January 2020
Greetings!

Did you know Atlanta and Milwaukee are the only cities that have celebrated Dr. King’s Birthday annually since 1984? The Marcus Performing Arts Center will host The 36th Annual Dr. King Birthday celebration today from 1:00pm-3:00pm. Milwaukee Public Library also has lots of great programming. Milwaukee Film just released their Black History Month calendar . Hope you can make it to a community event!

Sue
Susan Conwell, JD
Executive Director
Answering the Call
I am an advocate for Milwaukee's children, with an office on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. I can't help thinking about the everyday heroes that I know --people who help Milwaukee's kids.

Who are these everyday heroes?

Some of them stand for youth by speaking up for them, just as Dr. King spoke up for the poor, the silent and disenfranchised of all ages. Our CASA volunteers are tireless advocates for youth and families. To me, this service is in the the spirit of Dr. King. 

Twenty thousand children in Milwaukee County are raised by people who are not their parents. Grandparents, older siblings, people from the neighborhood, foster parents - people who step in and answer the call. Like King, these folks are peaceful heroes. They give of themselves to create a loving, secure home for a child or youth in need. Most of these people had other dreams for their retirement or their youth. But they stepped up, deferring their own dreams, to make a place for a child. In the words of Dr. King, "Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." 

As America celebrates King's memory, let us also celebrate the service of the everyday heroes who answer the call. 

--Lance Jones
Coming Up: CASA Training
What's your New Year's Resolution? Would you like to make a difference in the life of a child? Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate!

Winter Training for CASA Volunteers-
Our training will be comprised of four evenings from 6 PM to 9 PM, one Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM, and a weekday morning courtroom observation at the Vel R. Phillips Juvenile Justice Center in Wauwatosa.  All classroom training sessions are held at the Kids Matter office near downtown Milwaukee.

Wednesday, January 29, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Wednesday, February 5, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Saturday, February 8, 9:00am to 3:00pm
Monday, February 10 – Friday, February 14 – courtroom observations scheduled
Wednesday, February 12, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Wednesday, February 19, 6:00pm to 9:00pm

We are accepting applications now! Background and reference checks and a personal interview are required for all volunteer applicants. Please call Nidhi Khare at 414-344-1220 or email us to sign up or if you have questions about future Kids Matter CASA training opportunities.
Human Trafficking Awareness Month
Did you know that according to the National Foster Youth Institute, 60% of domestic child sex trafficking victims have a history in the child welfare system? Youth are less vulnerable to trafficking when they have strong support systems and relationships with safe adults. You can make a difference by knowing the signs of trafficking and by developing positive relationships with youth.

Resources
Most child trafficking cases involve sex trafficking--and the mode of exploitation is evolving with technology. The New York Times' recent investigation on online child sex abuse material is a good place to start reading.
The Internet Is Overrun With Images of Child Sexual...

The images are horrific. Children, some just 3 or 4 years old, being sexually abused and in some cases tortured. Pictures of child sexual abuse have long been produced and shared to satisfy twisted adult obsessions. But it has never been like...

Read more
www.nytimes.com
Kids Matter Inc. Is Hiring
Join the team! Kids Matter is looking for passionate professionals and students to fill the following positions. If someone you know is interested, please share. Spanish speakers are strongly encouraged to apply! No calls please. Click the links below to download descriptions and application instructions.

Thanks Heart of Canal Street!
WOW! Congratulations to the  Potawatomi Hotel & Casino 's "Heart of Canal Street" program for raising nearly $1.2 million dollars in 2019. We are so honored to receive a generous gift to support our kids and families. Many thanks to the Heart of Canal Street Ambassadors and our families for making it such a great day!