"Something has to be done:" Rebuilding of Sherman Park neighborhood can't be done by just a few

MILWAUKEE -- When it comes to rebuilding and healing the Sherman Park neighborhood, help may have to come from in and outside the community.

"Protrade" is tucked away in a building about ten blocks from the gas station at Sherman and Burleigh. Inside, instructors are helping young men in the neighborhood take control of their community.

"I think what happened this past weekend is a symptom of the issues we face in the inner city in Milwaukee," said Protrade CEO Rashaad Washington.

When it comes to healing those symptoms, Rashaad Washington says the first remedy is giving young men in the neighborhood skills that will always be in demand.

"What we work to do is teach our people how to fish, because if we just give jobs out for, we're giving a job because you need a job, you're not prepared? Then you don't know how to properly take care of that opportunity that you have," said Washington.

In a non-descript building at 31st and Auer, guys learn math at desks built by those who came before them. It's not just learning how to build stuff, Washington says Protrade is teaching life skills -- be on time, don't allow your personal problems to mess up your work.

"We relate, that's first and foremost -- because people want to know you walked the walk versus talking the talk," said Washington.

Protrade can't create growth in the Sherman Park neighborhood on its own. Tim Sheehy from the Metro Milwaukee Association of Commerce, says he's trying to convince employers all over the region that the central city's problems are their problems too.

"As employers, we're not driving by this and thinking this is somebody else's issue to solve. At the heart of Milwaukee's success is our ability to get a diverse population ready to take the jobs that are here," said Sheehy.

Washington sees a silver lining from the disorder just down the street.

"The youth have the attention from the governor all the way down to the grassroots organizations. Something has to be done," said Washington.

Protrade currently has 15 students enrolled for this current ten-week course. It has the capacity for 150. The next course begins October 10th. For more information, CLICK HERE or call 414-937-9PRO -- but be warned, Washington says anyone who misses more than two days is kicked out.