The Dr. Filiberto & Carmen Murguia Campus Shutdown And Vacated For Awhile By The Centro Hispano Milwaukee Board

The Centro Hispano Milwaukee, a non-profit organization is terminated or no longer active, Cause IQ dot com reported.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 12, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Unfortunately after 2015, those who took over the daily operations of the Centro Hispano Milwaukee formerly the Council for the Spanish Speaking, Inc. (Spanish Center) after Filiberto Murguia, 73, retired in 2003 as its President and CEO, couldn't continue Murguia's legacy and success in getting federal funding sources for its Head Start bilingual programs.

Filiberto Murguia passed away at the age of 81 on August 20, 2013 after losing the battle against cancer. Carmen M. Murguia passed away on May 11, 2023 at the age of 93.

When Murguia took over the Council in 1973, it had a budget of more than $200,000 and when he retired in 2003, the Council was operating on a budget of more than $5 million.

The Council operated on a yearly budget of more than $6.8 million between 2007-2008 when Luis "Tony" Baez was the President and CEO and managed six housing complexes for low income elders able to live independently. It operated an Adult Education Center, the Loyola Academy High School, Guadalupe Head Start (managed 7 Head Start locations) and a Family Resource Center at the Dr. Filiberto and Carmen Murguia Campus. The Campus was renamed the Dr. Filiberto and Carmen Murguia Campus at 1645 S. 36th St. in 2010.

Today, the Dr. Filiberto and Carmen Murguia Campus remains closed, the building is showing signs of deterioration and has become a history lesson that those who follow and attempt to fill the shoes of a predecessor, if not fully prepared or adequately trained to continue a legacy, they are destined to fail the Latino community it serves.

In 2015, when Toni Rivera-Joachin was selected by the Board of Directors to lead the Spanish Center as the President and CEO, it only took several years under her leadership for the Center to lose its major federal funding source. By 2017 the Center lost its biggest federal grant funding source, the Head Start and Early Head Start bilingual programs in November 30, 2017, which permanently ceased to operate. At least 88 non-union employees of the Centro Hispano Milwaukee Head Start and Early Head Start were layed off permanently, since the Centro Hispano Milwaukee could never fully recovered from financial deficit.

According to Centro Hispano Milwaukee website, the Head Start and Early Start bilingual programs had its administrative offices and a Resource Center at the Dr. Filiberto & Carmen Murguia Campus on S. 36th St. and W. Mitchell Street, and it served approximately 712 children and their families at six (6) sites in Milwaukee area including the Southside. The federal and state funding including other sources totaled more than $4.6M (2010-2011 funding sources report, no current budget report posted).

At the time, the Board of Directors of the Centro Hispano Milwaukee were;

• Julio Maldonado, Chairman

• Aurea Ramirez, Secretary

• Eduardo Herrera-Meir. Treasurer

• Attorney Marisabel Cabrera

• Julia Luna

• Attorney Israel Ramon

• Jesús Santos

• Toni Rivera-Joachin, President and Chief Executive Officer

In November 2017, the Board decided to relinquish its contract and $5.9M in federal grants rather than face termination by the Administration of Children & Families, which oversee the Head Start. In 2014, the Centro Hispano Milwaukee was designated as a "high-risk agency due to financial mismanagement" by the Administration of Children & Families. And an overview of findings by the federal agency dated Oct. 30 said it did not ensure the federal Head Start funds were used solely for that program, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on November 2017.

In 2019, after Rivera-Joachin left the Centro Hispano Milwaukee for a job in Madison, John Yingling, the principal of financial services consulting firm Paladan Group, LLC served as interim executive director of the Centro Hispano Milwaukee and Kay MacKenzie, director of operations worked with Yingling to oversee the daily operations of the Centro Hispano Milwaukee, according to the BizTimes dot com (March 2019).

Currently, the Founders 3 Management Company owns the building properties 610-616 W. National Ave, which includes the Centro Hispano Milwaukee building at 614 W. National Ave. in Milwaukee. According to City of Milwaukee Assessment property records, Founders 3 Management bought the properties on January 11, 2019 for $750,000. They also own the 600-608 W. National Ave. building properties.

The Dr. Filiberto and Carmen Murguia Campus property, which includes 1645-1659 S. 36 Street is still owned by the  Council for the Spanish Speaking, Inc. and are valued at $1,150,840 today, according to the City of Milwaukee Property Assessment records.

The question remains, who received and what happened to the $750,000 for the sale of the Centro Hispano Milwaukee properties at 610-616 W. National Ave in Milwaukee?

The 990's IRS filing tax forms records indicate that the last filing was on 2017, according to Cause IQ dot com https://tinyurl.com/4ehuj4xv, it also indicated that this non-profit is terminated or no longer active.

According to a current search the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (WDFI), the license for the Council for the Spanish Speaking, Inc. expired in  7/31/2019 and status is listed as "License is not current (revoked)". The WDFI has no record for Centro Hispano Milwaukee.

The Centro Hispano Milwaukee operated the Hispanic Housing Corp that owns 4 elderly and low income housing properties, which the WDFI also indicated that its license expired in January 1, 2001. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/hispanic-housing-corporation,391445792/

The Council for the Spanish Speaking, Inc. operated multiple senior or elderly living apartments under Hispanic Housing Corp.

• La Paz, 1313 S. 6 Street, Milwaukee, WI

• Jardin I, 920 W. Madison St., Milwaukee, WI, property valued at $2M

• Jardin II, 1504 S. 6 Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, property valued at $2M

• Santa Cruz, 3029 W. Wells St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, property valued at $2M

These properties show that the Hispanic Housing Corp is still listed as the owner by the City of Milwaukee property assessment listings.

But, Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) learned that the Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, Inc. (LSS) claims on its website that they own and manage La Paz, Jardin I & II and Santa Cruz. 

https://www.lsswis.org/our-story/affordable-housing/

Apparently, those who continued to operate the Centro Hispano Milwaukee or the Council for the Spanish Speaking, Inc. failed to be transparent and to publicly inform the community at large about what transpired in the non-profit organization.

Two prior properties that were operated by the Hispanic Housing Corp/Council for the Spanish Speaking were sold, the Casa Catalina, 3640 W. Mitchell St. was sold for $90,000 in November 1996 and has a value of $2M. It operates as Casa Catalina Corp. The other was La Villa, 5801 W. Lakefield Dr. and sold for $84,000 in November 2000 and is valued at $2M. It operates as La Villa Housing Corp.

Also, the LSS hasn't release any information (search done on the internet and checked the LSS website news and press releases, with no results) that they had acquired or when did they began to manage the four properties from the Hispanic Housing Corp and if, the LSS are the new owners of those properties, then why is the City of Milwaukee property assessment listings still showing that the Hispanic Housing Corp owns those properties?

Another unfortunate situation where a community as a whole allows a non-profit organization to eventually cease to exist and the loss of community services become a thing of the past, which tragically affects the community it served.

Police Investigating Alleged Southside Homicide, 33-year-old Elizabeth Rocha Found Dead In Alley

Rocha was found dead in an alley and the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office says, a homicide investigation is ongoing.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 12, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On June 5, 2023, police were called around 1:35 a.m. to the 1200 block of W. Mineral Street and found Elizabeth Rocha, 33, deceased in an alleyway by a garage door. Her body was found facedown and possibly beaten, according to an emergency call source.

Police reported "no signs of trauma', but has an ongoing investigation.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office says, that they are investigating the death as a homicide.

On June 1, Rocha reached out to several Facebook friends and told one of them that she had been kicked out of her house, needed $20 and was stranded in Brown Deer with all her belongings and wasn't mobil.

Also on June 5, Elizabeth's father, Felipe A. Rocha, 61, apparently passed away of a broken heart shortly after learning his daughter had been found deceased, according to a Gofundme page.

Elizabeth has two surviving daughters, according to a Gofundme created to collected funeral expenses for both Elizabeth and her father. https://tinyurl.com/4a5vt4aw

Wisconsin's Mexican Fiesta 2023 Celebrates 50th Anniversary In Milwaukee

The largest Midwest three-day Mexican Fiesta in late August is celebrating its 50th Anniversary at the Summerfest grounds.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 11, 2023

Milwaukee. Wisconsin - On Saturday, June 10, 2023, the Viva MKE outdoor marketplace took place at the Mexican Fiesta (WHSF) office, at the 2900 block of S. 20 Street parking lot in Milwaukee. Music, vendors, artists, food and live entertainment was provided. 

This year, Mexican Fiesta 2023 is celebrating its 50th Anniversary of Mexican cultural tradition, music, indigenous and traditional folkloric dancers, artisan crafts and item assortments from Mexico, food and etc.

The Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation, Inc. (WHSF) sponsors the three-day Mexican Fiesta at the Summerfest grounds (Henry Maier Festival Park and Grounds) at the lakefront.

This August 2023, performing at Mexican Fiesta 2023 are Marcos Orozco from San Antonio, Texas who is a Tejano Music Award and a Latin Grammy Award Winner, Rey Ruiz (Salsero), Gerardo Coronel, Ezequiel Peña, Aida Cuevas and others will be featured at the three-day Mexican Fiesta music venue at Summerfest on August 25, 26, 27, 2023.

Confirmed entertainment at Mexican Fiesta 2023

Friday, August 25, 2023

• Rey Ruiz

• Los Dorados

• Solitarios

• Sunny Sauceda

• Gerardo Coronel

Saturday, August 26, 2023

• Alex Fernández 

• Palomo

• Ezequiel Peña

• Luckyjoe

• Marcos Orozco

• Lone Star Nights Tour 2023 (Stefani Montiels)

• Sunny Sauceda 

Sunday, August 27, 2023

• Lone Stars Night Tour 2023 (Stefani Montiels)

• Aida Cuevas

• Trakalosa de Monterey 

Concert at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater 

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Los Bukis

The current WHSF Board of Directors are;

Ruben Burgos

President

Antonio Guajardo Jr.

1st Vice-president 

Ricardo Ruiz

2nd Vice-president 

Ernesto Baca

Treasurer

Diana Moreno

Secretary 

Raymon Balcazo

Board Member 

Marina Croft

Board Member

Ivan Gamboa

Board Member

Julio Guix

Board Member 

Lupe Martinez 

Board Member

Tamara Olivas

Board Member 

Azael Ruiz

Board Member 

Woody Welch

Board Member 

Honory Members

Oscar Cervera 

Member 

Jason Hyland

Member 

Teresa E. Mercado 

Executive Director 

Public information:

990's IRS filing tax forms from 2001 to 2021 for Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation https://tinyurl.com/4x6h53mn

H-D Motorcycle Enthusiast 47-year-old Walter Garron Struck By Hit-and-run Female Driver At S. 12 and W. Historic Mitchell Streets In The Southside Of Milwaukee

Garron was driving his H-D motorcycle Westbound on W. Historic Mitchell Street when an unidentified female driver made a left turn in front of him from S. 12 Street going Eastbound without stopping and struck Garron in his bike.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 11, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Saturday, June 10, 2023, Walter Garron, 47, a H-D motorcycle enthusiast was riding his motorcycle heading Westbound on W. Historic Mitchell Street at around 7:30 p.m. when a unidentified White female driver made a left turn from S. 12 Street striking Garron. The female driver did not stop and fled the scene in the hit-and-run accident.

The female driver had a small child with her in the vehicle. A male driver who witnessed the incident followed the woman and took a photo of her license plate. She was driving a black or dark Lexus with the license plate ASG-8048.

Garron's motorcycle had its handle bars broken including his front wheel fork and damage caused to one of his gas tanks that separated from the motorcycle upon impact. The motorcycle ignited from spilled gas, but was immediately distinguished.

Garron was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries. He suffered a fractured left forearm and needed multiple stitches including suffered facial lacerations and swelling. Garron also needed a neck brace to keep him from moving his neck.

Garron is the Commander of the Brown Barets of Wisconsin and is a well known Latino community activist in the Sourhside of Milwaukee.

Several other motorcycle enthusiasts accompanied him and were following Garron along W. Historic Mitchell Street when he was struck and they witnessed the hit-and-run accident that left Garron hospitalized with injuries. None of the other motorcycle riders were reported injured.

A Gofundme was created for Garron at link: https://gofund.me/0e7a2135

Motorcyclist Luis Carlos Herrera, 29, Passed Away After Succumbing To Severe Head Injuries In Hit-and-run At W. Forest Home Ave. In The Southside Of Milwaukee

Herrera had been in the hospital since May 28 after a hit-and-run incident that left him in coma with a severe head injury, when he succumbed to his injuries on early Tuesday.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 6, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Tuesday, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office reported that Luis Carlos Herrera, 29, passed away at 2:55 a.m. at Froedtert Memorial Hospital after he succumbed to his motorcycle injuries that he endured during a hit-and-run incident at the 1600 block of W. Forest Home Ave. just before 5:00 p.m. on May 28, 2023.

Herrera was driving his motorcycle Westbound on Forest Home when a vehicle ran a red light and struck Herrera, then the driver of the vehicle fled the scene without stopping.

Police recovered a handgun that belonged to Herrera at the scene.

Herrera was hospitalized for severe head injuries and a broken right leg, but he never regained consciousness due to critical damage to his brain and remained in coma until his death. Part of his right leg was amputated and was on a life-support machine at Froedtert Memorial Hospital.

Police are looking for the suspect in the hit-and-run who crashed into Herrera.

Julie Valadez Released From Immigration Custody In Canada After Being Held Since April 21 On A Fraudulent Criminal Charge By Delavan Police Department In Walworth County, WI

Valadez was set free from immigration custody after a Canada Border Services Agency hearing on Thursday found that she had been held long enough, ordered her release and is not considered a flight risk.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 1, 2023

Surrey, British Columbia, Canada - On Thursday, Julie Valadez, 38, was ordered released from immigration custody by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) which held several hearings and found that she wasn't a flight risk. Valadez walked out of the CBSA Surrey detention facility at 4:53 p.m. (PDT) Canada time.

Valadez who filed for refugee asylum in Canada last year had been held in custody since April 21, 2023 after a fraudulent criminal charge of kidnap minor to sexually assault was filed by Detective Trevor G. Hinman from the Delavan Police Department and reviewed by Assistant Police Chief James R. Bilskey on February 1, 2023. Valadez was never officially charged with kidnap minor to sexually assault, but the alleged police supplement charging document was included in the Delavan Police Department discovery report sent to the CBSA in an attempt to extradite Valadez and Kathryn Alamea-Xian,  Julie's advocate against domestic abuse to Wisconsin for a false criminal charge.

The Delavan Police Department discovery supplement report to CBSA did not include any investigation findings and conclusions leading to the abduction of child-taking criminal charge nor why both Julie and Alamea-Xian were actually being accused by Det. Hinman with a new incident report of kidnap of minor to sexually assault.

The Delavan Police Department and the Walworth County District Attorney's Office have not released any information regarding the alleged fraudulent charging documents that were included in the discovery supplement report sent to the CBSA.

Both Julie and Alamea-Xian who were in immigration custody in Canada discovered the fraudulent criminal charges filed by Det. Hinman when they reviewed the complete Delavan Police Department discovery report sent to the CBSA. They challenged the fraudulent kidnap minor to sexually assault charge and were successful in confirming Det. Hinman had filed and included the false criminal charge in the Delavan Police Department discovery report.

Julie's advocate for Justice in family court, Kathryn Alamea-Xian, the Interim Executive Director of Protective Makua had also been falsely accused by Det. Hinman who filed a criminal charging document supplement dated March 1, 2023 for kidnap minor to sexually assault against Alamea-Xian, which was reviewed by Delavan Police Lt. James E. Berlin.

The police fraudulent charging supplement reports seemed to also implicate both Lt. Berlin and Delavan Assistant Police Chief Bilskey of knowing the charging documents were fraudulent because Alamea-Xian and Julie were never charged with kidnap minor to sexually assault in Wisconsin.

Alamea-Xian was released on Monday, May 29, 2023 after being held on immigration custody by the CBSA since April 21.

On January 25, 2023, Delavan Police Det. Hinman held a phone meeting with FBI Special Agent Blake Schubert, U.S. Assistant Attorney Abbey Marzick, which also included Delavan Police Lt. Markley and Delavan Police Det. Michalek-Milligan who all allegedly conspired to file an arrest warrant for Julie Valadez so, that it would be a "smoothing way" for the Canadian government to return Ethan Valadez, 15, to his abusive father Ricardo Valadez. Det. Hinman wanted the Walworth County District Attorney's Office to seal Julie's arrest warrant, according to his police report.

Det. Hinman and other law enforcement officers including the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Wisconsin as well at Attorney Jasmer, GAL and Ricardo Valadez by January 25 already knew that E.B.V., Julie's son had ran away on his own accord on January 10, because he didn't want to return to his father and was not kidnapped as led to believe by Det. Hinman.

E.V.B. who also filed for asylum was forcibly removed illegally from Canada on April 28 and is now living with Julie's parents in Wisconsin and doesn't want to return with his abusive father.

E.V.B. was identified as Ethan Valadez, 15, by the Walworth County Scanner Facebook account on January 10, 2023 as the reported missing person.

The Delavan Police Department and the CBSA investigation into Det. Hinman's alleged fraudulent police supplement report has cost millions of dollars to investigate.

Alamea-Xian filed a $75,000,000 (in damages) Civil Rights violation lawsuit against Attorney Molly Jasmer, Delavan Police Detective Trevor G. Hinman and other named defendants from Wisconsin in the U.S. District Court for the District Court of Hawaii on May 2023. https://tinyurl.com/37c5dbw3

Kathryn Alamea-Xian v. Molly Jasmer (1:23-cv-00211-JAO-WRP), the amended Motion For Leave To Amend And Supplement Pleading at link: https://tinyurl.com/36nyhsnv

Death Undetermined, Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office Reported In A Preliminary Finding In The Death Of Cecilio J. Negrón Jr.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office has not determined the cause of death for Negrón Jr., according to a report released on Thursday.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 1, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin -  On Thursday, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office (MCMEO) released the preliminary death report for the May 25, 2023 death of Cecilio J. Negrón, 47, a popular percussionist and vocalist for the local band De La Buena. The preliminary death report released on Thursday says that Negrón Jr.'s death was "Undetermined".

According to the MCMEO, Negrón Jr. began to complain of stomach aches and vomiting the night before he was found deceased in the couch. His girlfriend had told authorities that Negrón Jr. began to complain about stomach aches and vomiting shortly after consuming some Wendy's food after work. He arrived at home around 8:00 p.m. after stopping at Wendy's and his girlfriend stayed up with him until 11:30 p.m., then she went upstairs to bed with her daughter. While Negrón Jr. remained in the couch downstairs. 

The next morning, his girlfriend went to check on him and found him deceased.

When first responders arrived at Negrón Jr.'s residence at the 2500 block of N. Dousman Street, they found him deceased in the couch (sofa) with full clothing on, except shoes and they didn't perform life-saving measures, since he had been deceased awhile. No trauma was found in his body by the MCMEO.

The MCMEO reported that "no medical history was known (for Negrón Jr.) and no prescription medication was observed in the residence. No obvious evidence of alcohol, tobacco or elicit drug use was noted."

The MCMEO report also included Negrón Jr.'s social history, that "Cecilio rarely drank alcohol. He quit smoking tobacco, but used vapor products and marijuana. Other than marijuana, Cecilio had no history of illicit drug use."

Negrón Jr. had never been married, but is survived by four children ages 26, 25, 11 and 3, the MCMEO reported.

Update: The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office on November 14, 2023 determined that Cecilio J. Negron Jr. had died of natural causes citing cause of death "Acute Mayocardial Infarct" due to acute coronary artery thrombus and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.