MILWAUKEE — Three years after Sherman Park was at the center of unrest following an officer-involved shooting, parts of the area are thriving, while others crave attention.
On Sunday, the Sherman Phoenix, a collaborative space for businesses, played host to Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker, a senator from New Jersey. Three years ago, it was in flames as violence unfolded around the area.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett applauds the investment in the area. Speaking about the Sherman Phoenix, he said “what really gives me hope is that those businesses that were destroyed or severely damaged, they see the economic value of reinvesting in those neighborhoods.”
“I chose not to move like many of my friends on my block moved, and I’m still here and there are some struggles and challenges.” -- Jacquelyn Rice
Jacquelyn Rice moved to the area in 1972. “When I first moved here, it was a model community for the nation,” she said.
While she is happy to see the development at the Sherman Phoenix, she said investment in the neighborhoods is needed. “I chose not to move like many of my friends on my block moved, and I’m still here and there are some struggles and challenges,” Rice said.
