Friends –

As we come to the close of the year, we want to sincerely thank you for your continued collaboration, generosity, and shared commitment to improving the health, wellness, and self-sufficiency of our community. We at PPI are deeply grateful for the time and expertise you bring to our partnership, and for the impact we are able to make together as a result. During this holiday season, we hope you find moments of joy with those you care about most. We wish you a warm and happy holiday season and a New Year filled with health, hope, and continued success.

Happy Holidays!

The Community Advocates Public Policy Institute Staff

In October, we said a bittersweet farewell to Kari Southern, PPI’s longtime deputy director, who is continuing her passion to serve our community at another local nonprofit. Kari began her career as an intern at Community Advocates and steadily grew over the decades. She played a large role in establishing Community Advocates as a leader in the prevention sphere and as a trusted community partner. We’re grateful for her many years of impact at Community Advocates. During this transition time, please reach out to Community Advocates COO Maudwella Kirkendoll with any questions. 

In November, Community Advocates organized a presentation by David Riemer, Senior Fellow at our Public Policy Institute, that explored how a work-based policy package can greatly increase employment, earnings, and income, thus ensuring workers’ and retirees’ economic security and expanding the middle class. The Greater Milwaukee Foundation was the gracious host of the presentation.

We also grateful for the co-sponsors of the data analysis conducted by the Urban Institute that led to "A Roadmap for Ensuring Workers’ Economic Security and Expanding the Middle Class"--the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Herb Kohl Philanthropies, and Brad Brin.

Missed it? You can watch the video presentation, download the slide deck, and read the report on our website.

Want to make a bigger impact in Milwaukee? Have a hand in developing policy proposals? Engage fellow advocates and service providers who live their core values every day? Please join the PPI Members Network, a growing collaborative of Milwaukee change-makers and leaders. In 2026, we’re seeking to grow the network, provide more educational opportunities, and lift up our community.

If you want to get through the holiday season and greet 2026 in peak shape, the RISE Drug Free MKE community coalition, organized by PPI, is offering encouragement and support for those who want to make this a December to remember. In partnership with 2-Story, the RISE coalition has created an online campaign to promote safe celebrations during the holidays that will get you into your flow state.

Community Advocates and the RISE Drug Free MKE coalition are proud to be a resource and site for distributing harm reduction supplies through the Milwaukee County Department of Health & Human Services Harm Reduction Vending Machine initiative.

Between October 2024 and September 2025, the vending machine in Community Advocates’ lobby disbursed 2,962 harm reduction supplies, including:

• 690 dual test strip kits
• 887 gun locks
• 310 medication deactivation bags
• 260 medication lock bags
• 815 Narcan



Stop by Community Advocates, 728 N. James Lovell St., Milwaukee, to pick up your harm reduction supplies during regular weekday business hours, no questions asked.

On December 5, Gov. Tony Evers vetoed a bill that would have weakened Wisconsin's current clean indoor air protections and degraded decades of progress in both reducing exposure to secondhand smoke and preventing commercial tobacco use. 

The proposed legislation would have increased the number of places that could allow indoor smoking of cigars, brown cigarettes, hookah or pipe tobacco products allowing any bar that meets the 15% sales threshold to become a tobacco bar.



For 15 years, Wisconsin residents have enjoyed the protections of our smoke-free law, the result of tireless advocacy by diverse and highly engaged groups, including the City of Milwaukee Tobacco Free Alliance, organized by PPI. The Alliance and our partners will continue to speak up for policies that support good health, clean air, and enhanced safety.

Escucha Tus Emociones celebrated its fifth anniversary earlier this month by gathering for a celebration that honored a remarkable group of people who completed their Peer Support Specialist and Breathwork certifications in Spanish while also commemorating the anniversary of the program that made their achievements possible. PPI has been a proud partner in this initiative since 2022.

Surrounded by community, mentors, and loved ones, the graduates, staff, and supporters were recognized for their dedication, resilience, and commitment to healing—both their own and that of others. The event reflected the heart of the Escucha Tus Emociones model: connection, advancement, and compassion, celebrating not only new credentials earned but five years of growth, impact, and collective healing.  



Special thank you to our team members Cecilia Tenorio and chalchi kardos plus Escucha leader Ana Paula Soares for their hard work and dedication to making it happen! Escucha is supported by Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services’ Better Ways to Cope grant and additional funders.

The Empowerment Coalition of Milwaukee (ECOM) is a monthly gathering that aims to bring together social service professionals and advocates to network, share resources, and develop their professional skills. January’s topic is housing. The session will be held in person from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon at Community Advocates, 728 N. James Lovell St., Milwaukee. Fee is $5 for light refreshments and materials and can be paid via credit card. Kindly make sure to RSVP by Friday, January 16. See you soon!

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 USA, PC

Secretary: Kate Venne | Brady Corporation



Board Members

Nicole Angresano | The Ability Center

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

Community Advocates Public Policy Institute

prevention@communityadvocates.net | ppi.communityadvocates.net