Every year Revitalize Milwaukee (RM) picks a neighborhood for its Block Build MKE and spends a weekend providing repairs to more than 20 homes in that area. The nonprofit is currently seeking a neighborhood for 2024.
The Block Build MKE 2024 is slated for Aug. 24.
RM is seeking RFPs from representatives from neighborhood groups – not individual homeowners – that are interested in co-hosting the event in their area and taking part in the eight months of planning required to make the weekend happen.
Revitalize Milwaukee provides free home repairs – including porch rebuilds; updated plumbing and electrical; shower conversions; accessibility modifications like handrails and grab bars; and beautification projects like painting and landscaping – to low-income homeowners.
Neighborhood groups – such as resident groups, local businesses, hospitals, schools and neighborhood associations consisting of a core group of 3-5 active representatives – that are interested to should email Allison@rtmilwaukee.org by Nov. 13. Next, video applications with neighborhood representatives will take place.
A neighborhood will be chosen on Dec. 1.
According to RM, Ideal neighborhoods will have 20-30 homes within a six-block area that meet the eligibility criteria, ample parking around the selected area, high levels of community engagement by local businesses and neighbors, and a group of 4-6 neighborhood representatives who will help with planning and outreach beginning in January.
A virtual Q&A event will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. on Nov. 6 to share more information and answer questions.
Over the past 23 years, Revitalize Milwaukee has worked to stabilize neighborhoods by providing free home repairs to low-income homeowners. During that time, it has undertaken home repairs on more than 3,640 homes with more than 33,000 volunteer hours and $24 million.
For more information or to volunteer, contact Lynnea Katz-Petted at (414) 312-7531 Ext. 805 or go to freehomerepairs.org.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He can be heard weekly on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories.
