Ron Smith

Milwaukee

Executive Director at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Executive director of the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, a nonprofit newsroom that covers diverse communities. Reach me at [email protected]

Articles

Leaders prepare to update Milwaukee’s Blueprint for Peace violence prevention plan

1 month ago | milwaukeenns.org | Ron Smith |Edgar Mendez

It’s been over seven years since the release of the Blueprint for Peace, a novel plan to help reduce violence in a city long plagued by it. “If we don’t own this, if we don’t make this a part of our DNA, part of our fabric as a community, it’s not going to succeed,” then-Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said during a news conference to announce the plan. “But I believe we can do this.”Years later, leaders have begun plans to update the Blueprint for Peace.
Here’s what’s happening at the Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center

1 month ago | milwaukeenns.org | Princess Byers |Ron Smith

Milwaukee’s Rental Housing Resource Center, also known as the RHRC, is working to be a one-stop shop for rental housing issues. The center opened during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and has since expanded to have walk-in and triage capacity. “The goal of the RHRC is eviction diversion, which usually means to keep our clients out of eviction court,” said Ericka Crowley, the center’s director. In its short existence, the RHRC has served Milwaukeeans in many capacities.
5 things to know and do the weekend of Jan. 24

Jan 23, 2025 | milwaukeenns.org | Ron Smith

It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance. Children and teens are invited to hang out and engage in activities from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24 at the Milwaukee Public Library Zablocki Branch, 3501 W. Oklahoma Ave. More information here.
Inside the NNS Newsroom: We’re looking for our next newsroom leader. And we need your help.

Jan 22, 2025 | milwaukeenns.org | Ron Smith

Dear NNS family:We need your help. With the retirement of Tannette Elie, we are looking for a managing editor who can take us to new heights in journalism and community engagement. Help us spread the word. This is a key role in our 14-year-old newsroom, and we are looking for someone who is both a champion of excellent journalism as well as a champion of the people who produce the excellent work. We seek someone with top-notch leadership skills and impeccable news judgment.
Today’s the day: Help us give Milwaukee the newsroom YOU deserve

Dec 31, 2024 | milwaukeenns.org | Ron Smith

Today’s the day: Help us give Milwaukee the newsroom YOU deserveDecember 31, 2024 by Ron Smith Leave a Comment I don’t do anything without a deadline. And I suspect many of you are just like me. So here it is:Today is the last day to contribute to our end-of-the-year fundraising campaign. Dooooooo it. Your gift helps pay the salaries of those pretty people you see pictured. Click here to make your giftHappy New Year, everyone!
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service featured in video showcasing newsrooms that make a difference

Dec 29, 2024 | milwaukeenns.org | Ron Smith

The Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) is a national organization whose mission is to ensure that people in every community have access to trustworthy news and reliable information about issues that affect them. Today, it supports more than 475 independent newsrooms across the country to leverage their collective power – helping them raise funds, grow their audiences, and learn from each other.
Inside the NNS Newsroom: Milwaukee, we need your help

Dec 26, 2024 | milwaukeenns.org | Ron Smith

You know her as Princess. But in the NNS newsroom, she’s our queen. For four years, PrincessSafiya Byers has covered housing and basic needs for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. She was our first full-time reporter as part of the highly competitive Report For America program, which places journalists in newsrooms like ours to focus on under-covered issues.
Inside the NNS Newsroom: We are hiring a health reporter

Oct 1, 2024 | milwaukeenns.org | Ron Smith

If you care passionately about informing readers about health-related topics and giving Milwaukee residents the information they need to navigate complicated systems, then the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service wants to hear from you. We seek a reporter who can dig into issues such as the city’s ongoing lead crisis; infant mortality; the lingering effects of COVID; and how residents can live healthier lives.
Inside the NNS Newsroom: NNS announces a new chapter with Wisconsin Watch

Sep 16, 2024 | milwaukeenns.org | Ron Smith

For over 13 years, NNS has been on the move to give you the news you want and value. Today I’m thrilled to share that we’ve made another move that will allow us to serve you even better. The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service has formally joined forces with Wisconsin Watch, the statewide investigative newsroom that has been our key partner for five years and an ally throughout our existence.
Inside the NNS Newsroom: Help us plan for the future by taking this survey right now

May 28, 2024 | milwaukeenns.org | Ron Smith

Brothers and sisters, can you spare some time? As NNS enters its 13th year of publishing, we are making ambitious plans to expand our coverageEverything you need to know about us is captured in our name: We are about Milwaukee. We are about neighborhoods. We are about news. And, most of all, we are about service. To accomplish these goals, we need to know what’s on your mind and how we can better give Milwaukee the newsroom it deserves. Do you have feedback on Milwaukee NNS's reporting?