Milwaukee has the fourth highest teen pregnancy rate in the country, and the United Way is doing something about it. The organization brings "Children of Children," a national exhibit featuring stunning black-and-white photographs of people affected by teen pregnancy, to the Milwaukee City Hall Rotunda, November 3-25.

"Our hope is that this exhibit will draw awareness and spark a much-needed dialog in the community about teen pregnancy. One of the beauties of the exhibit that it takes a very controversial issue that tends to be emotionally charged and presents it from a very human perspective, one that is sincere and without judgment," says Lisa Tries, associate director for the United Way, who brought the show to Brew City.

The interactive exhibit features Michael Nye's deeply moving photos and the recorded stories of people from both genders and many races who are affected by teen pregnancy. The exhibit is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., except Thanksgiving.

Nye is a San Antonio-based photographer who practiced law for 10 years, and has had more than 30 one-person shows around the world.

Recently, the United Way partnered with key community leaders to evaluate current teen pregnancy prevention programs and funding strategies. Their goal is to produce a set of recommendations -- that include community input -- so that the United Way, other organizations and the greater community can improve the epidemic on a local level.

According to Tries, two-thirds of all teen mothers never graduate from high school and their children are more likely to die in infancy, be poor, abuse or neglected, and almost three times as likely to be incarcerated.

"Teen pregnancy is an issue that the entire community should own and address. It's time for the community to work together and deal with this epidemic in partnership," says Tries.

The United Way of Milwaukee's Web site is unitedwaymilwaukee.org/Children_of_Children.htm