A FUNDRAISER TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN MILWAUKEE’S AMANI NEIGHBORHOOD
BRUNCH | ENTERTAINMENT | AWARDS
WELCOME TO GREEN & GROWING 2024 CHECK-IN • RAFFLE • SILENT AUCTION (closes at 1:30pm) PHOTO BOOTH • CASH BAR WITH SIGNATURE COCKTAILS • APPETIZERS BRUNCH IS SERVED (12:25pm) LIBATIONS CEREMONY Iyalosha Adekola Adedapo • African Spirituality Circle INVOCATION Sr. Patricia Rogers, OP • Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa EMCEE Sydni Eure • TMJ4 ENTERTAINMENT All Saints Gospel Choir AWARDS Presesented by Audra Brennan • Northwestern Mutual HONOREES Mitchelle Lyle • Amani United • Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Ellen Gilligan ULTRA SHORTS Shannon Sloan-Spice • Ex Fabula GIFTS OF LOVE • RAFFLE DRAWING
VIDEOGRAPHERS Chris Siegel Multi Media , https://www.chrissiegelmm.com Palante Visuals , https://vimeo.com/palante India Lock , Marquette University
GREEN & GROWING EVENT COMMITTEE Maricha Harris, DC Executive Director, Chair Amanda Clark, DC Housing Coordinator Christina Chronister, DC Communication Manager India Lock, DC Intern, Marquette University
EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER Dan Herda Photography , https://www.danherdaphoto.com
THANK YOU TO OUR PRESENTING SPONSOR
Northwestern Mutual serves more than 4.9 million clients and was voted No. 1 best life insurance company. Find out more at https://www.northwesternmutual.com. The North- western Mutual Foundation believes in a vibrant and diverse Milwaukee and is committed to improving education and revitalizing our neighborhoods. The Foundation has invested more than $28 million to Milwaukee through our neighborhoods, education and volunteer- ing efforts. Find out more at https://www.northwesternmutual-foundation.com
THANK YOU TO OUR GOLD SPONSOR
Connie and John give generously to several local non-profit orga- nizations that support the arts, neighborhood safety in Milwau- kee and community revitalization. Connie Kordsmeier is currently the President of the Dominican Center Board and has been on the Board since 2016. She has also chaired the Event Planning Committee and the fundraising luncheon since 2018.
THANK YOU TO OUR SILVER SPONSORS
Greater Milwaukee Foundation is a partner in philanthropy. Nearly 700 supporters make up the fastest growing sectors of philanthropy and can be found in just about every area. The community foundation is made up of thousands of charitable funds, each created by donors. For more information, visit www. greatermilwaukeefoundation.org
AARP Wisconsin is here to help you take on today – and every day. From sharing prac- tical resources, to holding fun activities and events, AARP is providing opportunities to connect and help build an even stronger Wisconsin for all ages to live, work and play. For more information, visit states.aarp.org/wisconsin/
We Energies supports initiatives for community and neighbor- hood development, health and human services, arts and culture, education and environment. The company matches its employ- ees’ charitable giving and holds a yearly giving campaign. For more, visit https://www.wecen- ergygroup.com/community/ we-energies-community.htm
THANK YOU TO OUR UNDERWRITERS
AND OUR VIDEO SUPPORT
INDIA LOCK DC Intern, Marquette University
Luncheon Menu SERVED BY WISCONSIN CLUB’S SCRATCH KITCHEN
APPETIZERS Enjoy a variety of delicious H’orderves before our meal
SIGNATURE COCKTAILS Celebrate the occasion with DC themed cocktails from the cash bar
The Anchor Fresh sangria with fruit
United Fashioned A classic Wisconsin Old Fashioned
FRENCH TOAST GRAND MARNIER Thick cut Brioche dipped in Grand Marnier egg batter with vanilla and cinnamon. Served with maple syrup, strawberry butter, country pork sausage and eggs
CARAMEL CUPCAKE Enjoy a take-home favor, a homemade caramel cupcake from Jacque’s HeavenlyTreats
Browse & Bid Our Auction! BID ON THESE ITEMS AND MORE! ALL PROCEEDS SUPPORT AMANI RESIDENTS. ONLINE AUCTION CLOSES AT 1:30PM https://DominicanCenter.givesmart.com
OUR HISTORY The Dominican Center was founded in 1995 by Sinsinawa Dominicans Sr. Ann Halloran, OP, and Sr. Anne-Marie Doyle, OP, as a holistic approach to education and women’s programs in the Amani neighborhood. In 2012, the Obama administration launched the Building Neighborhood Capacity Program (BNCP) to catalyze community-driven change in neighborhoods that have historically faced barriers to revitalization (including poverty and underlying critical issues of educa- tion, employment, housing, health and safety).Through the BNCP, the Dominican Center was designated as the neighborhood partner, or “anchor” for the neighborhood, to sup- port resident decision-making and involvement in the program. Over the past 25 years, the role of the Dominican Center has shifted from an organization that provides services to one that also convenes partners together with residents in sup- port of its priority areas of safety; housing and economic development; and education and family well-being. OUR MISSION Dominican Center works with Amani residents and partners to build a better future. OUR APPROACH People’s lives are powerfully shaped by the neighborhoods in which they live. The Domin- ican Center believes Amani residents are closest to the solutions needed to revitalize the neighborhood. But they can’t do it alone. We are all interconnected and impacted by the challenges faced in the Amani neighborhood. Our work supports resident-led efforts to create positive social change, and we need your help to achieve our vision. Serving Amani Since 1995 DC serves as both neighborhood convener and the community anchor for the White House Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, Building Neighborhood Capacity Program and is the lead community partner for the US Department of Justice’s Innovations of Community Based Crime Reduction grant for Amani
Amani Sankofa Honoring DC award winners with an art piece representing Amani: “A neighborhood with a rich history and a thriving future”
mani means peace in the Swahili language. Together, residents and partners are working to bring peace back to the Amani neighborhood. This work of art, which was created by an artist who was raised in Amani, represents a reflection of Amani’s past and our collective aspirations for Amani’s future. The street is a one-point perspective of the block that the artist – Allison Westbrook – grew up on. It is from the perspective of a person standing in the middle of the street looking towards the future. This viewpoint represents the future aspirations that we are working to achieve.
“go back and get it.” This symbolism reflects our aspiration that, one day, Amani will once again be a thriving neighborhood. Centered in the path is a familial representa- tion of the people who call the Amani neigh- borhood home – the residents who represent generations. They are centered because they are at the heart of our work. There is a radi- ant light surrounding the family, and they are walking down the path towards our future. This underscores our aspiration that, one day, the families in Amani will once again thrive. In the years to come, we will be able to pro- claim, “Amani is a thriving neighborhood of
choice because together we have helped restore the community.”
The Amani neighborhood was once thriving. Residents were employed and owned their homes. When Milwau- kee’s manufacturing fortune waned in the 60’s, the neigh- borhood started to decline. The housing and mortgage crisis of 2008 further dis- tressed the neighborhood. The black swans located on the street represent this history while also depicting
About the Artist Allison Westbrook was born and raised on Milwaukee’s North side within the Amani neighborhood. He and his family lived in the shadow of the old A.O. Smith factory. The street view in this work of art is the actual block Allison grew up on. As a
our hope for the future. In short, the black swans symbolize an unpredictable or unfore- seen event, usually one with extreme conse- quences. This representation acknowledges the decades of divestment and marginalizing systems that contribute to today’s chal- lenges. Moreover, the birds are craning their necks back and eating eggs in the style of the Andinkra symbol, Sankofa, which means to
kid (the second youngest of nine) art was his way of making sense of the world; it fed his curiosity and gave him the confidence to be challenged by new ideas and it helped shine a light on the dark around him. As an adult, he is even more thankful for this gift because it aids in finding the metaphors in this ever more complex world when things seem to make no sense at all.
IN THE SPIRIT OF THE FOUNDERS AWARD WINNER ‘Getting Involved with Intention’ Amani resident Mitchelle Lyle is growing a future for Amani youth in Amani with Hydroponics STEM Program
Each year the Dominican Center honors one indi- vidual or organization for our “In the Spirit of the Founders Award,” which recognizes those whose work and service in the Amani neighborhood aligns with that of our founders, the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa. This year we are honoring Mitchelle Lyle, a longtime Amani resident work- ing to grow a green future for kids in Amani. Like DC’s founding sisters, Mitchelle saw a need in her community and is working to fill it. She created a hydroponics education program that helps promote and provide immediate access to fresh produce in food insecure zones like the Amani neighborhood. The program kicked off in the summer of 2023 at Dominican Center with 16 participants. Students learned agricul- tural education, black agricultural history, the components and functionality of hydroponics and basic botany. The program will grow in size in 2024 and will dig deeper. “Amani is one of Milwaukee’s 13 food insecure zones and the im- pact is evident in poor health indicators, which in some cases are almost twice as high as the city’s average,” Mitchelle said. “As the program develops, I want to double down on and sup- port the youth and their journey to a healthy
lifestyle. This opportunity opens so many doors for them to make positive impact where it mat- ters most – in themselves.” Her work towards her growing goals start- ed long before she became an engineer or a successful entrepreneur. “I have some of the fondest memories of being able to pick my own snack from my grandmother’s garden,” said Mitchelle. “It was so special, and I kept that habit of choosing a healthy snack with me into adulthood. When I had a soil garden, I allowed my nieces and nephews to pick what they wanted as well. It’s an informal family tradition!” Michelle has been connected to DC since child- hood as well, but she reconnected as an adult through her volunteer work at the Center and her involvement in the Block by Block initiative. “This is when I was reminded of the Domini- can Center and all they did. I met the staff who were so warm and welcoming. That turned into attending the monthly meetings, to volunteer- ing for neighborhood clean ups, to just being involved as much as possible, whether I was asked or not. Really a snowball effect of getting involved with intention,” she said.
IN THE SPIRIT OF THE FOUNDERS AWARD WINNER Amani United Key in Revitalization The neighborhood resident group partners closely with Dominican Center to build a better future
Each year the Dominican Center honors one individual or organization for our “In the Spirit of the Founders Award,” which recognizes those whose work and service in the Amani neigh- borhood aligns with that of our founders, the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa. This year we are honoring Amani United, a diverse group of Amani residents determined to move forward toward a healthy and sustainable community. Amani United was formed as a response to the Building Neighborhood Capacity Program as part of the White House’s Revitalization Initiative. The organization was created to foster more resident involvement in Amani. The BNCP project provid- ed a catalyst for the advancement of community groups in Amani. From its early days, Dominican Center encouraged all residents to join its First Saturday Meeting that meets monthly to address and see solutions to neighborhood issues. Amani United also serves as an incubator for community leadership. In its first year, Amani United saw 30 sustaining members and more than 700 residents participated in Amani Unit- ed activities. Since it’s inception, Amani United has grown and now serves their neighbors with
29 Block Ambassadors, committee chairs and officers. In 2023, 1,667 residents were engaged in meetings and events. One of the first Amani United projects was the revitalization of Moody Park. In 2002 the Moody Park pool was closed, and the park became a public nuisance and crime site. For years local organizations and elected officials worked to restore the park to no avail. The newly formed Amani United, supported by Dominican Center and COA, worked collectively and collaborative- ly to reopen Moody Park. Construction started in March 2015 and the park re-opening was Aug. 20, 2015. The Dominican Center, Amani United and Friends of Moody Park organized the opening event. In the summer of 2021 there was a community effort led by Elizabeth Brown, the chair for the Friends of Moody Park, and Active Co. to revitalize the basketball courts. Artist Jamahl Turner, found- er of Art Fu Yung, created the community-mind- ed design and volunteers from the community helped paint the court. In 2023, Amani United led the way for the revitalization and re-naming of Al Jarreau Park, formerly Cawker Park.
CONTINUING THE LEGACY AWARD WINNER GMF is Continuing the Legacy DC honors the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and retiring President Ellen M. Gilligan, who has lead since 2010
Each year the Dominican Center honors one indi- vidual or organization for our “Continuing the Leg- acy Award,” which recognizes those helping us carry our Mission into the future. This year we are honoring The Greater Milwaukee Foundation and honoring its retiring president, Ellen M. Gilligan. As Wisconsin’s largest community foundation, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation is how Milwau- kee works together. Alongside generous donors, nonprofits and cross-sector partners throughout the region, the Foundation is reimagining philan- thropy, catalyzing systems change, convening and following community voice, and building inclusive culture to transform our region into a Milwaukee for all. Since being established in 1915, the Foundation has awarded more than $1 billion in grants supporting a wide variety of nonprofits and initiatives that enhance the quality of life in greater Milwaukee and beyond. The Greater Milwaukee Foundation was part of the first wave of community foundations first introduced by Oliver C. Fuller in 1915, and part of a movement that transformed philanthropy. By local citizens pooling together their assets in a local foundation, they were able to maximize their ability to address pressing local needs and plan for the future.
GMF has been working with Dominican Center in the Amani neighborhood for many years. In- cluding the most recent award, which will help DC in creating a community peace garden and beautification of 26th Street, and community art that will likely be focused on 25th Street and 26th Street. It will also allow DC to purchase a plater to put in the traffic circle at 25th and Lo- cust to further help curb reckless driving in the intersection and prevent future damage to the traffic circle. As President and CEO since 2010, Ellen has amplified the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s role as a leader, convener and catalyst, bringing community together around a shared vision for a vibrant region. She has advanced a new era at the Foundation where racial equity and inclusion is the North Star that guides decision-making, investment and action across the organization. Her tenure has been marked by growth, collab- oration and a deep commitment to strategies that foster access to opportunity, strengthen the community and improve lives. The Founda- tion’s generational commitment to racial equity and inclusion reflects Ellen’s values, as do the innovative programs, practices and partnerships brought to life under her leadership.
GREEN & GROWING EMCEE Welcome Emcee Sydni Eure TMJ4 reporter joined Milwaukee’s TMJ4 News as a multi-media journalist in July 2023
Before coming to Milwaukee, she worked as a nightside general assignment Reporter in Buffalo, New York. She treasured her time in Buffalo and the opportunity to serve “the City of Good Neighbors.” Sydni had the honor to experience and share stories of the city’s resilience and strength one year after it lost 10 of its neighbors and friends in the Buffalo Mass Shooting on May 14, 2022. Sydni carries that same care, empathy and appreciation for community with her to Mil- waukee. She is now the Morning Reporter on the TMJ4 News Today team. You can find her bright and early in the field connecting with people like you! Sydni is a Syracuse, New York native. She grad- uated from Onondaga Community College with an Associates of Applied Science Degree in Electronic Media Communication before transferring on to SUNY Oswego where she received a Bachelors of Arts in Broadcasting
and Mass Communication. She went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Broadcast and Dig- ital Journalism with a Sports Media Concentra- tion from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. When Sydni isn’t reporting you can find her singing on the worship team at her new church home - Evolve Church on Milwaukee’s north side. Sydni plays guitar, writes songs and you can even find her music on your streaming platforms. You may even run into her at your favorite basketball, kickball or vol- leyball league all year round. Milwaukee was an easy place for Sydni to fall in love with. She looks forward to meeting and sharing the stories that matter most to you in the years to come. Sydni has an everlasting passion for diversi- ty, inclusion and representation. If you think you have a story idea, please contact her on Facebook or Twitter. You can also email her at sydni.eure@tmj4.com
GREEN & GROWING LIBATIONS Iyalosha Adekola Adedapo Starting off Green & Growing The community activist, actor, storyteller and jazz vocalist has 55 years experience in performing arts
Iyalosha Adekola Adedapo, a native of Chicago, has a fifty-five year long career in performing arts. She is also a community activist. All during high school and into college she took up the causes of underprivileged and underrepresented people of color with emphasis on her own African American communities. She adopted an African persona during her college years that carried into her life- time mission of preserving and promulgating Af- rican (West Africa – Nago/Yoruba people) culture and indigenous African religions. She was initiated to Shango (k’owo) in 1977 in Oyotunji, South Car- olina and became Iyanifa, Omo Awo Ifa, in 2017 through Fasina Folade and IyaIfatola Adesanya. Through all of her community activism and com- munity building, she became a renowned actor, storyteller, and jazz vocalist and has notoriety in Chicago and Milwaukee. She has worked with the following theatrical com- panies: A.L.E.C., Theater X, Renaissance Theater Company, Milwaukee Public Theater (MPT), The Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Cham- ber Theater, The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (A.C.E.), Ko-Thi Dance Company, Hotel Milwau-
kee (Radio Theater) and ETA Theater Company in Chicago, IL. She is an acclaimed jazz vocalist in Milwaukee and Chicago. She has also produced, directed and written numerous plays for children through MPT, the Inner city Arts Council and the African American Children’s Theater. After 17 years as a reading specialist at Lloyd Street Global Elementary School, she achieved her BA in Community Leadership Development in 2010 and a master’s degree in Professional Development /Adult Education in 2021 from Alverno College where she worked as the Mul- ticultural Program Coordinator since October 2011 until her recent retirement. She frequently uses her microphone time to inform the public of values and the necessity or working with our youth, especially how to use the arts to inform and engage them. She has reputation at Alver- no College as a community builder by creating alumni “affinity” groups for the African American and Latinx communities through her coordina- tion of the rites of passage ceremonies at Alver- no for graduates. Bestowing of the Kente is in its 28th year and Latina con Fuerza is in its fifth year.
GREEN & GROWING COMMITTEE CHAIR Maricha Harris Sees Resilience, Strength & Beauty in Amani Mission and work of Dominican Center are personal for Milwaukee native and DC Executive Director
Maricha Harris has led Dominican Center as executive director since September 2021. In her time here, she has focused on expanding the capac- ity of Dominican Center and Amani United, the neighborhood organiza- tion that we work in tandem with. She has also strengthened existing rela- tionships and forged new relationships with residents, partners and support- ers. She works daily to serve the peo- ple of Amani and carry on the Mission of Dominican Center. Harris, who grew up in Milwaukee, sees this opportunity to serve her community – where she grew, studied and worked – and to progress change. “This is a full circle moment for me. Growing up, I lived in neighborhoods
that faced significant challenges. And while I remember those challenges, I also remember resilience, strength and the beauty that lives within our neighborhoods,” she said. “There are so many assets in our community – right here in Amani and 53206.” Harris has previously worked at Safe & Sound, where she managed day-to- day operations; Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin; Milwaukee Public Schools, Silver Spring Neighbor- hood Center; Trini-Dad’s Child De- velopment Center and as a Licensed Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty. “Throughout my progressive career, I have leveraged my communications, relationship building and leadership skills to achieve results,” said Harris.
GREEN & GROWING SPEAKER Working to Strengthen Amani Audra Brennan works with the Northwestern Mutual Foundation to provide support for resident-led change
Dominican Center believes in the power of collaboration, and we could not do the work we do in Amani without the support of Northwestern Mutual and we could not celebrate this work without their generous Presenting Sponsorship for this event. On behalf of the organization, Au- dra Brennan will present today’s awards. Brennan has nearly 25 years of non-profit and public policy experience at the fed- eral, state and local level. Audra currently serves as the Senior Director of Strategic Philanthropy for the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, which provides more than $20 million annually to strengthen com- munities and improve outcomes for kids with cancer and their families. In that role, she oversees the team responsible for grantmaking and strategic partnerships across the Foundation’s priority areas as
well as employee and field community engagement. Brennan’s prior experience includes education, health and tax equi- ty policy roles at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, State of Wisconsin, City of Milwaukee Public Schools and the Con- gressional Budget Office in Washington D.C. Audra Brennan grew up Peoria, Illinois, the daughter of two public school educa- tors. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in Mathematics and Economics. She was selected as a Harris Fellow at the University of Chicago and earned a master’s degree in public policy from University of Chicago’s Har- ris School of Public Policy in 1999. Audra Brennan lives with her husband Joel and two teenage children in the Brewers Hill neighborhood.
Dominican Center works with Amani residents and partners to build a better future.
2470 West Locust Street, Milwaukee, Wisc. 53206 414.444.9930 | https://www.dominican-center.org
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