Let the journey begin.

Speaking of…is a podcast by Milwaukee PBS and makes public media personal. This is our introduction. Think of it as a kind of user's manual for what you can expect to hear from us as we release a new episode every Friday.

Journalists Alexandria Mack, Mariano Avila and Scottie Lee Meyers share stories featuring our local friends and neighbors and exploring the MKE experience. The discussions consider life in southeastern Wisconsin, highlighting national and global topics of public interest, framed by diverse personal perspectives and thoughtful consideration.

Our hosts combine a passion for storytelling, concern for community and self-reflection to engage listeners in celebrating this place we call home. Join us for inspiration, investigation, and insight as we speak of Milwaukee. This is journalism with a coffee-break twist.

Milwaukee Area Resources:

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.
• The Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee operates a 24-hour confidential hotline at 414-933-2722.
• We Are Here Milwaukee provides information on culturally specific organizations at weareheremke.org.
• The Women’s Center in Waukesha has a 24-hour hotline at 262-542-3828.
• The Asha Project, which provides culturally specific services for African American women and others in Milwaukee, provides a crisis line from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 414-252-0075.
• The UMOS Latina Resource Center in Milwaukee offers bilingual, bicultural domestic violence, sexual assault and anti-human trafficking supportive services and operates a 24-hour hotline at 414-389-6510.
• The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center offers culturally sensitive, trauma-informed services for those who have experienced domestic or sexual violence and can be reached at 414-383-9526.
• Our Peaceful Home, which serves Muslim families and is a program of the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition, operates a crisis line at 414-727-1090.
• The Hmong American Women’s Association, which serves the Hmong and Southeast Asian community, has advocates available at 414-930-9352 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has a statewide directory of resources at ...

"I'm not gonna' be fixing these homes, Imma be owning 'em." For producer Alexandria Mack, her earliest understanding of ownership as a means of wealth building came from her father. With less than 7 percent of Black Milwaukeeans owning their homes, real estate professionals like Tia Cannon are working to help this demographic get their slice of the American pie while securing a legacy for their families along the way. To see video of one of Cannon's latest redevelopment projects, check out this segment that aired on Milwaukee PBS show "Black Nouveau."

Milwaukee Area Resources:

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.
• The Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee operates a 24-hour confidential hotline at 414-933-2722.
• We Are Here Milwaukee provides information on culturally specific organizations at weareheremke.org.
• The Women’s Center in Waukesha has a 24-hour hotline at 262-542-3828.
• The Asha Project, which provides culturally specific services for African American women and others in Milwaukee, provides a crisis line from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 414-252-0075.
• The UMOS Latina Resource Center in Milwaukee offers bilingual, bicultural domestic violence, sexual assault and anti-human trafficking supportive services and operates a 24-hour hotline at 414-389-6510.
• The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center offers culturally sensitive, trauma-informed services for those who have experienced domestic or sexual violence and can be reached at 414-383-9526.
• Our Peaceful Home, which serves Muslim families and is a program of the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition, operates a crisis line at 414-727-1090.
• The Hmong American Women’s Association, which serves the Hmong and Southeast Asian community, has advocates available at 414-930-9352 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has a statewide directory of resources at ...

In this week’s episode, we meet Alesia Miller, the founder of Wisconsin’s first (and only) Black-owned kombucha company, Soul Brew Kombucha. Miller became one of millions to participate in the “Great Resignation” to pursue a new passion after twenty years as a music teacher.

Milwaukee Area Resources:

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.
• The Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee operates a 24-hour confidential hotline at 414-933-2722.
• We Are Here Milwaukee provides information on culturally specific organizations at weareheremke.org.
• The Women’s Center in Waukesha has a 24-hour hotline at 262-542-3828.
• The Asha Project, which provides culturally specific services for African American women and others in Milwaukee, provides a crisis line from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 414-252-0075.
• The UMOS Latina Resource Center in Milwaukee offers bilingual, bicultural domestic violence, sexual assault and anti-human trafficking supportive services and operates a 24-hour hotline at 414-389-6510.
• The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center offers culturally sensitive, trauma-informed services for those who have experienced domestic or sexual violence and can be reached at 414-383-9526.
• Our Peaceful Home, which serves Muslim families and is a program of the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition, operates a crisis line at 414-727-1090.
• The Hmong American Women’s Association, which serves the Hmong and Southeast Asian community, has advocates available at 414-930-9352 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has a statewide directory of resources at ...

In this week’s episode, we meet Alesia Miller, the founder of Wisconsin’s first (and only) Black-owned kombucha company, Soul Brew Kombucha. Miller became one of millions to participate in the “Great Resignation” to pursue a new passion after twenty years as a music teacher.

Milwaukee Area Resources:

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.
• The Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee operates a 24-hour confidential hotline at 414-933-2722.
• We Are Here Milwaukee provides information on culturally specific organizations at weareheremke.org.
• The Women’s Center in Waukesha has a 24-hour hotline at 262-542-3828.
• The Asha Project, which provides culturally specific services for African American women and others in Milwaukee, provides a crisis line from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 414-252-0075.
• The UMOS Latina Resource Center in Milwaukee offers bilingual, bicultural domestic violence, sexual assault and anti-human trafficking supportive services and operates a 24-hour hotline at 414-389-6510.
• The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center offers culturally sensitive, trauma-informed services for those who have experienced domestic or sexual violence and can be reached at 414-383-9526.
• Our Peaceful Home, which serves Muslim families and is a program of the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition, operates a crisis line at 414-727-1090.
• The Hmong American Women’s Association, which serves the Hmong and Southeast Asian community, has advocates available at 414-930-9352 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has a statewide directory of resources at ...

The Black Lives Matter protests that emerged in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd inspired a group of diverse high school students to confront the predominantly white suburb of Brookfield to be a more inclusive community. And they did that by writing and proposing a resolution to honor Black History Month — a resolution that turned out to be too controversial. This is a story about how these civically engaged teenagers are forcing their hometown to grapple with race, accountability and the whitewashing of American history.

Here are some notes and references from this episode:

Our "Porch Politics" video segment featuring voter perspectives from the WOW counties.

The Marquette University Law School Poll from Aug. 30 to Sept. 30, 2020, which asked potential voters about their attitudes about "the Black Lives Matter movement."

Spectrum News 1's coverage of the Black Lives Matter protest in Brookfield on June 5, 2020.

DC Fallout's Bandcamp page.

The history and impact of the Chapter 220 program, Wisconsin's only school integration program. Story is by WUWM 89.7 Milwaukee's NPR education reporter, Emily Files. And poignantly, the story centers around a Black student attending school in Brookfield.

Milwaukee Area Resources:

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.
• The Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee operates a 24-hour confidential hotline at 414-933-2722.
• We Are Here Milwaukee provides information on culturally specific organizations at weareheremke.org.
• The Women’s Center in Waukesha has a 24-hour hotline at 262-542-3828.
• The Asha Project, which provides culturally specific services for African American women and others in Milwaukee, provides a crisis line from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 414-252-0075.
• The UMOS Latina Resource Center in Milwaukee offers bilingual, bicultural domestic violence, sexual assault and anti-human trafficking supportive services and operates a 24-hour hotline at 414-389-6510.
• The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center offers culturally sensitive, trauma-informed services for those who have experienced domestic or sexual violence and can be reached at 414-383-9526.
• Our Peaceful Home, which serves Muslim families and is a program of the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition, operates a crisis line at 414-727-1090.
• The Hmong American Women’s Association, which serves the Hmong and Southeast Asian community, has advocates available at 414-930-9352 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has a statewide directory of resources at ...

The battle for Black history in Brookfield continues with part II of the story. The resolution written by the students enters City Hall and things don’t go according to plan. What ensues is an intense debate about the “appropriate” way to honor Black History Month. We hear rousing speeches from the high schoolers, a “timeless” comment from a council member and plot twist from the mayor.

Milwaukee Area Resources:

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.
• The Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee operates a 24-hour confidential hotline at 414-933-2722.
• We Are Here Milwaukee provides information on culturally specific organizations at weareheremke.org.
• The Women’s Center in Waukesha has a 24-hour hotline at 262-542-3828.
• The Asha Project, which provides culturally specific services for African American women and others in Milwaukee, provides a crisis line from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 414-252-0075.
• The UMOS Latina Resource Center in Milwaukee offers bilingual, bicultural domestic violence, sexual assault and anti-human trafficking supportive services and operates a 24-hour hotline at 414-389-6510.
• The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center offers culturally sensitive, trauma-informed services for those who have experienced domestic or sexual violence and can be reached at 414-383-9526.
• Our Peaceful Home, which serves Muslim families and is a program of the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition, operates a crisis line at 414-727-1090.
• The Hmong American Women’s Association, which serves the Hmong and Southeast Asian community, has advocates available at 414-930-9352 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has a statewide directory of resources at ...

The mayor’s alternative version of the Black History Month recognition goes up for a final vote, but not before an intense debate featuring a “stick to sports” argument, some awkward anecdotes and a surprisingly relevant migratory bird resolution that passed just a month before. As we wrap up this trilogy on the battle for Black history in Brookfield, our hosts get personal as they reflect on the segregation in Milwaukee’s suburbs.

Here are some notes and references from this episode:

A tip of the hat to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Evan Casey, who covered this story as it happened. Read his story about Brookfield's Black History Month recognition, which includes some great photos of the students at the center of this story.

Check out 88.9 Radio Milwaukee's six-part podcast series "By Every Measure," which unpacks systemic racism in Milwaukee.

The Washington Post earlier this year examined the new Great Migration, in which Black Americans are returning back to the South. Lots of good data here.

Here's where you can check out Brookfield's International Migratory Bird Day resolution.

If you want to watch any of this drama play out as it happened, the City of Brookfield does record and post Common Council meetings.

Milwaukee Area Resources:

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.
• The Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee operates a 24-hour confidential hotline at 414-933-2722.
• We Are Here Milwaukee provides information on culturally specific organizations at weareheremke.org.
• The Women’s Center in Waukesha has a 24-hour hotline at 262-542-3828.
• The Asha Project, which provides culturally specific services for African American women and others in Milwaukee, provides a crisis line from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 414-252-0075.
• The UMOS Latina Resource Center in Milwaukee offers bilingual, bicultural domestic violence, sexual assault and anti-human trafficking supportive services and operates a 24-hour hotline at 414-389-6510.
• The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center offers culturally sensitive, trauma-informed services for those who have experienced domestic or sexual violence and can be reached at 414-383-9526.
• Our Peaceful Home, which serves Muslim families and is a program of the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition, operates a crisis line at 414-727-1090.
• The Hmong American Women’s Association, which serves the Hmong and Southeast Asian community, has advocates available at 414-930-9352 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has a statewide directory of resources at ...

Defining “home” through a pandemic lens is complicated, especially when you’re in a new city, like host, producer Mariano Avila who just moved to Milwaukee. But whether you’re an immigrant who learned to make the US home through PBS kids shows, or eating lasagna in Cher’s mansion, like our general manager Bohdan Zachary, or parsing out the difference between being Native American in a reservation vs a city, like Ron Greiger, or researching how COVID influenced people to move in 2020, like D’Vera Kohn from the Pew Research Center, the significance of home is as personal as it is complex.

Join the conversation with hosts Mariano Avila, and life-long Milwaukeeans Lexi Mack and Scottie Meyers on this new episode of Speaking Of.

Milwaukee Area Resources:

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.
• The Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee operates a 24-hour confidential hotline at 414-933-2722.
• We Are Here Milwaukee provides information on culturally specific organizations at weareheremke.org.
• The Women’s Center in Waukesha has a 24-hour hotline at 262-542-3828.
• The Asha Project, which provides culturally specific services for African American women and others in Milwaukee, provides a crisis line from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 414-252-0075.
• The UMOS Latina Resource Center in Milwaukee offers bilingual, bicultural domestic violence, sexual assault and anti-human trafficking supportive services and operates a 24-hour hotline at 414-389-6510.
• The Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center offers culturally sensitive, trauma-informed services for those who have experienced domestic or sexual violence and can be reached at 414-383-9526.
• Our Peaceful Home, which serves Muslim families and is a program of the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition, operates a crisis line at 414-727-1090.
• The Hmong American Women’s Association, which serves the Hmong and Southeast Asian community, has advocates available at 414-930-9352 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin has a statewide directory of resources at ...