Riverworks Newsletter - March 2020
We are excited to send our first newsletter of the decade! All of the staff at Riverworks is geared up and working hard to bring our best in 2020. Be sure to take a look at the upcoming events at the bottom of this newsletter. We hope to see you soon!
Extraordinary Care from the Financial Clinic
2020 VITA Tax Season in full swing!
The Financial Clinic works to build financial security for every family we serve by providing EXTRAORDINARY CARE without judgement. Staff at Riverworks' Financial Clinic understand how financial setbacks can cause trauma to your financial health, and offer tools and resources for overcoming that trauma. One important example of trauma to your financial health is an Income Tax Garnishment, which can occur if you don’t file your income taxes by April 15th. Here are the Financial Clinic’s TOP 5 reasons why you should file a tax return;
It’s the law!
Buying a home usually requires that you’ve filed your tax return for the past 2 years.
You need to file your recent tax returns to get student loan aid for FAFSA.
If you’re self-employed, you might be missing out on increased Social Security contribution for when you retire.
The IRS might file substitute for returns for you without deduction and you’ll owe more taxes than if you’d filed them yourself, AND YOUR PAYCHECK CAN BE GARNISHED.
The Financial Clinic’s VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program prepares taxes for free. If your household income is below $58,000 please go to https://calendly.com/vita-rdc to schedule your appointment today!!
Contact to Learn More
Neighborhood News
Strong Partnerships are Key!
The Harambee Neighborhood Improvement District (NID#7) will be holding its Annual Meeting on Saturday, March 14th from 10:00am-1:00pm at Solomon Community Temple Church, 3295 N Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. At this meeting, residents and property owners within the Harambee NID boundaries will be able to run for a seat on the Board of Directors and cast their vote. For more information about running for the Harambee NID Board of Directors or voting, please contact Amy Rohan at 414.882.4778 or by email. Save the date--In partnership with the Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation and Lowe’s, Riverworks will be holding its annual Bloom& Groom plant sale on May 9th, beginning at 10:00am in The VIBE parking lot on Holton Street and Concordia Avenue. This sale offers annuals, perennials, hanging baskets and vegetables at a generous discount. Proceeds support Riverworks community events throughout the Summer of 2020. Check out the Riverworks calendar for more information about what’s in store for 2020.
It’s a great time of year to begin thinking about home repairs you might like to make this year. There may be some resources – Targeted Investment Neighborhood loan, Strong Homes Loan or the Compliance Loan Program, for example – that can help make critical, major repairs more affordable. Please contact Amy Rohan at 414.882.4778 or by email for more information or assistance with an application.
Arts, Culture, Creative Placemaking
The Summer is Coming!
Riverworks and partners are extremely excited to present the following summer activities being hosted on the Beerline Trail. Last year was good but this year will be great. We're bringing back past favorites, adding exciting new ones and improving the tried and trues. We are also looking forward to having community members host their own activities on the trail which Riverworks is happy to support. Upcoming Summer Activities
Community Dinner on the Capitol Bridge
Fashion Cipher
53212Marketplace
Music on the Beerline
Please look out for more details, times and dates! Contact to Learn More
The Buzz in THE VIBE
Decently Ordered
There is always something new taking place at THE VIBE! One of our freshest members, Mrs. Teresa Hawthorne of Decently Ordered, shared an enlightening piece of wisdom; she said, “You have to find your flow and what fuels you!” What a profound statement! Hawthorne is passionate about helping people and organizations bring order to their life and business operations. Through her business, she is dedicated to providing the information, guidance, instruction, and hands-on assistance needed to help people achieve their fullest potential. In our interactions with Mrs. Hawthorne, we can assure you she has definitely found her “flow and what fuels” her.
She started Decently Ordered, a Productivity Consulting and Professional Organizing company, because she recognized that people have higher aspirations for their home, personal life, and business. To be successful, she believes individuals and businesses have to have a foundation of order in their spaces, with their time, how they work using sound planning, and by having systems & processes in place to make things operate and flow smoothly. Hawthorne practices what she preaches. Before starting her business, she had a successful career as a Paralegal and Paralegal Manager in law firms, where part of her responsibility was to train paralegals and office staff in how to be more efficient and productive.
Teresa Hawthorne had a home-based business for three years, offering services solely in her clients’ homes and offices. She became a Member of THE VIBE because she needed an environment for greater focus as she continues to grow her business, and she wants clients to have the option to come to her. She conducts workshops at THE VIBE that allow people to learn to be better organized and more productive as they pursue their goals and dreams. Catch THE VIBE!
Workforce Development in Action
Riverworks Cleans Hard at Work!
2020 has arrived, and Riverworks Cleans is ramping up for another year. In partnership with the City of Milwaukee, you will find our crews removing illegal dumps from City owned properties. Please help us keep our neighborhood clean by reporting all illegal dumps to the city of Milwaukee at 286-City or to John Cervantes, Riverworks Cleans Business Manager, at 414-906-9650 or by email.
We are also set to service six Milwaukee Business Improvement Districts, which include Brady Street, Oak&Loc, The East Side, Riverworks, Havenwoods, and Downer Avenue. Our crews make sure the sidewalks are clean, trash receptacles are emptied, and graffiti removed. If you see them hard at work, make sure to say hi!
This summer Riverworks Cleans will be providing even more staff for local summer festivals. We hope that furthering this venture will be a success, which can add another division to our Cleans staff, with the hope of creating more jobs to Milwaukee residents.
Real Estate Development
The Beerline Trail is Looking to Expand!
The Beerline Trail has been a recreational asset to the Riverworks District for over 10 years. With multiple collaborations, programming partners, and funding strategists, the only thing standing in its way is that it dead ends at Capitol Dr. Riverworks has been coordinating with the Rails to Trails Conservancy to come up with a plan to extend the trail and connect it to other trails. Within a year of planning its extension, Glendale Redevelopment LLC, has generously agreed to donate a large portion of former rail land to the extension of the Beerline Trail. Once the full extension is complete, The Beerline Trail will connect to the 30th Street Corridor Trail, the 20th Street Power Line Trail, and the Oak Leaf Trail on a safe and beautiful path.
Countdown to Riverworks Week 2020!
Riverworks Week is a Finalist for the 2020 MANDI Award!
For 7 years, the Riverworks (BID) Business Improvement District has hosted Riverworks Week (September 21-26, 2020), a week long celebration of the BID's creative culture. This year, LISC has honored these events by announcing Riverworks Week as a finalist for the MANDI Award. The goals of Riverworks Week are to establish Riverworks as Milwaukee's Creative District, promote BID businesses and real estate developments, and develop strategic partnerships. We accomplish these goals by increasing entrepreneurial businesses, providing creative content demonstrating a safe and inviting district, showcasing the district's growing craft businesses and enhancing the BIDs community network.
The week is comprised of 6 different events: the Pop-up Café, the Dolphin Pool, the BID Awards, the Inventors Circus, Creative District ALIVE: Block Party, and the Beerline Trail 5K Run/Walk.
Riverworks Week has been a catalyst for new developments, creative entrepreneurs, and growth in the Riverworks District. With new collaborations, partners and a dedicated team of event committee members, Riverworks Week is set to continue to grow into 2020.
Upcoming Events:
