On Wednesday, May 31, 2023 Milwaukee Christian Center partnered with Clippers & Cops, a nonprofit based in Atlanta along with Gee’s Clippers, Safe and Sound, Ambrose Place MKE and The Office of Violence Prevention in effort to bridge the gap between police and their communities.

See below for the full news coverage:

From Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Milwaukee police met with youths at a barbershop. Here’s how things turned out

From WTMJ-TV – Haircuts and hard talks: Police, community hold open forum at Gee’s Clippers

From WDJT-TV – Barber shop offers up new twist on conversations with police

From WITI News – On March 22, 2023 Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson $500,000 in funding for six Milwaukee food pantries, one of which being Milwaukee Christian Center. The funding announcement comes at the end of additional FoodShare benefits available during the pandemic.

Click here to watch the full segment

From WDJT News – Milwaukee leaders are investing in Food Security Programs within our neighborhoods, using funds provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “Food insecurity touches all parts of Milwaukee,” said Common Council President José Pérez. “And it was vital that these funds reflect that citywide need. I look forward to the impact these dollars will make as we seek to improve quality of life for our residents.”

Click here to read the full story

From TMJ4 News – In an effort to reduce reckless driving, Muskego Way Forward staff, community advocates and Wisconsin Bike Fed staff completed installation a mobile parklet. The project that was a partnership with Muskego Way Forward, Wisconsin Bike Fed and community advocates worked to install a mobile parklet during September and October to encourage drivers to slow down and reduce reckless driving in the area. The mobile parklet will be in place at 16th and Forest Home until October 31st.

Watch the interview here.

From TMJ4 News – Community Muralist Tia Richardson and MCC Youth Program participant Nashley discussed the community mural being painted on Nutricion y Bienestar as part of MCC’s Community Art Leaders project. The project partnered with local business Nutricion y Bienestar, Muskego Way Forward, and the Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative this year to create a mural with community members. Community is invited to join painting days Thursday July 7th 3-7pm, Friday July 8th 3-7pm, and Saturday July 9th 12-4pm at 18th & Greenfield. Watch the interview here.

Each day, student leaders walk the halls of Milwaukee Public Schools with an important responsibility –– resolving conflicts, promoting academic achievement and leading their peers. 

If there is one word that would describe our community’s young people, it would be “resilient”. Through the nonstop overturning of their neighborhoods by gun violence, they persevere and, in many instances, discover their own ways to combat it and other crimes that may be prevalent in their neighborhoods. They have realized their potential, and with a little help from VFZ, they are learning how to maximize their potential. As they move along on their journey, they are also realizing that they are leaders with an obligation to assist their peers to follow the same path.

These champions of the Violence Free Zone (VFZ) are part of an initiative that has led to a decline in violent incidents within the most challenged high schools in Milwaukee. Dating back to 2005, MCC’s Violence Free Zone (VFZ) program annually connects nearly 600 high school youth with mentors who help lead and counsel their peers. 

Get to know three of our influential champions of the VFZ. 

Maurissa B.

The sky’s the limit for Maurissa, one of our VFZ students at James Madison Academic Campus (JMAC). Maurissa has been a part of VFZ since her freshman year. Her true potential shone through from the beginning, and she realized that the obstacles holding her back were not going to disappear. She sought the assistance of VFZ and was paired with a Youth Advisor. As the mentoring relationship advanced, she quickly began to find purpose in her creative self. Now that Maurissa is a Senior she continues her involvement with VFZ as they are assisting her with her preparations herself for college, where she will major in the Arts. 

Nyaja C.

Nyaja, in her Junior year of High School at Pulaski High School, has been living on her own and juggling between keeping her job and studying. Thanks to her mentor, Jeuray, she has had support communicating with her teachers and administrators to ensure they are all on the same page when it comes to Nyaja’s education and making sure she is able to graduate. Today, Nyaja has her mind set and is focused on graduation. 

Zameria D.

Zameria, a Junior at Bay View High School and part of the VFZ program, recently experienced the loss of two cousins to gun violence. This experience was traumatic and heartbreaking and she missed several days of school as a result. To honor them and bring awareness to gun violence, Zameria and other VFZ students created orange colored ribbons that that were placed on all school lockers as a symbol of youth united against gunn violence. Zameria said she is tired of losing loved ones to something that can be prevented. Since summer is coming, she wanted to help raise awareness now, to allow other students to make choices to keep the community safe. 

Faced with making tough choices every day, these teens deserve to be recognized for their efforts in making responsible choices and developing safe relationships.  On Friday, June 3rd, the Milwaukee Christian Center’s HEART program hosted a Youth Gala – A Night of Elegance: Loving Myself Enough.

More 70 Milwaukee scholars participated and enjoyed dancing, entertainment and peer presentations providing reinforcement for the life-long impact of responsible decision making.

Click here to view a video with a few highlights of this inspirational event. 

A Special Thank You to Keith L. Brown- Mr. I’m Possible for serving as the inspirational Keynote Speaker for this event.

The Milwaukee Christian Center HEART Initiative Program is a middle through high school program designed to empower teens, ages 11-17, with the necessary tools and confidence needed to make responsible choices, develop healthy relationships and form safe decisions. The Night of Elegance: Loving Me Enough Youth Ball Celebration was held as a reward for local scholars for their commitment to make good choices and work toward building healthy relationships.          

To learn more about MCC’s Youth Development Programs click here

MCC was proud to host Michael Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps and Sonali Nijhawan, Director of AmeriCorps State and National at its nearly completed renovation on N. 26th street in the Amani Neighborhood. YouthBuild AmeriCorps members from MCC, alongside professional trades people, have completely renovated the home which will welcome new homeowners this fall. MCC YouthBuild AmeriCorps members gain training and education while serving the Milwaukee community through new construction and gut rehabilitation of homes. Mr. Smith leads the federal AmeriCorps program through which people across the country serve their communities. Smith has dedicated his career to social justice and public service in underserved communities like those where he grew up. Most recently, he served as executive director of the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and director of Youth Opportunity Programs at the Obama Foundation. Ms. Nijhawan has committed her career to developing leaders and growing national service. Most recently, she developed and served as the executive director of Stockton Service Corps, a six-year, $12 million initiative to address local needs through AmeriCorps. While not a native Milwaukeean, Ms. Nijhawan studied at Marquette University.

From TMJ4 News – “The My Block series has covered so many neighborhoods in and around Milwaukee, but you have never seen the city’s south side like this. In this edition, we meet the people who took a risk by leaving their home countries to come to Milwaukee in search of a brighter future for them and their families.

“My favorite thing about the community is that it’s always very welcoming. It feels like home, you know,” Elizabeth Ramirez said.

She is the one who took us around the Muskego Way neighborhood to introduce us to the people and places that make her community feel like home. The Muskego Way neighborhood is bordered by Greenfield Avenue to the north, 16th Street on the east, Beecher Street to the south, and Layton Boulevard to the west.

“We have everything you could need here in our block. We have, like I said, we come to the local restaurant. You can go to the corner store. There’s a bakery here. There’s even a hair salon, you know. There’s a lot here,” Ramirez said.” Full coverage can be found here.