News, Newsletter
Milwaukee Turners
Confronting Mass Incarceration Committee ...

The Milwaukee Turners Confronting Mass Incarceration Committee co-sponsored the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force 2019 Forum, Re-imagining Justice for Wisconsinites with Mental Illness, April 29, 2019, at IndependenceFirst. About 90 people attended this discussion of solutions to the alarming overcrowded, understaffed and sometimes abusive jails and prisons in our state. 


Confronting Mass Incarceration Committee Co-Sponsors Critical Forum 
News, Newsletter
Nicholas La Joie
Wisconsin De-carceration Project moves forward ...

A group of five students in the University Scholars Honors Program at MSOE presented their ambitious project at ending mass incarceration in front of a group of community partners on May 2nd at the school’s Grohmann Museum.

The “Wisconsin Decarceration Project” began in the Fall of 2018 as a targeted effort by Julilly Kohler and Gretchen Schuldt of the Milwaukee Turners’ Confronting Mass Incarceration (CMI) coalition, aimed at partnering with community partners and MSOE students in developing a real-world tool for connecting organizations, data and services with the unified goal of ending our ongoing incarceration problem.

The students, led by their professor Dr. Michael Carriere, presented their online platform concept which would include numerous portals connecting users to appropriate resources depending on their needs. 


Wisconsin De-carceration Project moves forward with online platform
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President's Corner: by Art Heitzer

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President's Corner: by Art Heitzer

Despite the polar vortex and a variety of other unique challenges, Milwaukee Turners are off to a great start for 2019. Here’s a brief update, and we welcome your membership, renewal, and support in all appropriate ways.


First, we are thrilled to welcome our new Executive Director, Nicholas La Joie who began coinciding with the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday in January. Nicholas has taken the reins (& there are many of them) firmly in hand. These include our 130 year old building suffering from the slings and arrows of invading snow and arctic air, freezing and aging pipes (despite the best prevention efforts), and some significant shaking as our multi million dollar neighbor across the street had its roof imploded and massive steel and concrete are still crashing down as I write this.  We and structural engineers are assessing the results. 

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Confronting Mass Incarceration Committee Co-Sponsors Critical Forum 

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Confronting Mass Incarceration Committee Co-Sponsors Critical Forum 

The Milwaukee Turners Confronting Mass Incarceration Committee co-sponsored the Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force 2019 Forum, Re-imagining Justice for Wisconsinites with Mental Illness, April 29, 2019, at IndependenceFirst. About 90 people attended this discussion of solutions to the alarming overcrowded, understaffed and sometimes abusive jails and prisons in our state. 


Jane's Walk MKE 2019

Jane's Walk MKE 2019

On May 1, almost 300 people gathered in Turner Hall Ballroom for the 4th annual Jane’s Walk MKE kickoff celebration.  The Ballroom Block Party was a free, three-hour event inspired by the Project for Public Spaces' Power of 10 concept, which argues that "places thrive when users have a range of reasons (10+) to be there.”  Attendees experienced music, Milwaukee trivia, food and drink, fun photo opportunities, giant Tinker toys and games, and “sidewalks” lined with organizations dedicated to making Milwaukee better for all through neighborhood- and community-building efforts.

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Wisconsin De-carceration Project moves forward with online platform

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Wisconsin De-carceration Project moves forward with online platform

A group of five students in the University Scholars Honors Program at MSOE presented their ambitious project at ending mass incarceration in front of a group of community partners on May 2nd at the school’s Grohmann Museum.

The “Wisconsin Decarceration Project” began in the Fall of 2018 as a targeted effort by Julilly Kohler and Gretchen Schuldt of the Milwaukee Turners’ Confronting Mass Incarceration (CMI) coalition, aimed at partnering with community partners and MSOE students in developing a real-world tool for connecting organizations, data and services with the unified goal of ending our ongoing incarceration problem.

The students, led by their professor Dr. Michael Carriere, presented their online platform concept which would include numerous portals connecting users to appropriate resources depending on their needs. 


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Gym preparations for Summer include incentives for bicyclists

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Gym preparations for Summer include incentives for bicyclists

As we prepare to roll into summer we say a goodbye for the season to our Marquette Climbing Club. This is MU’s fourth year at Turner Hall. The students range from beginners to seasoned veterans.  There were a total of 598 participants for the very successful Monday and Wednesday evening program this Spring. We also say adieu for the summer to the UWM climbing classes in the gym. Both these programs are exemplary partnerships in the Turners’ ongoing mission of being a teaching facility.

 New for the Summer months is Turners’ participation in Bicycle Bingo and the citywide Bicycle Benefits program. In addition to these, the Turners will be working toward promoting more bicycling in Milwaukee as we plan to participate in Wisconsin Bike Week in early June. Stay tuned for more news!

Additionally, Milwaukee Turners, in conjunction with UWM instructor Kim Kosmitis, will be teaching a lead/sport climbing class as well as planning on offering ice climbing classes again soon.


Thank you to contributing members and supporters who helped turn $4,000 Into a $16,000 Gift to Support America’s Black Holocaust Museum!

Thank you to contributing members and supporters who helped turn $4,000 Into a $16,000 Gift to Support America’s Black Holocaust Museum!

A special appeal from Milwaukee Turner leadership to its members and contributors for support of America’s Black Holocaust Museum (ABHM) raised $4,000, which was then matched by several generous Turner donors, for a total gift of $8,000. Thanks to a personal $100,000 challenge grant by Milwaukee philanthropist and County Executive, Chris Abele, this $8,000 gift was matched, resulting in a $16,000 gift to the museum.

Milwaukee Turners Members now receive 10% off when dining in Tavern at Turner Hall

Milwaukee Turners Members now receive 10% off when dining in Tavern at Turner Hall

Milwaukee Turners are glad to announce that new and existing members can receive a 10% discount on any food items when dining in Tavern at Turner Hall. The discount is valid through 2019 and includes any food items on the menu, but does not include alcoholic beverages ordered in the restaurant or bar.

Please share your Milwaukee Turners membership card with your server when dining at the Tavern to receive the discount.

A message from Milwaukee Turners’ new Executive Director, Nicholas La Joie

A message from Milwaukee Turners’ new Executive Director, Nicholas La Joie

This past month, I officially began working as the new executive director for the Milwaukee Turners. While I have had the pleasure to meet and work with many of members and friends of Milwaukee Turners already, there are still dozens of you whom I look forward to connecting with in the near future. 

Prior to coming to the Turners, I worked in media and communications at Marquette University  for 12 years while also volunteering in a number of community advocacy committees and neighborhood outreach groups with the goal of making our city’s streets safer and healthier for all our residents. My advocacy work has helped me become aware of the deep need for targeted social justice efforts in our community. I am excited to be a part of Milwaukee Turners and look forward to joining the great initiatives that have already been started here with the help of so many of you, and I can’t wait to explore how we might build on these efforts by working toward new and innovative programs in the future. 

Milwaukee Turners Gym hosts 2019 USA World Cup Ice Climbing Team member Angela Limbach

Milwaukee Turners Gym hosts 2019 USA World Cup Ice Climbing Team member Angela Limbach

Milwaukee Turner's Climbing Gym is proud to announce its support for Angela Limbach, member of the 2019 Team USA World Cup Ice Climbing Competition.

Milwaukee Turner's Climbing Gym is proud to announce its support for Angela Limbach, member of the 2019 Team USA World Cup Ice Climbing Competition.

Angela is a Milwaukee resident who works as a data analyst for a local software company and also works as a part time climbing coach.  Angela is one of only 21 male and female athletes selected by the American Alpine Club (AAC) to represent the USA at the 2019 UIAA World Cup Ice Climbing Finals.

Jane's Walk MKE 2019

Jane's Walk MKE 2019

Mark your calendars!

It’s time to get the community out to explore our beautiful city!  

This May, Milwaukee Turners is pleased to bring you Jane's Walk MKE for the fourth year.  Jane’s Walks are free, resident-led neighborhood explorations and community-building events that embody urban activist Jane Jacob’s legacy through observing and discussing, educating and storytelling, and collectively reimagining and changing the places in which Milwaukeeans live, work and play.  We envision a Milwaukee that has “the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, [it is] created by everybody,” as Jane Jacob’s wrote in The Death and Life of Great American Cities.

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President's Corner: by Art Heitzer

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President's Corner: by Art Heitzer

Despite the polar vortex and a variety of other unique challenges, Milwaukee Turners are off to a great start for 2019. Here’s a brief update, and we welcome your membership, renewal, and support in all appropriate ways.


First, we are thrilled to welcome our new Executive Director, Nicholas La Joie who began coinciding with the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday in January. Nicholas has taken the reins (& there are many of them) firmly in hand. These include our 130 year old building suffering from the slings and arrows of invading snow and arctic air, freezing and aging pipes (despite the best prevention efforts), and some significant shaking as our multi million dollar neighbor across the street had its roof imploded and massive steel and concrete are still crashing down as I write this.  We and structural engineers are assessing the results. 

President's Corner: by Art Heitzer

President's Corner: by Art Heitzer

As we enter on 2019, I am struck by the divergence in expectations for the year. On Saturday, the board chair of a leading non-profit Black arts organization began by stating her optimism and hope for the year 2019.  That same day, another dedicated colleague whose been a leader in our MTI work for criminal justice reform asked “who is not having darker visions these days?”