The Riverwest Currents was published as a neighborhood newsletter for three years, starting in 1999. It was begun by Vince Bushell, a community planner,
and Jeanne Geraci, a community organizer for the YMCA. A grant from the Milwaukee Fair Housing Council's H.O.M.E. (Housing Opportunities Made Equal) program
enabled the Currents to become a monthly newspaper in 2002. Now, since 2003, the newspaper is operating as an independent for-profit business, Currents, Inc.,
which is comprised of a group of worker-owners.
In late 2003, Currents, Inc. helped launch and began to do bimonthly production work for a new Milwaukee neighborhood newspaper,
the Washington Park Beat (www.parkbeat.com).
The Park Beat covers neighborhoods around Washington Park,
and is funded by a grant from LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation).
With an initial circulation of 5,000 and publication scheduled for every other month, the Park Beat aims to express opinion, report local news and events, and advocate for residents,
small businesses, and others in the neighborhoods of Washington Park, Walnut Hill,
and Metcalfe Park.
(To learn more about independent community newspapers, read this article at the National Housing Institute:
"The Power of the Community Press: Community-based organizations create their own newspapers to inform and organize.")
Our mission has always been to promote fair housing and to encourage the preservation of diversified home ownership in Riverwest.
But there is much more: we will keep you informed about events going on in or relevant to the Riverwest neighborhood area.
Each month's edition will include news and views by and about a variety of Riverwest residents, a calendar of local events, a local business spotlight,
housing opportunities, Riverwest Neighborhood Association (RNA) news, Children's Outing Association (COA) news, a naturalist's column from the Urban Ecology Center (UEC),
health and wellness articles, church and education-related news, and more. We always welcome your letters and opinions.
--Sonya Jongsma Knauss
» Read what people are saying about the Currents.
» Read and view some of our best, selected articles and photography.
» Read excerpts from Tom Tolan's Riverwest: A Community History. (2003)
» More about Riverwest for Advertisers.
The Riverwest Currents is dedicated to writing about issues and events important to those who live, work,
and play in and around the Riverwest neighborhood. We believe Riverwest is a good place to make a home or set up a shop. We want to help promote a safe and affordable neighborhood,
to embrace urban aesthetics, to respect diversity, and to make Riverwest residents aware of the opportunities available to them.
FORMAT: Letters and article manuscripts should be submitted in the text of an email to the editor or as an email file attachment.
Wordprocessed documents should be in Microsoft Word or Rich Text Format (RTF). If you wish to contribute but do not have access to a computer or are unable to use one, contact the editor
to make an alternative arrangement.
DEADLINES: Contributions received after the 15th of the month will not be able to be printed until the following month.
CONTACT: Riverwest Currents, PO Box 716, Milwaukee, WI 53212-0716 (414) 265-7278 editor@riverwestcurrents.org
- CONSIDER A DONATION. The Currents is a labor of love for those involved in it, but money keeps it going. We have a small budget, a very small office,
and only one or two people who work on the paper full time. All our staff members work as independent contractors far below the professional rates for the work they do.
Financial contributions or equipment are welcome.
- DISTRIBUTE THE PAPER ON YOUR BLOCK
None of the free local papers distribute door-to-door. We have a lot of news that's neighborhood focused and would like to keep as many people informed as possible.
Contact the Riverwest Currents office if you'd like to be the "paperboy" for your block. It could be a great way to meet your neighbors
- SEND US NEWS & STORY IDEAS. If you are aware of any newsworthy
tidbits (neighborhood happenings or safety concerns) or have story ideas, please feel free to contact us at 265-7278
or email editor@riverwestcurrents.org.
- DO YOU LIKE TO WRITE OR TAKE PHOTOS? If so, this is a
great opportunity to get your work published. Call the Riverwest Currents office at 265-7278 (or email
editor@riverwestcurrents.org) and we'll be glad to give you an assignment or discuss any story ideas that you may have.
- DO YOU KNOW OF ANY POTENTIAL ADVERTISERS? If you know of any business, group, product, individual, event, or organization that would like to advertise with us,
please have them contact us at the Riverwest Currents office, 265-7278 or email editor@riverwestcurrents.org.
- TAKE OUT A CLASSIFIED AD. Our rates are very affordable
at just 50 cents per word. Advertise your rummage, auto sale, rental property, services, etc. Ads are FREE if you're giving something away for FREE.
Send your ad text with payment to Riverwest Currents, 829 E. Clarke St.
- TAKE OUT A SUBSCRIPTION. Have the Currents delivered to you by mail. It costs $25.00 to subscribe for one year. (12 issues)
Mail a check, payable to: Riverwest Currents, 829 E. Clarke St., Milwaukee, WI 53212. This is a great gift for friends and family,
especially for those who have moved out of the neighborhood and still want to keep in touch.
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