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'Be together for just five minutes every night': Music brings MKE's east side neighborhood together

Posted at 9:34 PM, Mar 20, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-20 23:40:21-04

Music is bringing neighbors together on Milwaukee's east side.

Each night at nine, neighbors come outside if they're able, and enjoy one song together.

The first night it was the Bob Marley classic, "One Love."

The message for the east side neighborhood being: things will be all right.

"I saw people on TV in Italy singing from balconies, and I was so moved by it," says Lisa Marie Menefee, who lives on the east side street.

She and her family started the nightly serenade as a way to bring people together at a safe distance.

"Get a chance for everyone to come outside and just be together for just five minutes every night," Menefee says.

The first night about six people joined in. The second night almost 40!

Neighbor Allan Hochstein says he teared up, "Everybody just kind of stayed in their own space and really just kind of had a moment together."

Neighbors realizing how important social interaction is even when they're being told to isolate.

"Just being able to come out and see each other smiling, cheering, laughter- it definitely shows the power of connection over technology and other things we use," says neighbor Nicholas White.

Menefee says they will play a variety of songs.

The nightly music is along Marshall Street on Milwaukee's east side.

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