SPARKING AN URBAN RENAISSANCE

When we talk about education reform, we often think of school choice or charter schools ("choice" means a private school and "charter" is a public school authorized to operate by another public entity, like the University of Wisconsin, or Milwaukee Piblic Public Schools, for example). I support those and our traditional public schools, but I’m also a big fan of magnet schools, like the Milwaukee Parkside School of the Arts.  These Milwaukee Public schools are centers of excellence for students interested in a particular potential career, like these young people who are using the arts in unique ways to improve their education. I visited the students there with MPS Superintendent Darienne Driver this week. Darienne is working hard to enhance the culture and expectations at MPS and I was really happy to see that the school board this week voted to back her up in her appeal for a school uniform policy. It's never too early for young people to look like pros and show respect for their school. Schools still have a way to opt out, but I think this is a good move for MPS. 

From there I traveled to meet with the 30th Street Corridor business improvement district, where we talked about what it would take to spark an urban renaissance in some of Milwaukee’s tougher neighborhoods.  The arts have always played an important role in our urban communities, like street art and music, and I believe an arts renaissance can help create a thriving, vibrant Milwaukee that is attractive to diverse, talented people from across the country.

TAKING CARE OF OUR VETS

Another pillar of that urban renaissance would have to be stable housing, occupied by stable people. That's why I was so pleased that the Woodlands complex welcomed another stable pillar to the neighborhood this week: Army veteran Wes Landry. No veteran—no veteran—who has worn the uniform of the United States should come back to our country without a place to be and belong.  This week I had the honor of presenting the keys to a new condo to Wes, who served our nation honorably, including through Operation Desert Storm.

Our Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority Foundation kicked in to help with renovations and Wes himself did some of the rehab work. Wes has a small home loan and is humbled and delighted with his new opportunity.

I also visited the Rock Valley Housing4OurVets facility in Janesville, which provides housing and hope to homeless veterans in southcentral Wisconsin.  Working together with our Housing & Economic Development Authority, Department of Veterans Affairs, and community partners, we can ensure every hero has a home.

This only scratches the surface of my calendar this past week.  I could talk to you about Impact 2-1-1, which serves people in crisis in Southeastern Wisconsin (they get 600 calls a day) or my time with Mike Gousha and Rep. John Nygren at Marquette Law School focused on ending opioid abuse (you can watch here). I could write about the exciting grand opening of CareerTek in Beloit and our annual showcase of Wisconsin’s technical colleges at the Capitol. (Here's a picture!)

But let me summarize them all with this thought instead: Wisconsin is on the move.  Where we have problems, we tackle them.  When we have opportunities, we seize them.  And every week, it’s my privilege to get out on your behalf to celebrate, encourage, prod, and produce to keep our state moving forward.

IN WISCONSIN, MANUFACTURING MATTERS

Few industries fulfill that notion of moving forward better than manufacturing. Manufacturing supports more than 470,000 jobs in Wisconsin, so it makes sense that every year we hold a conference named “Manufacturing Matters.”  Wednesday evening I spoke to dozens of manufacturers about the important contributions they make to our economy.  I saw some of the same faces again Thursday night at the “Manufacturer of the Year” awards.  Usually I see these folks on factory floors in jeans and plastic glasses, so it was a fun change of pace to meet these friends in black tie.  Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to all our manufacturing companies that make Wisconsin great.

Forward,

Rebecca Kleefisch
Lt. Governor

P.S. Final note: this morning I was in Grafton at RAM Tools to launch our application process for youth apprenticeship this year. The applications for the collaborations with our Department of Workforce Development are due in early April. If you are like me and believe that qualified teachers plus skilled mentors equal educated ethical Wisconsin workers, then youth apprenticeship is worth celebrating. We have doubled our investment in this program since 2012 and the economy is still hungry for more talented workers. As our economy grows, we stand ready to put our resources where our industries are!