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Milwaukee's Maternally Strong Collective delivers hope and healing for new moms of color

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Milwaukee's Maternally Strong Collective delivers hope and healing for new moms of color


MILWAUKEE — A group of Milwaukee women is making a powerful impact in maternal health—not by simply delivering babies, but by delivering hope.

Maternally Strong, a collective of doulas, is stepping up to support new mothers, especially in areas where the health care system often falls short.

For many new parents, the postpartum period is supposed to be filled with joy. But for many mothers of color, it is often marked by silence, stigma, and struggle. That’s why these four local doulas on Milwaukee’s North Side are rewriting that narrative.

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Maternally Strong Located: 9211 W Capital Drive Milwaukee WI

Though it might seem small, the space they’ve created is making a huge impact. Here, healing begins not with medicine but with conversation.

“We need a space for Black and Brown women to come together and feel comfortable in what they’re saying and how they’re feeling,” said Shanna Franklin, one of the doulas.

 Shannna Franklin, Maternally Strong Doula

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Shannna Franklin, Maternally Strong Doula

Postpartum depression is a serious health concern that disproportionately affects minority women. For these mothers, it’s not just a statistic—it’s a crisis.

“Being able to have somebody along that journey who truly understands what it looks like from beginning to end is something you can’t duplicate,” said Michelle Wilkins, another member of the collective.

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Michelle Wilkins Maternally Strong Doula

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Michelle Wilkins Maternally Strong Doula

Maternally Strong was formed by four CAPPA-certified doulas. Their focus is on postpartum mental health, offering free support groups specifically for Black and Brown families.

“We know there are cultural differences within communities, and we just wanted to create a space where people feel welcome and comfortable,” said Brandi Jewell.

Brandi Jewell Maternally Strong Doula

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Brandi Jewell Maternally Strong Doula

“Everybody needs somebody, especially Black and Brown people who don’t have a lot of support. So being able to be that in a room where they may have nobody is a very pivotal moment,” Wilkins said.

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The weekly gatherings blend culturally relevant care with a sense of community. New parents are encouraged to open up about the anxiety, depression and isolation that are often ignored in the maternal experience.

Maternally Strong

Maternally Strong

Maternally Strong

“Postpartum isn’t really talked about as much. It’s like, ‘Okay, you’re having a baby—congrats! How’s the baby?’ They don’t really talk about you and what’s going on with you,” said Kiara Schott.

Kiara Schott Maternally Strong

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Kiara Schott Maternally Strong

Franklin agreed, noting, “It’s hard to be heard in that room. A lot of the time, they are only focused on what they see to be a good outcome.”

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But it’s working. Dozens of families have found healing while helping shape a broader conversation around maternal health and equity.

“We’ve all had different experiences throughout our pregnancy and postpartum, and we were able to come up with the group and really pour into it from a lived experience,” Wilkins said.

Kiara Schott Maternally Strong Doulas

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Kiara Schott Maternally Strong Doulas

Their goal is to expand these free support groups, reaching more families who need this care.

“Come out, spend some time with our women. It’s a very good energy,” Franklin said.

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In a world where maternal health disparities are real, Maternally Strong is not just a group of doulas—they’re a lifeline, offering support, care and a sense of community where it’s most needed.

Here are some of their upcoming free events:

 Maternally Strong Doulas

Maternally Strong Doulas

Maternally Strong Doulas
 Maternally Strong Doulas

Maternally Strong Doulas

Maternally Strong Doulas
 Maternally Strong Doulas

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Maternally Strong Doulas

For more information, visit Maternally Strong at 9211 W. Capitol Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53222.


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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee shooting near 12th and Locust; 20-year-old wounded

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Milwaukee shooting near 12th and Locust; 20-year-old wounded


Milwaukee Police Department (MPD)

Milwaukee police say a 20-year-old was shot and wounded near 12th and Locust on Tuesday, April 14. 

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What we know:

Officials said the shooting happened around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. The victim was taken to a hospital for treatment. 

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Milwaukee police are seeking an unknown shooter.

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What you can do:

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Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360 or, to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or the P3 Tips App.

The Source: Information in this post was provided by the Milwaukee Police Department.

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Milwaukee Wave makes another dramatic comeback to reach MASL finals

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Milwaukee Wave makes another dramatic comeback to reach MASL finals


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  • The Milwaukee Wave advanced to the Major Arena Soccer League championship after defeating the Baltimore Blast.
  • Milwaukee won Game 2 of the series 5-4 and then secured the series win with a 2-1 victory in a 15-minute knockout game.
  • Veteran Andre Hayne scored the decisive goal with 55 seconds left in the knockout game.

The Milwaukee Wave performed MASL playoff magic for the second time April 13, coming back after losing the first game of a playoff series to advance.

Now the team with seven arena soccer titles will play for an eighth, having knocked off the Baltimore Blast with victories of 5-4 in Game 2 and 2-1 in the 15-minute knockout game that followed at the UWM Panther Arena.

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Venezuelan rookie forward Oscar Flores scored two goals in the first victory, the first to tie the game at 3-3 late in the third quarter and then the clincher midway through the fourth. On Flores’ final goal, he picked up a ball bounced hard off the boards by defender Stuart Grable and directed it in behind his back with his right heel.

Baltimore scored 32 seconds into the knockout game, but Wave rookie goalkeeper Gerardo Perez came forward and tied the game with a rebound goal six minutes later. That set the stage for veteran forward Andre Hayne, who took a pass from Ian Bennett and pounded it home with 55 seconds left.

The Wave, under first-year head coach Marcio Leite, won its quarterfinal series with the Empire Strykers in similar fashion, losing the first game before winning 60- and 15-minute games in one night.

Milwaukee won’t know its opponent until April 19th, when the St. Louis Ambush and San Diego Sockers play the second and possibly third game of their semifinal series.



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Milwaukee Public Schools plans to add 150 staff to classrooms

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Milwaukee Public Schools plans to add 150 staff to classrooms


Milwaukee Public Schools plans to add about 150 teachers and paraprofessionals to classrooms next school year. 

The positions were announced Monday, one month after MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said she planned to cut about 200 non-classroom staff positions. 

Cassellius said external audits of the district and meetings last summer with parents both highlighted heavy staffing at central office and less resources going into classrooms. 

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“I can see with my own eyes how hard it is with so many students in the classroom,” Cassellius said.  “So obviously, with 91 percent of our students not reading on grade level at fourth grade, it is essential that we give our kids a fighting chance where teachers have a reasonable amount of students to teach to read.”

MPS is planning to add 89 licensed classroom teachers, bringing the total number of teaching staff from 3,903 to 3,992, and 63 paraprofessionals to its schools. They will also add five school psychologists. 

The plan is estimated to cost $24.6 million and will be included in the 2026-27 draft budget. 

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“Lowering class size is a very strategic move in order to rebalance the district and be responsible with our finances,” Cassellius said. “But it’s also a very important academic decision for us as we meet the needs and listen to teachers and try to make sure that they have what they need so they can be successful in teaching our children to read.”

The investment in staffing comes as MPS works to close a $46 million deficit identified in the district’s 2024–25 budget by external auditors. 

To address the budget deficit and rising costs, MPS is identifying savings wherever possible.

Some of the savings include $30 million from reductions in Central Services and non-classroom positions; $11 million in increased state special education reimbursement funding and $40 million in savings from fewer charter schools. The district also has $47 million in new referendum revenue.

At the same time, MPS anticipates approximately $154 million to $171 million in new expenses, including covering increases in healthcare benefit costs and raises for employees.

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Of the 200 positions being eliminated by MPS, 59 are assistant principal positions and 62 “implementer positions,” or educators who have a teaching license but who are not assigned to one classroom. 

Cassellius said all of the people who received “excess letters” can reapply for teaching positions.



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