While it’s true that Bradley Tech High School, 700 S. 4th St., in Walker’s Point has been in the news for the wrong reasons in recent years, there have also been many positive developments there, only some of which have made headlines (very, very small headlines, typically, because, sadly, school success doesn’t sell), including a team of students that built motorcycles last spring, life mentoring programs with area professionals, an aquaponics program and more.
Much of the good news has followed the district’s partnership with MATC, UWM and MSOE to give the school a boost, with new recruitment strategies, improved links with local higher education programs, more classes that provide college credits, better ties to the community and more.
My friend Cindy Bettine is a music teacher at the school now and sent me this message recently:
"I am at Bradley Tech full-time and the energy has changed and become much more positive this year. Teachers are feeling like Tech is back! We have partnerships with MATC and MSOE, along with many other tech-related organizations.
Our students are now wearing uniforms which are purple polos and khaki pants. We (want) to encourage people to come out and see our program during our open house."
The event, which is free and open to all, takes place Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. There, you’ll be able to tour shops and classrooms for carpentry, graphic arts, mobile app and website design, welding, mechanical drafting and more.
There will be student awards presented by alumni and Tech business advisers from the community. You’ll also be able to hear more about career pathways from partners at UWM and MATC.
You can believe the selective news reports or you can go inside and see for yourself.
If you’re going, please take a moment to RSVP to Tech and Trade Liaison Scott Sommer at sommers1@milwaukee.k12.wi.us. But if you forget, I bet they’ll still be happy to see you on Tuesday.
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 has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
