Housing and segregation discussion set
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel will host a panel discussion — “Housing and Segregation in Milwaukee, Then and Now” — on Sept. 27.
The event is the first of six community discussions tied into the ongoing “50-Year Ache” series, which examines a knot of issues that affect the community, such as housing, jobs, crime and education.
For decades, Milwaukee has had one of the nation's widest white-to black home ownership gaps; African-American homeownership has never been above 50%. The city has also ranked among the top five segregated areas in the nation.
How much has changed in Milwaukee in the 50 years since the open housing marches? And what are the prospects for progress?
The panel discussion will include some of the original marchers and individuals active in housing issues today. The discussion will include insight into the marches themselves and what can be done to close the ownership gap, including solutions that are working elsewhere.
The free event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, 2620 W. Center St. It is sponsored by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, with support from Aurora Health Care. To register go to: http://www.jsonline.com/50yearevent Panelists include: Margaret Rozga, a marcher and widow of Milwaukee civil rights leader Fr. James Groppi; Mary Arms, an NAACP Youth Council member; Clayborn Benson, a historian and executive director of the Wisconsin Black Historical Society; Cary Spivak, a Journal Sentinel investigative reporter who worked on the series “Landlord Games”; Brian Sonderman, executive director of Milwaukee’s Habitat for Humanity; and Dorothy York, associate director of ACTS Housing, a nonprofit group that works to put families into homes.
Moderators of the event are Kantara Souffant, a member of the group March on Milwaukee, which is sponsoring “200 Nights of Freedom” and other activities around the anniversary, and Journal Sentinel columnist James E. Causey.
There will be time for questions from the audience and tables will be set up for attendees to find out more about homeownership, home improvement and ways to volunteer.