March 9 youth forum will focus on segregation

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, in conjunction with the youth leadership organization Urban Underground, will give Greater Milwaukee-area youths a platform to be heard on the impact of residential segregation and how that affects safety and perceptions.

Youths are invited to voice their concerns on the issues of segregation, safety and youth employment opportunities to a panel of experts, city leaders, nonprofits, youth leaders and others who have a vested stake in the community.

Participants will be able to attend a networking and community resource fair, apply for summer employment and talk to representatives from local colleges and universities.

This event is not just limited to youths in the central city. We also want to hear from youths all over the Milwaukee area.

The free event will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 9 in Marquette University’s Alumni Memorial Union, 1442 W. Wisconsin Ave. Lunch will be served.

To register go to www.jsonline.com/50yearevent.

The event is part of the Journal Sentinel’s 50-Year Ache project, which includes advertising support from Aurora Health Care. The project looks at where the city stands a half century after the open housing marches of 1967 and 1968.

Before the event, the Journal Sentinel is asking for youths to tell the story of their day-to-day life and neighborhood based on the theme of “Where I live…”

Try to answer these questions: What do you see? What do you hear? What makes your neighborhood different? Is it safe? Speak from your own experience. Be creative. Tell your story with essays, poetry, videos or photos.

Deadline for submission is Thursday, March 1. Submit your entries to jcausey@jrn.com, or Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, ATTN: James E. Causey, 333 W. State St., Milwaukee, WI, 53201. Please include your phone number, ZIP code, school you attend and age.

The 50-Year Ache project was produced by the Journal Sentinel news staff with no influence from fellowship, event or advertising supporters.