Year: 2021

From Wisconsin Policy Forum – “After analyzing the city’s affordable housing efforts and challenges through a systemic and citywide lens, in this report we turn to a neighborhood-based initiative to improve housing conditions in Milwaukee. That project is the Amani Housing Pilot, which was launched in 2019 and aims to take a comprehensive and community-engaged approach to improve housing on one block in Milwaukee’s Amani neighborhood. The pilot involves partnerships between neighborhood residents, several community organizations, and the Northwestern Mutual Foundation and was created with the intention of helping to guide future housing efforts in Amani, other Milwaukee neighborhoods, and potentially other cities.” Read the full report on this collaborative project which has included MCC’s home construction and training work here

From Spectrum1 News – The Violence Free Zone program is run by two Milwaukee organizations, Running Rebels and Milwaukee Christian Center. VFZ helps mentor youth at a dozen Milwaukee Public Schools. 

VFZ advisors work with middle and high school students to provide additional school support, accomplish goals, strengthen preparedness for learning and develop strategies to reduce and resolve conflicts responsibly. The goal of the two organizations involved with this program is to set students up for success and reduce youth violence. 

“I can’t assist that young person to improve his attendance, to reduce his violence, or improve grade point average. I must have a relationship with his parents, his social workers, and even law enforcement who may deal with this young person, “ said Andre Robinson, director of Violence Free Zone for Milwaukee Christian Center. Full coverage can be found here

From Fox 6 – Ribbon cutting for a new 80’x18′ community mural at Pulaski Pool. The new artwork was created by community members, led by Community Muralist Tia Richardson through Milwaukee Christian Center’s (MCC) Community Art Leaders project.

Through the project community members engage in a process led by Richardson and youth that informs the creation of a community mural. The process asked community members to name some of the challenges they experience in Pulaski Park. Then they were asked to name some different ways/choices they or others can make to improve those challenges. Moving from left to right the mural shows the progression from the challenges (symbolically shown as clouds/pollution) to a brighter future. It includes the community effort of restoring the river which brings more biodiversity and makes it a happier, healthier place for all to enjoy. Full coverage can be found here

Thanks to the generosity of our community MCC’s Centennial Celebration for Strong Neighborhoods was an astounding success! We hope those of you who joined us enjoyed learning more about Milwaukee Christian Center’s work and the remarkable individuals we are honored to serve. We asked you to “Be the Builder,” and we are overwhelmed with gratitude at your response.
 
Because of your incredible generosity, we raised over $135,000 to support our mission of building strong neighborhoods full of opportunity into our next century of service to the Milwaukee community. We want to thank each and every generous donor and our sponsors for making such an incredible impact on Milwaukee.

From TMJ 4 – Andre Robinson is another Credible Messenger and the Director of Violence Free Zone for Milwaukee Christian Center. “When I was growing up my credible messengers were gang bangers and drug dealers,” Robinson said. “I want credible messengers, the real credible messengers now, to be able to walk among these young people and say, ‘Hey you know what, I may not know 100% what you’re going through but I know that my situation was similar to yours and this is what I did to get out of it.'” Read full coverage here

From Milwaukee Courier – “We make the assumption that everyone has leadership skills; we just want to give them the opportunity to show them,” Karen Higgins, executive director of Milwaukee Christian Center said.

Suarez, for example, learned how to become a team player. “I wasn’t a very social person but being in this program I’ve been able to speak out more and learn a lot of things about myself I didn’t know before,” Suarez said. “With siding, I’m a quick learner, and a lot of other participants came to me and I found myself helping others.” Read full coverage here

The Youth Artists United Murals led by Community Muralist Tia Richardson and young people involved in Milwaukee Christian Center youth programming received a 2021 Mayor’s Design Award! For the past five years Milwaukee Christian Center, Community Muralist Tia Richardson, and neighbors have dramatically improved one block of Forest Home Avenue on Milwaukee’s near south side. The project transformed a patch of land and strip of paint covering graffiti to a welcoming pocket park and beautiful 200’ plus stretch of murals completed in 2020. Initiated by Milwaukee Christian Center’s Muskego Way Forward initiative and area resident Tia Richardson, the project lent beauty and creativity to a high traffic space connecting neighborhoods. The initial work created Butterfly Park with landscaping, seating, and a community mural and was followed by a three-year process of engaging community members and youth in creating a 200’ plus stretch of murals leading from Butterfly Park westward. The final product is abundant and vibrant as was the five-year process that engaged 250 youth, 400 neighbors, and inspired countless passerby to join in creating more beautiful, safer spaces. Coverage of the award can be found here

From TMJ 4 – “On the South Side, Muskego Way Forward, a program of the Milwaukee Christian Center, will partner with LISC Milwaukee, Imagine MKE and others on several projects. Among them are performance art events at high-traffic areas; “slow down” lawn signs and other visual messages; and public demonstrations on crosswalks, which the group started last year after a fatal crash caused by reckless driving.” Full coverage can be found here

MCC is celebrating MCC’s remodeled upstairs kitchen and gathering space! The project, initiated by Pat Wyzbinski, funded by Brandon’s Gelzer’s Memorial Fund and Scott Gelzer, Pat’s husband and partner for 40 years, provided much needed improvement to a space where young adults in MCC’s YouthBuild Program study, eat and support each other. As a part of the remodeling work generous donors replaced the flooring, purchased new appliances, brought in quality furniture, and YouthBuild members built a custom laptop bar/counter with salvaged materials. We thank Pat and Scott for the vision and generosity leading this project over the past two years, and all the donors who helped make this possible. Thank you!