“A child that is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.” - African proverb

This week, the gang welcomes LaShawndra Vernon, Executive Director of Artists Working in Education and Imagine MKE board member, to talk about the art that has been created during the last two weeks of protest marches for Black Lives in Milwaukee.

You can find LaShawndra on Facebook and Insta @FireyPhoenix777 and on CashApp $LaShawndraVernon.

Artist Working in Education is at www.awe-inc.org and on Facebook and Insta @aweinc

Audio Transition: https://soundcloud.com/shonnhinton/song-of-freedom (Song of Freedom) by https://soundcloud.com/shonnhinton (Shonn Hinton) (SoundCloud @shonnhinton)

We are so excited and proud to introduce Arts Forward MKE, a new podcast from Imagine MKE.

Hosted by Lindsay Sheridan, Director of Marketing and PR for Imagine MKE, Arts Forward MKE offers a deep dive interview with one Milwaukee-based artist, cultural creator or arts administrator and attempts to shed on their creative spark, inspiration and their hopes for the creative future of our city.

The first six episodes were recorded before the pandemic and feature the artists, creatives and administrators featured in our https://www.imaginemke.org/art-stories/featured-artists/ (414 Day video).

The first episode of Arts Forward MKE features an interview with Dasha Kelly Hamilton, Milwaukee's poet laureate, whose poem "Life in Motion" was creative spark for that video.

You can find Dasha Kelly Hamilton at www.DashaKelly.com

It is a sunnier and brighter day this week as the gang welcomes Sarah Franҫois from https://progressivechc.org/ (Progressive Community Health Centers) to talk about access to healthcare during the pandemic.

Sarah also cuts a wicked promo for the Milwaukee Rep in her reign as Arts and Culture Czar.

Audio Transitions: https://thehatchetsmusic.bandcamp.com/track/old-man (Old Man), by The Hatchets from https://thehatchetsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-uncounted-blue-jillions (The Uncounted Blue Jillions)

This week, the gang asks again, "How do you make a 'fun and breezy' podcast in a time of national emergency?"

Mac and David share Imagine MKE's best attempt to continue to meet the demands of this historical moment and catalyze our network to not only make progress on our shared agenda, but also to position Milwaukee's arts and culture sector to meaningfully address the dual public health crises we face of institutional racism and COVID-19.

Imagine MKE's https://www.imaginemke.org/art-stories/imagine-journal/post/in-grief-and-solidarity-with-our-black-neighbors (statement on the murder of George Floyd).

You can sign up for the summer series of https://www.imaginemke.org/our-work-groups/ (work group meetings here).

You can https://secure.everyaction.com/UNFR5x7_ZEegCfb8DNgLQA2?ms=imkepod (write your reps about support for the arts and culture sector here).

This week, the gang visits with artist Rosy Petri.

Despite Rosy's incredible accolades, which include being the https://www.thepfisterhotel.com/artist-in-residence (11th Artist in Residence at the Pfister Hotel) and a https://www.thisisparadisehome.com/mke-wi (recent commission for the Milwaukee County Executive's office), she continues her artistic practice with curiosity, humility, and an inclusive spirit that art should be accessible for everybody.

You can find Rosy online at https://www.thisisparadisehome.com/ (This is Paradise Home), Instagram @ThisIsParadiseHome and Facebook: @ParadiseHomeGoods

Audio transitions: https://amandahuff.bandcamp.com/track/carolines ("Caroline's," Hemiptera, Amanda Huff)

What's it like to win the internet?

We find out this week as we welcome Wes Tank, who recently won the internet with his quarantine videos of him rapping Dr. Seuss rhymes over Dr. Dre beats.

Wes talks to Mac and David about discovering the magical combination of Dr. Seuss and Dr. Dre, becoming the Tiger King of the Dr. Seuss rapping community, how he transitioned from basketball to rapping to filmmaking, finding inspiration while picking up garbage in Washington Park, and how he sees the unique assets and possibilities of Milwaukee as a creative city.

Audio transitions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8-EXMxufG8 ("One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish," Wes Tank/Dr. Seuss/Dr. Dre)

The https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a12P7EMP2eYandt=309s (reaction video where the daughter of another Dr. Seuss/Dr. Dre rapper gives Wes a higher rating).

You can find Wes here: https://www.tankthink.org/ (TankThink), https://www.youtube.com/user/Clamatore/featured (YouTube), https://www.instagram.com/wes_tank/ (Insta), https://soundcloud.com/wctank-1 (Soundcloud), and https://bandcamp.com/wctank (Bandcamp)

With all of your help - and the help of one very generous anonymous donor - we were able to successfully close the remaining waitlist for the MKE Artist Relief Fund!

Incredible. Thank you.

While we are still waiting for the funds to land, we invited members of our team to celebrate this great accomplishment, review the MKE Artist Relief Fund and to chat about how our COVID19 response engaged our neighborhood partners.

We also look back to one of the first artist profiles we recorded with https://karlieskelley.com/ (Karlies Kelley), http://www.adamqutaishat.com/ (Adam Qutaishat), and https://www.facebook.com/brit.nicole.18 (Brit Nicole) after the first cycle of artist relief grants had gone out where they share how they see the future of the arts and artist engagement post COVID19.

Audio transition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM8WlvWMJQE ("Let Go," by Lex Allen)

https://www.imaginemke.org/covid-19-resources/mke-artist-relief-fund.php (View the MKE Artist Relief Fund Thank You video and stats from the campaign here).

This week, the gang continues to expand its coverage of resources to help artists and creatives weather the economic downturn brought on by coronavirus by welcoming De'Kendrea Stamps, State FoodShare Program Manager at Feeding Wisconsin, to talk about the FoodShare program and how people can get help applying for federal assistance to buy groceries.

Audio transitions: "https://balxndr.bandcamp.com/track/love-song-ft-311 (Love Song (ft. 311))," by B.ALXNDR, https://balxndr.bandcamp.com/ (Memoirs of a Broken Heart).

You can reach Feeding Wisconsin's FoodShare Helpline at 1-877-366-3635 to get an eligibility screen and to learn how you can apply. You can also learn more at www.GetAQuestCard.org.

To learn more about other help and resources, please call 311.

This week, the gang welcomes http://janpiercelaw.com/ (Jan Pierce), Bay View's friendly neighborhood lawyer to dispense some practical advice for artists, freelancers, and small businesses and non-profits on how to survive the uncertainty brought forth by COVID19.

The focus of Jan's practice is on assisting startups and closely-held businesses throughout the entire life cycles of their businesses and he gets great satisfaction helping them build and influence our city that we all love and call home.

Donate to the MKE Artist Relief Fund: https://www.imaginemke.org/mke-artist-relief-fund/donate.php (https://www.imaginemke.org/mke-artist-relief-fund/donate.php)

Audio Transitions: "https://midwestaxn.bandcamp.com/track/the-cure (The Cure)" by https://www.facebook.com/Mouse-Corn-242459649102386/ (Mouse Corn) from the album https://midwestaxn.bandcamp.com/album/mouse-corn-vs-the-world (Mouse Corn vs. The World)

Jan's resource links:

Milwaukee Justice Center – Legal Assistance and Self-Help Information

https://www.milwaukeejusticecenter.org (https://www.milwaukeejusticecenter.org)

Chapter 128: Wisconsin's Bankruptcy Alternative

https://www.wisbar.org/NewsPublications/Pages/General-Article.aspx?ArticleID=1441 (https://www.wisbar.org/NewsPublications/Pages/General-Article.aspx?ArticleID=1441)

General Bankruptcy Information

https://www.justice.gov/ust/bankruptcy-information-sheet-0 (https://www.justice.gov/ust/bankruptcy-information-sheet-0)

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Information

https://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/chapter-7-bankruptcy-basics (https://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/chapter-7-bankruptcy-basics)

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Information

https://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/chapter-11-bankruptcy-basics (https://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/chapter-11-bankruptcy-basics)

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Information

https://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/chapter-13-bankruptcy-basics (https://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/chapter-13-bankruptcy-basics)

Secured vs. Unsecured Loans

https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/110614/what-difference-between-secured-and-unsecured-debts.asp (https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/110614/what-difference-between-secured-and-unsecured-debts.asp)

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/types-creditor-claims-bankruptcy-secured-unsecured-priority.html (https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/types-creditor-claims-bankruptcy-secured-unsecured-priority.html)

Judgment Liens    

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/j/judgment-lien.asp (https://www.investopedia.com/terms/j/judgment-lien.asp)

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/will-bankruptcy-get-rid-lawsuit-judgments.html (https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/will-bankruptcy-get-rid-lawsuit-judgments.html)

This week, the gang reviews the progress on the MKE Artist Relief Fund and other COVID19 activities, and then welcomes https://mapsformaking.com/ (Mauriah Kraker), an an ex-Olympic level athlete and current dancer and teacher based in Milwaukee, to discuss her movement practice and how she celebrates the possibility of movement in this time of quarantine.

Audio transitions: "https://elliejackson.bandcamp.com/track/i-wanna-stay-soft (i wanna stay soft)," by Ellie Jackson