Community Advocates
Connections
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Friends --
Summer is almost over! We hope that you can take time out from your end-of-season vacations or back-to-school prep to read our newsletter and consider getting involved in all that we do. Whether it's donating a pair of jeans or some school supplies, attending one of our drug take-back events, or joining the Nevermore Support Network, we'd love to welcome you to our community. Thank you so much for your support.
In gratitude,
Andi Elliott
Chief Executive Officer
Community Advocates
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Join the Nevermore Support Network
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Every day, Community Advocates'
Milwaukee Women’s Center
works to end the cycle of violence so that individuals, partners, families, and communities can experience a more peaceful future. One of our innovative programs is the
Nevermore Batterers Prevention and Intervention Program
, which works with men who have a history of violence in their relationships so that they can get at the root causes of their abusive behavior.
Last year, 216 men entered this six-month program to learn new behaviors and communications skills; go through one-on-one, couples, and group counseling; and begin to repair their relationships so they can be better partners and fathers.
Over the years we’ve seen remarkable successes with the Nevermore men. Many of them say that the Nevermore program allowed them to openly examine their personal hopes, history, and challenges for the first time in their lives. One Nevermore graduate told us,
"I came in as a follower and I left as a leader."
Another said,
"You guys always walked with me and supported me."
The Nevermore staff walk with and support these men every day. But they can’t do it alone.
We’re asking our community members to join the
Nevermore Support Network
and help these men to break the cycle of violence. It’s easy to do:
- Contribute to Nevermore: Nevermore never turns away anyone who wants to participate and we would love to reach more men who would benefit for this program. But it’s difficult to provide individualized services and support with limited funding. Consider donating to this valuable program and the men and families who truly depend on Nevermore.
Please join our
Nevermore Support Network
and be the advocates that these men typically never had in their lives. Thank you for being part of our community!
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First LGBTQ+ Youth Substance Use Prevention Summit
Inspired & Entertained
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On August 8, young LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies gathered at the Stackner Cabaret to learn about the benefits of living substance-free lives. The evening included an expert panel discussion, video presentations, a conversation about smoking, dinner, a resource fair, and a drag show. Organizers included the
53206 Drug-Free Communities Project
and the
City of Milwaukee Tobacco-Free Alliance
(both housed at Community Advocates Public Policy Institute), Safe & Sound’s 27th Street West Drug-Free Coalition, and the Milwaukee Rep.
Read more about it on PPI’s blog
.
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Community Advocates’ Leaders Honored
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Congratulations go out to Sheree Dallas Branch, our Board President, and Andi Elliott, our CEO! They were among those honored by
Milwaukee Community Journal
for their work in the community. Many Community Advocates and Milwaukee Women's Center staff were on hand to celebrate this very deserved recognition. Congratulations!
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Hello New Jeans/Goodbye Old Jeans
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Through September 9,
Maurices
will be collecting gently used jeans and donating them to the
Milwaukee Women’s Center’s
emergency shelter, part of the company’s
first-ever Denim Donation Drive
across the U.S. and Canada. Just take your jeans to a local Maurices and you’ll be passing them on to a neighbor who is surviving domestic violence or homelessness. You’ll also receive 25% off your total regular-priced purchases in stores on the day you donate. Thank you!
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Catching Up with Community Advocates Board Secretary
Bryan House
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Like many Milwaukeeans who can meet their needs, Bryan House didn't know much about Community Advocates because he didn’t use our services. But once he was introduced to our leadership and learned about our programming, he wanted to get involved.
House, a partner at Foley & Lardner LLP, had been volunteering with the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County when he was approached in 2011 to serve on Community Advocates’ board. At the time, Community Advocates had just acquired and renovated an old warehouse at 728 N. James Lovell St. in downtown Milwaukee to serve as our central offices, a "one-stop shop" that could meet the diverse needs of our community members, whether they needed help with their utilities bill, unstable housing, disability issues, or behavioral health.
"I didn't know a lot but I knew enough to know that it was something good for me to get involved in. I'd been involved in United Way for a long time but I wanted to dig a little deeper into a particular organization," House said.
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New Amani Drug Take-Back Event
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The
53206 Drug-Free Communities Project
, the
Milwaukee County Substance Abuse Prevention (MCSAP) coalition
(both housed at Community Advocates Public Policy Institute), Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, COA Youth & Family Centers, Friends of Moody Park, Milwaukee Police Department, and Safe & Sound are sponsoring the
first Amani Neighborhood Drug Take-Back Event
to mark International Overdose Awareness Day. Bring your unwanted medication to the Moody Park Pavilion, 2201 W. Auer Ave., Milwaukee, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 31. You’ll be able to get rid of medication you don’t need anymore, plus enjoy free food, fun, resources, information sharing, and the chance to save money on your We Energies bill. See you there!
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Interested in lending a helping hand to those in our care by donating or organizing an in-kind donation drive? Items needed on a regular basis include:
- School supplies (backpacks, notebooks, folders, pencils/pens, markers, crayons, rulers, calculators, etc.)
- Bath towels, hand towels, wash cloths
- Twin size sheet sets
- Feminine hygiene products
- Toiletries (deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bar soap, body wash, etc.)
- New underwear (men, women, and children's sizes)
- New socks (adult and children's sizes)
- Cleaning supplies (Windex, dish soap, paper towels, etc.)
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August 31:
The First Amani Neighborhood Drug Take-Back Event
to mark International Overdose Awareness Day will feature free food, entertainment, resources, and a chance to save money on your We Energies bill. Bring your unwanted medication to the Moody Park Pavilion, 2201 W. Auer Ave., Milwaukee, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
September 2:
Community Advocates’ offices will be closed to observe Labor Day, but our 24/7 sites will remain open.
September 4:
Home to Stay Reentry Resource Fair: Individuals and their families who have been touched by the justice system are encouraged to stop by this
monthly resource fair
.
It’ll be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 4, at Wisconsin Community Services, 3732 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee. It’s sponsored by the state Department of Workforce Development and the Milwaukee Community Justice Council.
September 12:
Community Advocates' Housing Advocates will be on hand at Aurora Family Service's annual neighborhood block party. Stop by Aurora Family Service, 3200 W. Highland Blvd., Milwaukee, between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. for free food, fun, entertainment, and resources.
September 13 & 24:
Alternatives to Opioids in Treating Acute and Chronic Pain: The Milwaukee County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (MCSAP) is sponsoring two workshops with Dr. Michael McNett for health care professionals. Physicians can earn continuing education credits, but nurses and other health care professionals are very welcome to attend. There is no cost to attend and lunch will be served.
Get details and RSVP at this link
.
September 20:
Empowerment Coalition of Milwaukee Workshop: ECOM’s September workshop is on energy assistance and utilities—just in time for the energy assistance benefits season. Cost is $5 for materials and refreshments.
Sign up here
.
October 1:
Milwaukee County Energy Assistance Benefits Season begins! We’ll provide details in our September newsletter.
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Community Advocates
2019 Board of Directors
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Leadership
President: Sheree Dallas Branch | The Salvation Army
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
Kate Venne | Brady Corporation
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