Friends –

It’s hard to believe that almost half of 2025 is over. What a year! Although it’s been incredibly challenging, it’s also heartening to connect with partners and allies when times get tough. No matter what, we will find a way forward—always forward. To that end, the Public Policy Institute is offering opportunities to connect in our community, including a breakfast with suburban legislators, mental wellness trainings, and a panel discussion on how the housing landscape has changed since 2020, when the pandemic raised awareness of the importance of having a safe, stable, healthy place to come home to. Our housing panel discussion will be held on September 18—details to come—and is sponsored by the PPI Member Network. Our Members are generously supporting convenings on vital topics throughout the year. We’re grateful for their commitment to our work and invite you to join as individual or organizational Members. You’ll learn more throughout our newsletter.

Warmly,

Kari Southern

Deputy Director

Community Advocates Public Policy Institute

Our Engagement and Outreach team and RISE Drug Free MKE coalition members have been out and about in the community to share information and resources about substance misuse prevention and positive youth development.

You may have seen them at the Auer Avenue Community School Resource Fair, the Honoring the Heartbeat Mental Health and Wellness Powwow hosted by the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center, Inc., Hidden In Plain Sight by House of Kings and Priests at North Shore Health Department, Owen’s Place, PrideFest Milwaukee, Ronald Reagan High School’s Black Excellence multi-school conference, and Ronald Reagan High School’s Mental Health Fair. Next up: Milwaukee's Juneteenth Day Celebration on June 19. Stop by and say hi!

On April 1, our Stronger Families Milwaukee program completed three years of this impactful five-year prevention initiative. PPI partners with Neu-Life Community Development and The Parenting Network on this referral-based pilot program from the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. Working together, the Stronger Families team provides supportive case management services, peer support, and home visitation to alleviate the stress placed on parents so they can avoid formal CPS involvement. Last year, 46 families successfully completed the Stronger Families Milwaukee program and are better able to focus on the most important thing—having a healthy and loving family.

The Southwest Suburban Health Department, the Alliance for Wisconsin Youth, and Community Advocates Public Policy Institute are hosting a discussion designed to foster dialogue about challenges, resources, and solutions around mental health, substance abuse, and violence prevention. State Rep. Karen Kirsch, Rep. Priscilla Prado, and Rep. Angelito Tenorio will be featured. The gathering will be held on June 27 at West Allis-West Milwaukee Recreation Department, 2450 S. 68th St., West Allis, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Please register by Tuesday, June 24.

Jan Buchler didn’t set out to work for nonprofit organizations, but once she found herself in the field, she knew she’d found her purpose, not just in service, but in connection. From her early experiences as an undergraduate working with families at the Spanish Center to her decades of leadership in community based-organizations, Jan’s path has always been shaped by a belief in the power of showing up, learning from others, and building something stronger together. Jan’s work has never been about going it alone, it’s been about creating spaces where people come together to support one another, exchange ideas, and create opportunities to benefit others.

That commitment continues through her involvement with Community Advocates Public Policy Institute’s Membership Network, where she remains engaged in the heart of what drew her to this work in the first place: community.

When COVID hit in 2020, all levels of government stepped in with help for tenants and landlords who were struggling to pay their bills and stay safe at home. Now that robust rental assistance is fading out, many Milwaukee tenants are searching for resources to help them in a competitive housing market. Join this panel discussion of the evolution of policies and programs for tenants and landlords, including the Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center, celebrating its fifth anniversary this summer. This panel is organized by Community Advocates Public Policy Institute and is sponsored by the PPI Member Network. We’ll send registration information as we get closer to the date.

Community Advocates is celebrating the 45th anniversary of our Milwaukee Women’s Center (MWC) division with special events honoring past and present MWC staff, as well as the survivors who have courageously taken steps toward safety and stability.

Please join us at Direct Supply Innovation and Technology Center, 1020 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, on July 10 for an inspiring evening as we celebrate the Milwaukee Women’s Center’s 45-year legacy of safety, hope and healing.

The evening’s hosts are Direct Supply and Community Advocates Inc. and it’s co-chaired by Community Advocates Board Secretary Kate Venne and Board Treasurer Sandy Samse.

This special evening emceed by Alexandria Mack will feature a vibrant social hour (4:30 to 5:30 p.m.) with entertainment, handcrafted cocktails and mocktails by Mixed MKE, and a sumptuous grazing board and appetizers from Chef Deborah of Expressively Your Personal Chef Services.

An uplifting program (5:30-7:30 p.m.) will honor survivors of domestic violence and family homelessness as we look forward to the future of the Milwaukee Women’s Center. The event will conclude with a “Raise Hope” Fund-A-Need Live Appeal where your contributions will make a significant difference in the lives of those we serve.

This evening is made possible thanks to the generosity of our sponsors:

• Presenting Host: Direct Supply 
• Presenting Co-Sponsors: Foley & Lardner LLP and the House Family Foundation 
• Resilience Builder: J.A.M.E.S. 
• Healing Partner: We Energies and Bader Philanthropies 
• Hope Sponsor: Molly Maid and AF Technical Resources 
• Empowerment Ally: Greater Milwaukee Foundation, The Guest House, Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, Jim Schleif and Bill Morley, Signature Services Group, LLC, and Town Bank 
• Donated Goods and Services: Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, Total Wine & More 

Take some time out this summer to connect with fellow human services providers and community members seeking to learn more about mental wellness.

In July, we’re hosting the Empowerment Coalition of Milwaukee (ECOM) meeting on Adoption, Foster Care, Prenatal Services, and Parenting Support (July 16), QPR Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention Training (July 23), Adult Mental Health First Aid (July 29), and Verbal De-Escalation Techniques (July 30). You’ll find details on our website calendar.

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: Sharon Jordan | Direct Supply

Vice President: Natasha Dotson | Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative

Treasurer: Sandra Samse | BDO

Secretary: Kate Venne | Brady Corporation



Board Members

Nicole Angresano | Community Volunteer

Anne DeLeo | Community Volunteer

Valerie Gabriel | Community Volunteer

Bryan House | Foley & Lardner, LLP

Gary Ingram | Igary Events

Pamela Klein | Community Volunteer

Jim Liedtke | Community Volunteer

Jodi Wire | Community Volunteer

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