MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee teen is popping ache into goal after surviving the unthinkable.
Just lately paralyzed with a traumatic mind damage, a highschool junior who goes by ’T’ has spent extra time on the hospital over the previous two years than within the classroom.
However a process she obtained this week wasn’t for one among her accidents, quite to take away a tattoo that’s a relentless reminder of her previous.
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A previous so harmful she requested TMJ4 to not present her face on digital camera or share her full identify.
“I’ll lastly be at liberty,” she stated. “I’ll lastly really feel like I might simply be myself once more.”
’T’ says the person who compelled her to promote her physique on the streets and again alleys of Milwaukee additionally made her get his identify branded on her neck.
“It actually affected me mentally and nonetheless to at the present time it makes me really feel like I am nugatory and I am not value nothing and I am simply trash,” she stated.
Juan Bucio owns Laserfied Tattoo Elimination. He’s provided the identical laser remedy without cost to dozens of human trafficking survivors like ’T’.
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“I really feel nice that I am serving to them erase and do away with markings that have been left on them by their traffickers,” Bucio stated.
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However none of them have a narrative fairly like ’T’, who says she ran away when she was 15 after a classmate launched her to her older brother.
“He made me consider that like he was going to be my boyfriend,” she stated. “He made me consider that he cherished me.”
’T’ says her romantic relationship quickly was abuse and exploitation.
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“With out giving me any possibility, he inform me that I’ll begin working for him,” she stated.
A 12 months later, she constructed up the braveness sooner or later in November of 2020 to say she was completed. That very same night time, ’T’ says she was sitting in a automotive when she was shot at the back of the pinnacle by an unknown particular person.
“Did docs assume you’ll survive?” TMJ4’s Ben Jordan requested. “Nobody thought I might survive,” she replied.
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The taking pictures left ’T’ with lifelong cognitive and speech points. Milwaukee police responded to the scene and launched an investigation, however to at the present time nobody has been arrested for the taking pictures.
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“Sadly, my daughter got here residence with a gunshot wound to her head, however she got here residence,” stated ’T’’s mom Melissa.
Melissa says she did all the pieces she might to convey her daughter residence earlier than issues escalated, however she says ’T’ saved leaving.
“I attempted to get her psychological well being, however after all, a 15-year-old has to provide their permission,” she stated.
As January marks Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Melissa and ’T ‘ are sharing their expertise to make clear the intersection of intercourse trafficking and home abuse. They are saying one of many largest misconceptions is that victims are kidnapped or recruited by a stranger.
A 2020 research by the U.S. Human Trafficking Hotline exhibits 81 p.c of victims are swept in by a member of the family or an intimate associate, oftentimes making it even tougher for them to get out.
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“When somebody you’re keen on and belief and care about or assume is your pal is now placing you in these positions, I feel it clouds their judgement as to what’s proper and what’s fallacious,” Melissa stated.
“This must be stopped as a result of I do know for a undeniable fact that I am not the one one,” ’T’ stated.
Whereas her life is eternally altered at simply 18 years outdated, ’T’ needs to warn others earlier than they’re compelled down an identical path.
“They should attain out to somebody that they belief and ask for assist,” she stated. “They should get up for themselves as a result of in the event that they don’t then they’re simply going to be in a life stuffed with hell.”
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A message of self-worth because the horrors of the previous few years slowly fade and the therapeutic begins.
A number of non-profit organizations assist human trafficking victims and survivors in a wide range of methods:
Convergence Useful resource Middle: Helps survivors of human trafficking with trauma-informed care as they rebuild their lives
Franciscan Peacemakers: Connects girls survivors of sexual exploitation to protected housing, significant work and a community of assist
Grateful Ladies: Supplies human trafficking survivors with short-term residential housing, clothes, job coaching and placement.
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Inside Magnificence Middle: Supplies human trafficking survivors with nutritious home-cooked meals, haircuts and donated clothes.
UMOS: Gives civil authorized help to trafficking victims and survivors
The Asha Challenge: the primary and solely culturally particular African American home abuse supplier in Wisconsin.
For extra organizations that associate with the Milwaukee Joint Human Trafficking Activity Drive, click on right here.
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Washington Wizards (4-21, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (14-12, fifth in the Eastern Conference)
Milwaukee; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST
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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bucks -12.5; over/under is 226.5
BOTTOM LINE: Washington travels to Milwaukee looking to end its 10-game road skid.
The Bucks are 12-11 against Eastern Conference opponents. Milwaukee is 2-3 in one-possession games.
The Wizards are 3-14 against Eastern Conference opponents. Washington is ninth in the Eastern Conference with 33.1 defensive rebounds per game led by Jonas Valanciunas averaging 5.4.
The Bucks are shooting 48.3% from the field this season, 0.7 percentage points higher than the 47.6% the Wizards allow to opponents. The Wizards are shooting 44.2% from the field, 1.2% lower than the 45.4% the Bucks’ opponents have shot this season.
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TOP PERFORMERS: Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 32.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, six assists and 1.5 blocks for the Bucks.
Jordan Poole is scoring 20.6 points per game with 2.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists for the Wizards.
LAST 10 GAMES: Bucks: 7-3, averaging 113.5 points, 41.7 rebounds, 24.3 assists, 7.1 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 48.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.1 points per game.
Wizards: 2-8, averaging 106.6 points, 46.0 rebounds, 24.5 assists, 7.8 steals and 6.0 blocks per game while shooting 43.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 122.1 points.
INJURIES: Bucks: Damian Lillard: day to day (calf).
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Wizards: Saddiq Bey: out (knee), Kyle Kuzma: out (ribs).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — I came to the Hunger Task Force, where a unique nutrition program is transforming lives by teaching parents, students, and the public how to eat healthily on a budget. I spoke with a staff member and a student to learn how the program is enriching the community.
The room buzzed with energy as children and staff worked together to prepare nutritious meals. Among them was Akari Salaam, a fourth-grader whose excitement about the program was contagious.
“It was so much fun!” Akari exclaimed with a bright smile.
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AKARI SALAAM – 4TH GRADE
While she may not be a professional chef just yet, Akari’s enthusiasm for cooking and her love for vegetables shine through.
“I like tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, carrots… almost everything!” she shared.
Akari and her classmates from Horace Mann Elementary visited the Hunger Task Force to participate in its Nutrition Education Program, which blends hands-on learning with practical life skills. On this particular day, the students made pizzas from scratch.
Watch: How kids are learning to cook healthy on a budget in Milwaukee
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How kids are learning to cook healthy on a budget in Milwaukee
“The kids are making pizzas today,” said Ms. Pochmara, a teacher at Horace Mann Elementary. “They actually got to cut up all the ingredients themselves and assemble the pizzas.”
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MS. POCHMARA -HORACE MANN ELEMENTARY
Akari proudly showed off her creation. “I made a heart with pepperoni,” she said, beaming.
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This interactive program empowers students to master healthy eating habits while staying budget-conscious.
“Through our Garden to Plate Program, this is funded so our kids get this great experience,” said Carmen Baldwin, the Community Nutrition Manager.
“They’re able to come in, cook, and receive free materials and education.”
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CARMEN BALDWIN – COMMUNITY NUTRITION MANAGER HUNGER TASK FORCE
For educators like Ms. Pochmara, the benefits of this program go far beyond the classroom. “It’s such a meaningful way to engage the kids. It’s real life. They’re learning things they can use outside of school,” she said.
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The program focuses on teaching fundamental skills like cutting, baking, and spreading, which Baldwin believes will serve students well into the future.
“Stuff can be surprising, but things can be delicious and nutritious,” Akari added, her eyes lighting with confidence.
Beyond the hands-on experience, the program addresses critical community needs.
“Throughout Wisconsin, there are a lot of food deserts, and sometimes healthy choices are limited,” Baldwin explained. “When you give people the resources to say, ‘Hey, we can go here and also get healthy food,’ they can make better choices for themselves.”
Ms. Pochmara emphasized how opportunities like these inspire students. “We have the things we have to do in our classroom, required by the state, but when they have the opportunity to get out and learn, it just sparks them,” she said.
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As the day wrapped up, Akari’s joy was evident. “So much fun. I hope we do this again,” she said with a hopeful smile.
This hands-on program is not just about cooking; it’s about equipping the next generation with the skills and knowledge to make healthy, budget-friendly choices, building a stronger and healthier community in the process. For more information, visit the Hunger Task Force website at www.hungertaskforce.org.
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An “MKE icon.” “A Milwaukee staple.” “After you close Wolski’s, go here.”
All of these are Google reviews for The Minnow.
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No, it’s not a new restaurant or bar. It’s the 33-foot Chris-Craft Roamer boat that’s been stranded between Milwaukee’s McKinley Marina and Bradford Beach for over two months now. The boat, actually named Deep Thought, now has a virtual marker on Google Maps under a new moniker — The Minnow.
Deep Thought ran aground just behind the rock wall near MooSa’s restaurant on Oct. 13 when the boat’s owners ran out of gas. No one was injured in the incident.
U.S. Coast Guard officials said they didn’t immediately move the vessel since no human lives were in danger and it isn’t blocking any federal waterways. The Coast Guard has also determined that the boat doesn’t pose a threat of pollution, floating away or other danger.
The Coast Guard has repeatedly said that it’s working with a commercial towing and salvage company to remove the boat, though the vessel’s owners are responsible for hiring and paying the salvage company.
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On Thursday, Coast Guard Lt. (j.g.) Santiago Tamburini told the Journal Sentinel that officials are focused on removing the boat “as soon as possible,” before ice delays removal further.
“We’re still working to make sure it gets removed long before we settle into winter,” he said. “Fortunately, there’s no ice yet. … We’re trying to see if the owners and the salvage company can try to figure out an agreement in which they’re both happy with the course of action.”
Because the boat doesn’t pose danger or a navigation hazard, Tamburini said the Coast Guard has limited knowledge of the negotiations between the owner and the salvage company.
“We keep monitoring it so that it doesn’t become a hazard …,” he said. “We’re looking for a secondary option in case they can’t come to an agreement.”
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Tamburini said the Coast Guard is in the “exploration phase” of looking for another agency to remove the vessel.
“We’ll be looking into other options, possibly with partner agencies like NOAA,” he said. “But, in the meantime, the salvage company is still working with the owner to figure out how soon they can get it out of there.”
Initially, officials said they hoped to have the boat removed by Oct. 20. However, the Coast Guard said weather, including high winds and waves, has repeatedly delayed removal. In November, U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Joe Neff said a crane may be needed to remove the boat since it’s lodged “so far down” in the sand.
In the nearly 10 weeks since it was abandoned, Deep Thought has become somewhat of a Milwaukee phenomenon.
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Early on, passersby traversed the jagged rock wall between the sidewalk and the vessel to get photos and a closer look. The boat, visible to drivers and pedestrians traveling north along Lincoln Memorial Drive, became the subject of multiple social media posts in the private East Side Neighborhood-Milwaukee Facebook group.
After a few weeks, someone stuck an “I Closed Wolski’s” sticker from the iconic Milwaukee tavern on the boat’s side. A social media user held what looked to be a one-man rave on board. Now, the Milwaukee Record even sells T-shirts featuring the boat.
With winter weather in full swing, the boat might not be here forever. But for now, feel free to enjoy the fun while it lasts.
As Google reviews Local Guide Chris Merkel puts it, “This is absolutely everything you expect from a beached boat. Boat. Water. Beach. Sometimes fish.”
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