Community Advocates
Connections
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Happy End of Summer!
August is a time of looking backwards at our summer experiences and looking ahead to what's next. This summer, we strengthened and expanded our connections with our community partners at our monthly Empowerment Coalition of Milwaukee workshops, which you'll read about below. Looking ahead to this fall, we'll intensify our efforts to help our neighbors in need as the Milwaukee County Energy Assistance Heating Season launches on October 1.
No matter what the season, we're grateful for all of you who share our mission to create a healthier, happier, more dynamic community.
In gratitude,
Andi Elliott
Chief Executive Officer
Community Advocates
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Join the Empowerment Coalition of Milwaukee
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The Empowerment Coalition of Milwaukee (ECOM), organized by Community Advocates’ Housing Department, is an intimate, lively, and highly enlightening gathering of social service providers, advocates, and consumers. In June, ECOM focused on
domestic abuse and elder abuse
prevention and intervention; in July, it shined a light on how to identify and assist survivors of
human and sex trafficking
.
Guest speakers included members of government agencies and law enforcement, health care workers, treatment specialists, street outreach workers, and survivors of abuse and trafficking.
All are welcome to attend ECOM’s next meeting, to be held on Friday, September 21, at United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, 225 W. Vine St., Milwaukee. Attendees will discuss utility services and energy assistance before the formal launch of the Energy Assistance Heating Season on October 1. Registration fee is $5; includes light refreshments.
[Appearing in the above photo are the Milwaukee Women's Center's Patricia Thompson, Myrtle Dillon, and Steve Thomas]
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Ruby Boggins of Stop Predators of Trafficking (SPOT) explained to ECOM members in July why it's important to believe and honor survivors of abuse and trafficking
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In July, Eileen Alvarado and Javier Acevedo-Baez of UMOS Latina Resource Center discussed their work with survivors of trafficking
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Dinah LaCaze, Elder Abuse Prevention Coordinator, Milwaukee County Department on Aging, explained what elder abuse is -- and is not -- at June's ECOM meeting
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Nicky Glaser, Volunteer Coordinator for Aurora Healing & Advocacy Services, spoke to ECOM in June about how to support survivors of abuse and assault
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Emerging Artist Willis Found an Apartment and Support
through Community Advocates
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Most artists follow a highly unique path in which they can develop and express their craft and creativity. But even by those standards, Willis’ personal journey as an artist is exceptional.
“I’m not a conventional artist,” Willis explained. “People like my work because it’s different from what has been shown all the time, I guess. I have to be different. I have no other choice.”
His personal story is as distinctive as his artwork. Until Willis made contact with the continuum of care provided by Community Advocates’ homeless outreach and supportive housing programs, he lacked a permanent home for years.
Learn more about Willis’ journey.
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Get Help with Your Landlord or Tenant
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Having a conflict over repairs to your apartment? Don’t know how to resolve a dispute over back rent? Worried about being evicted? You don’t need an appointment to get answers from Community Advocates’ housing advocates. Stop by our downtown offices (728 N. James Lovell St., Milwaukee) during the Housing Department’s walk-in hours. Walk-ins are accepted on Monday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon. In addition, you can call our main number at 414-449-4777 or email us at
communityadvocates.net/who-we-are/contact.html
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Help the Milwaukee Women's Center's Kids
Get Ready for School
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Help the kids being served at the Milwaukee Women's Center by
donating backpacks full of school supplies
on Saturday. Milwaukee Women's Center, a division of Community Advocates, serves adults and children impacted by domestic violence and homelessness. Enjoy complimentary appetizers, participate in a raffle, and learn about our work when you stop by Garfield's 502, 502 W. Garfield Ave., between noon and 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 25. Sponsored by Sharon Jordan's Management & Promotions, Garfield's 502, the Milwaukee Women's Center, and the Commanders of the Rite Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, PHA, Orient of Wisconsin.
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Can You Spare a Wheelchair or Walker?
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You can make an enormous difference in someone’s life when you donate your spare wheelchair, walker, shower seat, or personal shopping cart to
Community Advocates’ Project Bridge participants.
Each year, Project Bridge assists 100 members of our community who are living with a mental illness and had experienced chronic homelessness to find a permanent home with supportive care.
"It’s really hard for some of our clients to get around, especially the ones who are getting up in years or have a disability," explained Project Bridge Case Manager Gabriel Drinkwater. "A new wheelchair or shopping cart would really contribute to their sense of independence and quality of life."
With your help, our Project Bridge participants can live independent lives with dignity. Contact Gabriel Drinkwater at 414-270-6927 or
gdrinkwater@communityadvocates.net
if you have a spare item to donate.
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It's Easy to Donate with Amazon Smile
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If you're doing some last-minute back-to-school shopping on Amazon -- or any kind of shopping on Amazon -- you can donate a portion of your payment to Community Advocates.
Just click on this link
and Amazon Smile will do the rest. Thank you!
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Community Advocates Public Policy Institute
Launches New E-Newsletter
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Want to learn more about Community Advocates' advocacy and policy work? Our Public Policy Institute is launching a new quarterly e-newsletter in September.
Insights
is a companion to our
Milwaukee Prevention Journal
and
Community Advocates Connections
and will be a valuable resource for anyone interested in addressing poverty, childhood risk factors, and substance abuse.
Subscribe here.
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August 29:
The Milwaukee County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition will mark International Overdose Awareness Day with a special outreach event at
Washington Park Wednesdays.
September 3:
Labor Day: All Community Advocates offices will be closed, but our 24/7 sites will remain open.
September 21:
Empowerment Coalition of Milwaukee Workshop, Special Topic: Utility Services & Energy Assistance; United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, 225 W. Vine St., Milwaukee, 9 a.m. to noon.
Register here
.
October 1:
Opening of the 2018-2019 Energy Assistance Heating Season. We'll send you details in our September e-newsletter.
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Community Advocates
2018 Board of Directors
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Leadership
President: Sheree Dallas Branch | Public Relations Consultant
Vice President: Jodi Wire | We Energies
Treasurer: Sandra Samse | Johnson Keland Management
Secretary: Bryan House | Foley & Lardner, LLP
Board Members
Marquette Baylor | Aurora Health Care
Timothy Charek | Community Volunteer
Anne DeLeo | Community Volunteer
Valerie Gabriel | Community Volunteer
Dr. Stephen Hargarten | Medical College of Wisconsin
Erin Henry | Northwestern Mutual
Betsy Hoylman | Northwestern Mutual
Gary Ingram | Igary Events
Moriah Iverson | Medical College of Wisconsin
Sharon Jordan | Direct Supply
Pamela Klein | Fresh Coast Partners, LLC
Jim Liedtke | Community Volunteer
Esther Shin | Urban Strategies
Kate Venne | Brady Corporation
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