The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, a nonprofit, hyperlocal news outlet based out of Johnston Hall, published “The Uprising in Sherman Park: 10 Years Later,” a retrospective on the violent protests that occurred in Milwaukee’s Sherman Park neighborhood in 2016.
“When a neighborhood faces a crisis, national news cameras usually rush in for quick headlines and leave just as quickly,” says Ron Smith, executive director of Milwaukee NNS. “At NNS, we live and work alongside the communities we cover. This isn’t just a look back at the past; it’s a deep dive into the real-world impact on our neighbors today.”
The retrospective contains reporting from Allison Dikanovic, PrincessSafiya Byers, Devin Blake, Andrea Waxman, Jonathan Aguilar and Meredith Melland. It recounts the events of the Sherman Park uprising, which began after police shot 23-year-old Sylville Smith. The ensuing multi-day riots resulted in several injuries and 41 arrests.
Reporters analyzed the challenges the neighborhood now faces along with the people who are confronting them. They also examined the impacts of new investments in the area, among other subjects.
NNS was founded in March 2011 as part of the Zilber Family Foundation Neighborhood Initiative. It covers underserved Milwaukee neighborhoods, telling stories from Black and Hispanic communities in ways that give area residents a voice. Journalists at NNS cover a wide range of topics, including education, public safety, economics, employment and housing.
The outlet is part of a merged entity with Wisconsin Watch, a statewide nonprofit news outlet focused on accountability journalism. Diederich College of Communication students frequently report and perform social media duties for NNS.
