What if the place you call home was not a safe space and you lived in constant fear?

What if your spouse or significant other was abusive and caused you physical and emotional harm?

For many women and families in our community, these experiences are often the norm, not the exception.

A division of Community Advocates, the Milwaukee Women’s Center is a resource in our community dedicated to helping men, women, and children break the cycle of violence and find safety, support, and hope for the future.

Our holistic approach addresses each person’s unique experiences and needs through programs and services that are provided at no cost to the participant.

We are asking for your support in breaking that cycle of violence with a financial contribution. Your donation ensures that critical resources and assistance are always available.

And now, we’re excited to announce that several generous donors are so inspired by the impact of this campaign that they are encouraging us to reach higher, so they have challenged us to aim for $31,000 for our goal!

Your generous donation today will have double the impact. Every donation will be matched, up to $31,000.

Domestic violence remains a critical issue in Milwaukee, deeply affecting survivors, families, and the wider community.

On June 20, Community Advocates launched a new lunch and learn series, hosted by board members Bryan House and Pam Klein, elevating the topic and solutions. The event featured Dr. LaTrice Buck as the guest presenter, who shared her valuable expertise on risk factors and highlighted prevention and intervention strategies.

Dr. Buck is the founder of INSPIRE Consulting, an agency focused on counseling, educating, and training professionals on domestic violence, trauma, and substance abuse. She served as the Director of the Milwaukee Women’s Center for over seven years, providing services in areas related to elder, later life, domestic, and substance abuse, from prevention and treatment to management and program implementation. Attendees gained insights into the extensive support available for survivors, perpetrators, and their children through the Milwaukee Women’s Center, a division of Community Advocates, Inc.

Community Advocates' Milwaukee Women's Center welcomed country music singer/songwriter Steven Cade to Milwaukee in July. Bringing spiritual uplift and enduring melodies, Cade and the Giving Guitars Foundation left their Nashville mark on our community. Quite literally. As part of the foundation, Cade and his family have been traveling across the country performing original songs and donating guitars to shelters in each city. The Milwaukee Women's Center is the 108th shelter they've visited over the last few years and they have no plans to slow down. 

Community Advocates’ CEO Andi Elliott was recognized at the 11th annual BizTimes Nonprofit Excellence Awards as a finalist in the Nonprofit Executive of the Year category. We were in good company at the Italian Community Center as the ballroom filled with executives, board members, and staff for some of the most influential nonprofit organizations in our community. We would like to thank BizTimes Media for hosting the event and providing a space to salute nonprofit excellence in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.

We at Community Advocates are honored and thrilled to be chosen as a MANDI Award finalist in the BMO Cornerstone Award category! 

Presented by U.S. Bank, in partnership with LISC Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (known as the MANDIs) recognize excellence in community development.  

The 25th Annual MANDI Awards will be held on August 15 at the Baird Center. Stay tuned!

Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Health Services announced its newest Better Ways to Cope grantees, all of whom will tackle opioid misuse in their communities. Community Advocates Public Policy Institute is grateful to receive our second round of Better Ways to Cope prevention funding to expand the Escucha Tus Emociones initiative. In 2022, CA-PPI partnered with this bilingual Spanish/English multimedia initiative, led by trainer and therapist Ana Paula Soares, to create culturally affirming substance misuse prevention and mental wellness community workshops. With this new funding, facilitators will deepen their understanding of the opioid crisis on Latinx individuals and communities and learn how to integrate this knowledge into the Escucha Tus Emociones workshops. 

Summertime provides our staff with plenty of opportunities to get out and about in the community. In June and July, we attended these events:

• Juneteenth Day Celebration
• Seniorfest Day at Summerfest
• Garfield’s 502 Rhythm and Blues Street Festival
• Amani Neighborhood Pop-Ups
• PrideFest Milwaukee
• COA Youth and Family Centers Safe Summer Kickoff

When our downtown offices were closed to the public during the RNC convention, Community Advocates’ staff took advantage of the opportunity to come together in alternative settings to participate in professional development and wellness activities. At Concordia University, staff learned Mental Health First Aid from PPI Trainer Rita Liesiefsky, Healing Centered Practice from Zelia, LLC. and Healing Wellness Paint Sessions through Beloved Masterpieces LLC. At the Sherman Phoenix, staff learned personal safety techniques from EPU Personal Self Defense and cultivating team development from UnitedWI. We’re all looking forward to integrating these lessons and skills into our work in the community.

Community Advocates recognizes that people who live with Opioid Use Disorder and are in recovery need to live in a safe and stable home. To make that happen, we are providing Recovery Vouchers for up to six months of supportive housing for individuals and their families. To be eligible, the individual must be age 18 or older and have documentation of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) or receiving treatment to address OUD within the previous 12 months. In addition, the individual must have documentation of homelessness (Category 1, 2, 3, or 4).

To obtain a referral form, email Maudwella Kirkendoll.

The program is funded by the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration Division of Energy (DEHCR), Housing and Community Resources.

Milwaukee tenants and landlords can get help in person without an appointment.

Walk-ins are welcome at the Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center, located in Community Advocates' downtown offices at 728 N. James Lovell St., Milwaukee. The Triage Team will assess your situation and make referrals so you can get the help you need.

The RHRC is open to the public Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

You can also find available rentals in Milwaukee and surrounding areas on our website. We update the listings every week on our website and Facebook page.

Can you help Community Advocates and the Milwaukee Women's Center meet the needs of our program participants? We're currently seeking these items:

New items:

• Underwear for all ages, from toddlers to adults
• Twin sheet sets
• Socks, boys and girls, men and women
• Pillows
• Towels
• School supplies

Gently used items:

• Tennis shoes for boys, girls, men, and women
• Pots and pans, utensils, dishes, blankets, and other household items

If you are able to give, please reach out to Jeri at jkavanaugh@communityadvocates.net to coordinate delivery of your donation. Thank you!

You can get in touch with us in the following ways:

• Call: 414-270-2992
• Email: Contact Us
• Facebook: facebook.com/CommunityAdvocatesMilwaukee
• Milwaukee Women’s Center’s 24/7 Crisis Line: 414-671-6140
• Milwaukee County Energy Assistance Program: 414-270-4653 or KeepWarmMKE.org
• FSET at Community Advocates: 414-290-7700
• Rent HelpLine: renthelp@communityadvocates.net
• Bottomless Closet: 414-270-2984
• Emergency services after hours or on weekends: 2-1-1