Friends –

I’d like to invite you to close out the summer by participating in Healing Starts Today’s Rhythm and Soles 5K Walk/Run in Veterans Park, which is honoring International Overdose Awareness Day on Saturday, August 31. We at PPI and our RISE Drug Free MKE coalition are among the proud sponsors and hope that you will join us as we remember friends and loved ones lost to overdose, access resources, and spend time with community members who understand how it feels to be impacted by overdose. This is a day to remember, to heal, and to commit to preventing another overdose from stealing a loved one’s life. As always, thank you for your support and partnership as we create a healthier and safer community.

Kari Southern

Deputy Director

Community Advocates Public Policy Institute

In July, Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Health Services convened 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. The 18-month awards were provided by opioid settlement dollars and represents a significant investment in Milwaukee County’s community-based organizations.

It’s undeniably heartbreaking how many of us have been directly affected by overdose. According to the Center for Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics, there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2023. Of those fatal overdoses, 668 were in Milwaukee County.

To support those who have lost a loved one and those who want to prevent any overdoses in the future, PPI and the RISE Drug Free MKE coalition are providing opportunities for hope and healing this month.

You can find resources about overdose prevention on RISE Drug Free MKE’s website, as well as stop by Community Advocates’ offices at 728 N. James Lovell St., Milwaukee, where we host a Harm Reduction Vending Machine that offers Narcan, fentanyl test strips, medication lock boxes, and more. Every item is available free of charge, no questions asked.

We’re also proud to support Healing Starts Today’s Rhythm and Soles 5K Walk/Run honoring International Overdose Awareness Day at Veterans Park on August 31. This event is a special time for remembrance without stigma and to honor the experiences of family, friends, and survivors of overdose. Activities include a 5K Walk/Run, yoga and meditation, free food and music, tributes, resources, kids’ activities, and much more. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. We hope you can share this healing space with us and find hope.

Members of Community Advocates’ Prevention Team were grateful to attend the 23rd Annual CADCA Mid-Year Training Institute in Chicago in July. Our team enhanced their skills around substance misuse prevention through community-led coalitions. They are bringing their insights back to work in their coalitions, RISE Drug Free MKE, City of Milwaukee Tobacco-Free Alliance, and the 53206 Drug Free Communities Project. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with advocates from around the globe who share our common goal of preventing and reducing substance misuse. We are proud to play a role in supporting healthy, drug-free communities in Milwaukee County.

We're happy to highlight the Bay View Community Center (BVCC), one of the founding members of the PPI Network. The BVCC, located at 1320 E. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee, offers a wide variety of services and programs for community members beyond its Bay View neighborhood, including ESL classes, Mahjong, Bingo, health screenings, and low-impact exercise.

The BVCC’s Family Resource Center provides enriching and fun activities for families, beginning with an Expecting Parents Group and a First Year Circle for new parents of infants as young as six weeks, as well as a dad’s group, Parent Cafés, a teen group, storytime, and more. Many of its programs are available in English and Spanish and are available at no cost.

In addition, the BVCC also hosts a Food Pantry to serve those living in the 53207, 53215, 53221, and 53235 Zip codes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The BVCC recently upgraded its pantry facility and offers shelf-table and fresh food to meet the need of its community members. Its customers shop at the Center to choose their food, which improves their experience and reduces food waste. The pantry has experienced a surge in traffic during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and in July 2024 it served 1,465 people—its most individuals in a month, ever.

On Saturday, September 7, the Lutheran Chapel of the Cross is organizing the 18th Annual Food Walk to benefit the BVCC's Emergency Food Pantry. You can donate or register for the walk here.

Photo (L-R): BVCC Director of Family Learning & Community Engagement Diana Billstrom and President & CEO Mike Mortell

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

• Juneteenth Day Celebration
• Garfield’s 502 Rhythm and Blues Street Festival
• Amani Neighborhood Pop-Ups
• PrideFest Milwaukee
• COA Youth and Family Centers Safe Summer Kickoff
• Milwaukee Health Department Back to School Health Fair
• 4th Annual Rooted & Rising Back to School PopUp
• Discover Wellness
• Puerto Rican Fest

VitalCog trains organizations to proactively address the early warning signs of suicide in the workplace.

This two-hour training gives participants the skills and tools to appreciate the critical need for suicide prevention while creating a forum for dialogue and critical thinking about workplace mental health challenges, and by promoting help-seeking and help-giving. 

VitalCog workshops are best conducted in the workplace for groups of 7 to 25, with human resources staff present to discuss available services for employees. 

To learn more and schedule a training, email Rita Liesiefsky.

Your generous gift will allow us to continue to provide effective and innovative programs and services to thousands of community members.

We appreciate your support!

Leadership

President: Bryan House | Foley & Lardner, LLP

Vice President: Sharon Jordan | Direct Supply

Treasurer: Sandra Samse | BDO

Secretary: Natasha Dotson | Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative

Board Members

Nicole Angresano | Community Volunteer

Anne DeLeo | Community Volunteer

Valerie Gabriel | Community Volunteer

Gary Ingram | Igary Events

Pamela Klein | Community Volunteer

Jim Liedtke | Community Volunteer

Kate Venne | Brady Corporation

Jodi Wire | Community Volunteer

Kari Southern | Community Advocates Public Policy Institute | 414-270-2950 | ksouthern@communityadvocates.net | ppi.communityadvocates.net