April 13, 2020
MILWAUKEE -- The Marquette University community is helping in several ways to combat various challenges presented by the spread of coronavirus, hoping to make an impact on campus and in the community.
From harnessing expertise and providing thoughtful insight on timely issues, to working innovatively to address medical supply and equipment shortages, these are the ways in which faculty, staff, students and alumni are working to Be the Difference.
Tips
Marquette has been working with faculty and staff experts across campus to generate internal content and features on topics related to coronavirus for the campus community. The Faculty Experts on Coronavirus Topics page is updated regularly with posts and additional resources for those seeking information from their colleagues and professors on topics such as a wading through misinformation on coronavirus, as well as keeping the faith, managing stress, exercising and remote working.
707 Supporting Small Businesses
The 707 Hub has been busy collaborating with partners throughout the city to offer several notable programs to assist small businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes such initiatives as the Brew City Match program, which allocates funds to support the small businesses that are vital to Milwaukee with grants of up to $1,200 to assist with rent and payroll support; “Made in the Near West Side,” a Facebook Live feature highlighting premier, local restaurants demonstrating how to cook their specialty; and 707 Hub Virtual Meetings, one-on-one appointments with 707 Hub’s entrepreneur-in-residence to discuss next steps, apply for resources, and how to creatively pivot or strategically position the business.
Marquette Center for Peacemaking
The Marquette Center for Peacemaking is working with Milwaukee Public Schools and private, urban schools to address community connections and strengthen the infrastructure for students and families to access behavioral health and educational resources. This includes distributing resources at the MPS food pick up sites on stress, coping and resilience; connecting with students and families through online learning platforms; delivery of psychological services by telehealth and phone; supplying educational materials for remote learning and emergency supplies for families; and increasing access to internet, laptops, or computers so families can utilize many resources and services that are now offered by remote access only.
Front line supplies
A Marquette alumnus and board member of the Opus College of Engineering’s Excellence in Leadership program is working to quickly shift manufacturing lines in Milwaukee to produce personal protective equipment (PPE), such as N95 masks. A number of faculty, students and other alumni are also creating face shields for places outside of the United States in need and collecting supplies such as masks, gloves and hand sanitizer.
Virtual community services
Marquette students are active in the community, providing services to those in need in the surrounding neighborhoods and throughout the city. With safer-at-home regulations in place, some of these programs have found virtual homes online.
Keeping the community informed
The Neighborhood News Service, a project of the Diederich College of Communication, has received a $5,000 grant to support COVID-19 reporting through the Facebook Journalism Project. The grant will cover unexpected costs associated with reporting on the crisis in the community. The program is run in partnership with the Lenfest Institute for Journalism and Local Media Association in the U.S., and with News Media Canada and The Independent News Challenge in Canada.
Marquette and SWIM addressing mental health concerns
Marquette and Scaling Wellness in Milwaukee are partnering to support local trauma-responsive, community-based organizations during the COVID-19 crisis. For those in the community with a history of traumatic stress and/or mental health concerns, the impact of COVID-19 may be particularly challenging. Partner organizations are working tirelessly to meet the safety and mental health needs of community members in Milwaukee. Marquette and SWIM assist CBOs by listening to the needs of the broader community, making connections to necessary resources, and providing trauma and resilience information for dissemination.
Vacant house watch
The Marquette Police Department offers a Vacant House Watch program to students during academic breaks, which has seen expanded usage with students leaving the campus area during the coronavirus pandemic. Students can register their residences with MUPD before leaving campus for break and MUPD officers monitor vacant residences during their routine patrols of the neighborhood.
Family activities
The Haggerty Museum of Art and Marquette Athletics are doing their part to help families and kids stay busy during extended time at home. Through its monthly newsletters, the Haggerty Museum has been putting together arts education materials and offering virtual tours of current and past exhibits. The Marquette Kids Club is helping children pass the time and instilling Golden Eagle pride with activities such as coloring pages, mazes, photo hunts, jersey designs, connect the dots and crossword puzzles — all with the appropriate Marquette theme.
Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of University Relations. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.
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