Winter 2018

Public Policy Institute Insights

Friends -- As the Public Policy Institute closes out our first decade and a New Year is upon us, we're resolving to provide more innovative policy and programs that everyone can rally around in 2019. It's been an honor to work with you to improve the lives of our community members who are impacted by poverty and we're excited about what we can achieve together in the future. On behalf of everyone at PPI, thank you for your support, encouragement, and generosity. Happy Holidays -- Kari Lerch Deputy Director Community Advocates Public Policy Institute

Milwaukee Transitional Jobs Programs Celebrated

This month, Milwaukee's Transitional Jobs programs celebrated their achievements and said farewell and thank you to Secretary of Children and Families Eloise Anderson, who championed Transitional Jobs as a way to preserve families and provide a path to employment for eager men seeking work. On December 6, the 30-member Milwaukee Transitional Jobs Collaborative was presented with the Rev. Herbert Huebschmann Urban Ministry Award at the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee’s 48th Annual Luncheon. The Interfaith Conference recognized the Collaborative "for providing pathways to self-reliance and dignity for thousands of people in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin who face impediments to employment, including many with prison records, by advocating for publicly subsidized transitional jobs that lead to non-subsidized employment." The Collaborative also celebrated its successes at its December 11 gathering hosted by the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County. "We have a particular Achilles heel in Milwaukee," said the Public Policy Institute's Conor Williams, who facilitates the Collaborative. "There are too many people disconnected from work." Read more on our blog

Healthy Housing Initiative Builds a Solid Foundation in Its First Year

As the first year of the five-year Healthy Housing Initiative draws to a close, the project itself is heating up. Launched in January 2018, the initiative aims to address housing concerns to improve the health and well-being of residents. The initiative is breaking new ground in housing policy by combining the insights of PPI's researchers, academic partners from UW-Madison, diverse community partners, and the years of experience of Community Advocates' Housing Department.

With the guidance of Human Impact Partners , the initiative's advisory committee has been narrowing down its issue priorities, holding focus groups with tenants to learn their top concerns, and reaching out to the community. In October, UW-Madison School of Social Work organized a preview of the project for its alums in Milwaukee, featuring PPI's Mike Bare, HHI's program director; UW-Madison School of Social Work's Marah Curtis; and researcher Yaidi Cancel Martinez. In December, PPI's Senior Policy Advocate Julie Kerksick, City of Milwaukee Tobacco-Free Alliance Coordinator Anneke Mohr, and Community Advocates Housing Department Manager Shawanna Lindenberg discussed the intersection of housing policy and health with the Wisconsin Population Health Service Fellowship Program fellows. We're looking forward to expanding the Healthy Housing Initiative's reach in 2019 and making an impact on our community. [Photos: Top: Mike Bare & Marah Curtis; Bottom: Julie Kerksick, Shawanna Lindenberg & Anneke Mohr speaking with Wisconsin Population Health Service Fellowship Program fellows]

Local Smoke-Free Efforts Recognized

Smoke-free advocates presented their work to local and state leaders on November 17 as part of the "Unequal Killer: A Legislative Breakfast" sponsored by the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center. At "Unequal Killer," the advocates spoke about their successes in 2018, recognized local champions, and heard responses from elected officials. FACT youth advocates also led the group to promise "not in my community" when presented with facts about tobacco. Throughout 2018, advocates confirmed that young people, communities of color, low-income individuals, and the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to be exposed to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and cheap cigarillos, as well as their marketing and advertising, and therefore disproportionately bear the burden of tobacco and nicotine addiction and exposure. "Having concrete evidence of what we have suspected -- that tobacco companies prey on communities of color and youth -- is a rallying call for us all to take action. We can no longer accept what we cannot change. We must change what we cannot accept," said PPI's Anneke Mohr, City of Milwaukee Tobacco-Free Alliance Coordinator . Get the rest of the story on our blog

Want to learn more? Listen to WUWM’s Lake Effect interview with City of Milwaukee Tobacco-Free Alliance's Anneke Mohr and Wisconsin African-American Tobacco Prevention Network's Lorraine Lathen on the increase of vaping among teens.

Sometimes the Season is the Reason

Although the holidays can be a joyous time, the season can also increase stress and unhealthy behaviors and emotions. The Milwaukee County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (MCSAP), which is coordinated by the Public Policy Institute 's Kasaundra Brown , asks all of us to "be known to someone" who may be struggling right now. The coalition released their holiday PSA to encourage individuals to reach out to others during the holiday season.

See You at Fiserv Forum

The Milwaukee County Substance Abuse Prevention (MCSAP) coalition is distributing Dose of Reality materials and information at select Marquette University men's basketball games. You can meet MCSAP members and learn about preventing substance abuse while cheering on the team at Fiserv Forum. Stop by the MCSAP resource table at these games in 2019: January 12: Marquette vs. Seton Hall January 20: Marquette vs. Providence January 23: Marquette vs. DePaul February 9: Marquette vs. Villanova February 20: Marquette vs. Butler March 3: Marquette vs. Creighton March 9: Marquette vs. Georgetown (Senior Day) This is the third season that MCSAP has partnered with   Learfield ,  Marquette University Men's Basketball , the  Partnership for Success ,   Dose of Reality , and the   Marquette Police Department   to host this multifaceted campaign to warn of the dangers of prescription drug misuse.

Our Best Wishes to You

Community Advocates 2018 Board of Directors

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 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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Lisa Kaiser | Community Advocates Public Policy Institute | 414-270-2999  | lkaiser@communityadvocates.net | ppi.communityadvocates.net

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