By Jarett Fields, DFER-WI State Director
As the fall legislative season gets underway in Wisconsin, I have been invited to represent DFER as a guest host on Milwaukee’s talk radio program “The Forum,” which focuses on issues impacting politics, education, and the community in Milwaukee. As we gear up for the 2014 election season in the state, the show will also serve as an open forum for candidates to speak to the public via radio airwaves on the most important issues affecting Milwaukee.
The show’s regular host, Sherwin Hughes, is a political strategist with experience working with legislators and candidates at various levels of city and state government. As host, he offers sharp analysis of local and national headlines impacting the city. The show has featured guest hosts from all across the spectrum, including politicos, celebrities, electeds, and professional athletes. WNOV is located in the heart of Milwaukee’s north side and has listeners from all over the country through a live web stream. The station has remained grounded in the community through its outreach work and partnerships, supporting the efforts of local community members seeking to make Milwaukee a better place.
The public platform that WNOV offers is both timely and vital to our efforts at DFER-WI to improve our state’s education system. The Forum allows us to engage with community members and Democratic legislators to discuss issues impacting our most vulnerable assets—our kids. Recently, Wisconsin’s class of 2013 made national headlines by tying for second highest in ACT scoring with a 22.1 average. While there is much to be celebrated, we have a very long way to go. We have one of the highest achievement gaps in the nation. Our minority students are well behind their white counterparts in high school graduation and college entrance, and, proficiency rates among our low-income students are in a steady decline. This immobilizes both our minority and low-income community.
This season, our legislators in Milwaukee and across the state will have a lot to tackle when it comes to education. To name a few, legislators will debate the prospect of a Recovery District in Milwaukee for the city’s worst performing schools, an Accountability Bill that places new standards on all schools receiving public funds, and the possibility of Charter legislation that would expand charter authorizers around the state. DFER’s participation in “The Forum” will allow us to publically weigh in on many of these important issues as well as advocate for those families and children seeking a better future through educational options.
If you’re interested in following what happens in education reform and politics this season, please listen into the show. If you’re in the broadcast area, tune in Monday thru Friday from 9am to 11am CST on WNOV 860am or you can listen live on the web here. Listen Online:
Jarett Fields is an education specialist with a passion for community engagement. For the past ten years, Jarett has worked to increase the number of college graduates by building sustainable programs at the higher education level. Professionally, he has worked to build pathways of success for students at UCLA, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.