AUGUST GOSPEL FESTIVAL... Harambee Great Neighborhoods Deserve Great Art

Harambee's rich and diverse cultural life is widely recognized as one of the community's primary assetts. As such, The Harambee Ombudsman Project Inc, in association with Northcott Neighborhood House, LISC, and other supporters is organizing a series of family freindly festivals and cultural events that will showcase Harambee's talented residents. These festivals are not only about providing the community with safe, fun, local entertainment, but also provide an exciting opportunity for community members and supporters to engage one another and continue fostering Harambbee's cultural heritage.

I hope that you will join us for our next event, which is the Family Gospel Festival on Wednesday, August 20th. Below you will find audition requirements and other details.

Please be on the look out for more information regarding upcoming cultural events in the Harambee community.

I look forward to meeting and working with you all in the near future.

Regards,
Isaiah Rembert

HGNI is seeking talented gospel performers:

Singers, Praise Dancers, Musicians, Quartets, Spoken Word
Artists and other interested artists are invited to audition
Thursday, August 14, 2008 at Northcott Neighborhood House, 2460 N. 6th Street—starting at 6:00pm until 8:00pm

Harambee Community residents are encouraged to audition as well as other gospel performers. All interested participants must respond no later than Tuesday, August 12, 2008 by calling (414)372-3770 and ask for Andre’ Lee Ellis.

Northcott Neighborhood House, RiverWorks CDC, ABEA, and Harambee Ombudsman Project, Inc. will present the Summer Sounds Family Gospel Night Out on Wednesday,
August 20, 2008 from 5:00pm until 8:00pm at the Clinton Rose Senior Center located 2900 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. ALL ARE WELCOME!!!

Harambee Past Present Future

One of the Harambee neighborhood's greatest assets is its rich history throughout the years from settlement until today. Did you know these Harambee historical facts?

Williamsburg was the trading center of its farming community in the mid-1800's.

Clinton Rose Park was known as Scheutzen (Rifleman's) Park (1866-1891, with a rifle range, dance hall, bowling alley and saloon), and Pabst Park (1891-1921, owned by the Pabst Brewery with a roller coaster, a carousel and a Fun House), Garfield Park (1921-1982, renamed by new owner Milwaukee County in honor of the 21st US President), prior to being named for the area's long time County Supervisor (in 1982).

The Riverworks area first developed as center of industry in 1920 with the construction of the Seaman auto body plant. The industrial jobs attracted new ethnic groups--Italians, Polish, and African Americans--to live in the neighborhood within walking distance of their jobs.

The first African Americans arrived in the Harambee Neighborhood in the 1930's, and by 1970 were the largest ethnic group in the neighborhood.

Third Street was renamed to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1985.

The steep bluff around First and Locust was once known as Goat Hill.

Former Mayor Frank Zeidler lived in the Harambee Neighborhood from 1946 until his death in 2006.

The Harambee Neighborhood borrowed its name from the Harambee Community School, which had opened in 1969 in the former St. Elizabeth's School on 1st and Burleigh, named for the Swahili word for "pulling together."

The Harambee Ombudsmen Project began over 25 years ago promoting pride and stability through a network of block leaders that had grown to more than 300 in number by 1980.

This information comes from the Department of City Development. What do you know and remember about Harambee's history? Email me with your thoughts, and I will publish them here.

On Saturday, May 5, Riverworks is hosting an event where you can share your memories and historical knowledge about the Harambee Neighborhood, as well as participate in planning for the neighborhood's continued forward progress. Join the Harambee North Neighborhood Planning effort...contact Steve Adams at 414.906.9650 for more information.

Community in Action

On Saturday, February 10, over 90 people spent five hours talking about their vision for the Harambee Neighborhood.





Left, Alderman Michael McGee, Jr. addresses the crowd, and encourages the residents to get involved and work together.

Right, Facilitator J. Otis Smith from Philadelphia lays the groundrules for engagement. The poster behind him says: "Communication - Can we talk with each other about everything and not protect each other from the truth (as we know it)."








Left, Sharon Mays Ferguson asks how residents can know that the effort they put in to planning (again) will actually produce results.


Residents can make a difference. The seriousness with which investors, funders and policy makers treat this plan depends on each and every person who attended on February 10 to invite at least three more people they know to get involved.

At the end of the day, participants were invited to sign up for any of ten work groups, focused on Seniors, Housing, Youth and Recreation, Greening and Environment, Economic Development, and Workforce Development, to name a few. Watch the blog for updates on these groups. And if you know anyone else who can play a role in devising strategies, building connections, advocating for support, or just rolling up their sleeves and working, please get them in touch with Steve Adams, Neighborhood Development Specialist at Riverworks at 906-9650.

How do we connect?

A meeting was held on January 24 for individuals and organizations who want to be early leaders in making Harambee one of Milwaukee's Great Neighborhoods. It was a high-energy meeting, where numerous ideas for collaboration among organizations serving the neighborhood--and connecting with residents during the planning process and beyond--bubbled up.

One thing that became clear in the discussion is that there are a lot of committed, creative and hard-working people working to make a difference in Harambee. All agreed that we should strive to get to know one another's work so that we can make residents and the city at large aware of all of the opportunities available here. I volunteered to create this blog to facilitate communication and sharing.

Please start by sharing a short post about yourself, your organization, and/or your work in Harambee. Include a link to your website if you have one.