Rick Deines, a conversation facilitator with The Zeidler Center for Public Discussion and a Milwaukee resident for 33 years, asks what Milwaukee can learn from the recently released Ferguson Commission report. Originally posted in Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service: http://milwaukeenns.org/2015/09/21/listen-to-ferguson-see-milwaukee/ If Milwaukee looks at the new report of the Ferguson Commission, we will see our city. The community culture exposed by Michael Brown’s death

A Frank Zeidler Tribute— Frank and I knew one another over a 35 year period. In this very building he was part of the committee that brought me to Milwaukee from Kansas City to coordinate the work of Lutheran churches in urban Milwaukee. I had rented a car and I thought Frank was hanging around after the interview to talk with me. Maybe, but what he really needed was a ride to his home on North Second Street. I discovered that not having a car, but using public transportat

What Does the Empire Fear? Our extended family chooses a short (100 pages or less) book to read and discuss when on holiday. A few weeks ago we reflected together on our experience reading J.M. Coetzee’s novel, “Waiting for the Barbarians.” We discovered it as a story timely for most any historical situation, including our own. On the border of an unnamed country Coetzee speaks through the voice of an official of the “Empire.” This ‘Magistrate’ is responsible for warning t