Milwaukee Turners is an athletic, social and cultural organization based on the
German Turnverein associations, which were founded by Frederick Jahn in 1811.
Milwaukee Turners was founded in 1853 and espouse the values of liberty, tolerance,
reason and justice in addition to their motto of “Sound Mind in a Sound Body.” Since
their founding, the Turners have been involved in politics at a local and national
level and boast the membership of Milwaukee’s three Socialist mayors. The Milwaukee
Turners remain active in the community to the present day, offering a variety of
programming including the Turner’s School of Gymnastics.
In partnership with University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and Milwaukee Public
Broadcasting Service, the Milwaukee Turners hosted the 4th Street Forum, a weekly
town hall meeting, encouraging public discussion on issues of pressing concern. Free
and open to the public, forums were taped in front of a live audience for later
broadcast on Milwaukee Public Television, Channels 10 and 36. It is now known as The
Vel Phillips Forum.
