The Milwaukee Post

Milwaukee Film Festival announces 2015 dates MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Film will hold its seventh annual Milwaukee Film Festival from Sept. 24 to Oct. 8. The 15-day festival includes feature films, shorts programs, education screenings, post- film conversations, and panel discussions. Milwaukee Film said that Bud and Sue Selig have renewed their support of the Milwaukee Film Festival for another three years, pledging $150,000 annually for 2015, 2016 and 2017. The Selig family was one of the first major support- ers when the festival began in 2009, committing $100,000 for each of the 2009, 2010, and 2011 festi- vals. They continued their support in 2012, 2013 and 2014 with an increased gift of $150,000 per year. "Sue and I are thrilled to continue our sup- port of the Milwaukee Film Festival. In six short years, Milwaukee Film has grown to become a vital cultural institution for Milwaukee, bringing a dynamic energy to our beloved city" Bud Selig said in a release. "We can't wait for this fall to celebrate its seventh year." Jonathan Jackson, artistic and executive director for Milwaukee Film, adds: "We are humbled by the philanthropic leadership of Bud and Sue. They had the vision to take a chance on a fledgling non-profit in 2009 during the financial crisis. Their continued gen- erosity — $1,200,000 in support to date — inspires our staff and board to produce a better fes- tival every single year." Last year's festival presented 275 films from 63 countries at four venues and on five screens. With the support of 82 sponsors and 262 community partners, the festival drew a record 64,187 people compared with 55,194 in 2013. In addition, the 2014 festival boasted 72 sold-out screenings compared with 64 in 2013. A record 108 visiting guests participated in more than 431 individual festival events over the course of 15 days. Head of Milwaukee Urban League honored MILWAUKEE — Ralph Hollmon, president and CEO of the Milwaukee Urban League, has been selected as the 2014 recipient of the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award. Hollmon is being honored for his significant contributions to improve the lives of local minorities through the services of the Milwaukee Urban League, according to a Milwaukee FBI Division news release. "He is a strong voice of leadership within the community and works in partnership with law enforcement to address issues facing the community. As head of MUL, he is an advocate for social, economic, and educational develop- ment, as well civil rights causes," an FBI news release said. "(The) MUL envisions a communi- ty where there is low unemployment, a low crime rate, a high graduation rate and a high level of home owner- ship. Through our wide variety of services and support of our many partner organizations, we've opened doors of opportunity for the diverse population we serve," Hollmon said in a release. Hollmon will be recognized in a special ceremony at the FBI's National Headquarters in Washington, D.C., for the seventh annual DCLA on May 1. The DCLA is presented annually to an individuals and organizations nationwide. Hollmon will join other honorees nominated by special agents in charge from FBI field offices across the country. County works to improve HPV vaccination rates MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee County is joining a national effort to improve rates of vac- cinating teens against a virus that causes cancer. Figures from 2013, the latest available, show that about 19 percent of Milwaukee County teens ages 13 to 17 had received the three vaccinations necessary to prevent human papillo- mavirus infection, which can cause cervical, anal and oral cancers. The overall 2013 Wisconsin vaccination rate was 19 percent. "We know that Milwaukee County can do better, and our New Year's resolution for 2015 is to significantly improve our vaccination rates for teens," said Earnestine Willis, chair of the Immunize Milwaukee Coalition Board. The Immunize Milwaukee Coalition was one of 16 local coalitions to receive a grant from the Wisconsin Immunization Program and the Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Control Program to promote and support HPV vaccine-related activities within their communities. The Immunize Milwaukee Coalition plans to educate providers and the public about the importance of HPV vaccination. Noelle LoConte, associate professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, says that because the HPV virus is known to cause cancer, getting the vaccine is one of the surest ways to prevent cancer. "One of the Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan's goals is to reduce the risk of people in our state getting cancer," said LoConte, an oncologist. "By increasing the use of the HPV vaccine statewide, we are closing the door to cancer for our children's genera- tion." LoConte is a member of the UW Carbone Cancer Center, one of 18 National Cancer Institute centers that received grants to improve HPV vaccine rates. The NCI centers met last week about improving HPV vaccination rates nationwide. Difference makers receive recognition MILWAUKEE — Several residents, a block club and a new program were honored dur- ing the Sixth District town hall meeting by Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs for making the district a great place in which to live, and each was presented with a 2014 Dr. James G. White Sixth District Difference Makers Award. Coggs, who presented the awards during the meeting, which was held in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 310 W. Locust St., said selfless and dedicated work to improve the district, neighborhoods and the community is truly worthy of recognition and thanks. "It takes a certain amount of love and respect for one's community and neighbors to tirelessly do positive things without regard for what personal reward or gain may come of it," she said. "That selfless attitude and generosity of spirit and energy is what the Difference Makers Award is all about, as it truly embodies the beliefs and actions of the late Dr. James G. White." The award winners were: Halyard Park Neighborhood Association (block club), We Got This (program), Kenneth Jones (resident), Keya Shumpert (resident), Andrew Calhoun (resident) and Jacob Gatlin (resident). Coggs established the Dr. James G. White 6th District Difference Makers Awards to rec- ognize those residents and organizations that work diligently to improve and strengthen the quality of life for themselves, their neighborhood and Milwaukee. White was a resi- dent of the Sixth District, who served as a county supervisor and the regional vice presi- dent of WestCare Wisconsin Harambee Community Center, facilitating countless neigh- borhood projects and programs and always using his gifts, talents and knowledge to improve and empower his community. 4 • Milwaukee County Post • January 23, 2015 WEEK IN REVIEW STATE AND LOCAL STORIES OF INTEREST Submitted photo Robert J. Shields Jr., special agent in charge of the Milwaukee Division of the FBI, presents Milwaukee recip- ient Ralph Hollmon, president of the Milwaukee Urban League, with a certificate as the 2014 recipient of the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award. Northwestern Mutual adds contractors for tower project MILWAUKEE — Northwestern Mutual announced nearly five dozen companies on Wednesday that had joined the design and construction team for the Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons, a 32-story, 1.1 million-square-foot building to be built over the next three years near Milwaukee's lakefront. "A tremendous amount of enthusiasm exists around this project," said Sandy Botcher, head of Northwestern Mutual's downtown campus development project. The new companies hired to work on the Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons will perform work ranging from foundation, architecture and building automation, to plumbing, electrical and mechanical work. Construction of the Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017. The site is currently being prepared for vertical construc- tion that is expected to begin in February when crews undertake a 24-hour concrete pour, the largest continuous pour conducted in the state of Wisconsin. Once completed, the project is expected to preserve 1,100 downtown jobs while adding 1,900 new ones. For details on the project, visit www.NorthwesternMutual.com/BuildingMKE.

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