing the improvement in so many spelling). And, will realize Jordan’s velopment, attests to its crystalliza- internships in the corporate community as part of the ways. are not fire-proof. tion as the preeminent example for MKE Fellows. The MKE Fellows initiative was devel- Sias and her husband, Steve Adams, are community Instead, we should be covering mankind. oped to foster graduation rates, particularly among fixtures and have dedicated their entire careers to making our feet with something more pro- We moved away from that culture African-American males, and has had an exceptional life better for others. Congresswoman Gwen Moore de- tective; a texture made of hides as many fell victim to the false hope track record. Indeed, performance has been so unique scribed Sias’s importance to the community as follows: from the Motherland. of “integration” into a Eurocentric that it has received recognition from government and “There is no one that symbolizes dedication to the com- Our lack of a cultural soul has left value system. “taking back America” and making ture and heritage and bought into civic initiatives nationally. munity better than Thelma Sias. us vulnerable for the coming vol- The conclusion of the Black it great again (sound familiar?). self-destructive behavior that we There are over 65 MKE Fellows from schools from Her thoughtfulness and commitment have generated canic eruption. Its lava will consist Power and Africentric movements The former actor cemented his now face a new Reagan, with a sim- Wisconsin who attend more than 20 colleges across the tremendous respect for both public officials and private of racism, ignorance and false po- of the 1970s and ’80s saw us mov- affront by expressing opposition to ilar philosophy and the not so veiled country. corporations. litical promises of Aryan domi- ing into this new abyss. The Temp- legislation to honor Dr. Martin promise of “Making America Great These interns are part of one of the most successful ini- She not only talks the talk, but she makes things hap- nance under the guise of “American tations and government cheese gave Luther King, Jr. with a national hol- Again.” tiatives ever developed in Milwaukee. They are involved pen, demonstrating leadership in the urban community Greatness.” Thus we must arm our- way to hip-hop and McDonalds. iday and supporting South African Which does not bode well for a in professional development and internships in both the and beyond." The Thelma A. Sias Award will be inau- apartheid. Black community that is more un- public and private sectors, and their exceptional perform- gurated at the MKE Fellows’ annual community event on selves for the coming conflicts. Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” But not with WMDs (Weapons of and James Brown’s “I’m Black and Reaganism sparked an Africen- raveled and alienated than anything ance has been recognized by many. December 20, 2016. tric cultural awakening, the forging since the 1960s. John W. Daniels, III, the President of ALIVE, Inc., About The MKE Fellows Mass Destruction), We must arm I’m Proud” gave way to “Pass the of a Pan African movement that We have moved from a variety of stated “We are remarkably happy that Thelma Sias has The MKE Fellows initiative was created in 2012 for ourselves with the wisdom of who Blunt!” and “B---, Give Me My helped destroy apartheid and a re- cultural distinctions that empow- accepted our award as a true community legend. The multiple purposes, including encouraging talented, young and what we are, and use that redis- Money!” newed sense of Black pride and ered us, to three or four rudderless Thelma A. Sias award will be a true inspiration to young- students from Milwaukee to pursue and complete their covered knowledge to provide a None of our ancestors would call sters." college education and serving as a vehicle to attract di- platform from which to fight back.