 Dear members, partners, and friends,
2019 has been a year for the books! With a growing team, new projects and expanded partnerships, I, along with our Board and staff, would like to take a moment to give you an update to our work and a glimpse into what we are envisioning for the future.
New support, new capacity
In 2019, UEDA was notified of two new streams of funding to support our work, allowing us to add new staff and dedicate resources to better support our members and those working in the sector. The Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund announced that UEDA was one of five recipients for cohort two of the Bank On Fellowship program, and UEDA successfully applied for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to support our capacity building and technical assistance work. Along with support from our UEDA Champions and Ambassadors, this has allowed us to strengthen and build upon the strategic goals we set in 2017.
At the end of February, Johanna Jimenez started as our Take Root Milwaukee Program Manager, and in April Constance Alberts expanded her role at UEDA, becoming our Bank On Greater Milwaukee Program Manager. Both bring extensive experience and networks to their respective program areas, and we are so excited to have them on the UEDA team! Additionally, effective in July, Jessica Wetzel’s role has shifted to place a stronger focus on membership support and engagement. As our Communications & Membership Director, she will support all UEDA members, programs and events through consistent communications and direct service to our membership base. Please feel free to reach out to her (jessica@uedawi.org) to find out more about our programs and how we can best support your efforts. If you are a current member, you will be hearing from her soon!
This new staff structure will allow UEDA to leverage the talent that each of us brings, and be more comprehensive in our efforts around sustainable homeownership, financial empowerment, and capacity building that supports the economic and community development sector.
New projects, increased impact
Also in 2019, we launched two new projects supported by CDBG funding that leverage UEDA’s network and background in housing and community development, coalition-building, and technical assistance. In April we began what will be a year-long process of community engagement and data collection around the City of Milwaukee’s 5-Year HUD Consolidated Plan. Many of you attended our July 11 Emerging Topics Series event which provided an overview and how you can participate. We have assembled an excellent team of consultants to assist us in this huge effort. Throughout September and October we will be hosting a number of community input sessions where you are invited to share your expertise on housing, small business/commercial corridors, and youth services. See the upcoming events section below my message for specific dates and to register. In the meantime, please take and share the community interest survey and learn more at www.ConPlanMKE.org.
UEDA was also asked to help move forward the work of the Milwaukee Eviction Prevention Coalition, which came together in 2018 through a partnership with the City of MIlwaukee, CommonBond Communities, and funding from the Medical College of Wisconsin Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment - Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program. We began convening this group in late April, starting from work done by the Wisconsin Policy Forum and summarized in their “No Place Like Home” report. The coalition is focused on determining how to best implement the recommendations in the report, including the formation of a Tenant-Landlord Resource Center and expanding current legal and mediation services.
The support from CDBG is an opportunity for UEDA to strengthen and expand its capacity building program, leaning on many years of successfully deploying direct technical assistance to organizations via HUD and other collaborative initiatives. Nearly 50% of our members are nonprofit organizations, and we know how critical it is to ensure there are resources to support their ability to operate in effective and sustainable ways. With the closure of the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee, we are working with our Board of Directors and other partners in the sector to identify how UEDA can best support the needs of nonprofits in community and economic development. Stay tuned for more information on this in 2020.
Membership
UEDA’s staff and Board envision a day where the members and communities we serve are inspired and thriving, with equitable access to investment and opportunity. Our members are an integral part of that vision, and we greatly value your input and support as stakeholders in this work. We are pleased to engage in, support and promote your efforts and look forward to a continued and renewed focus on our relationships. Please keep a look out for renewal notices this month via mail and always contact us with your events and activities so we can be sure to promote them throughout UEDA’s channels. We invite you to take a look at UEDA’s 2018 Impact Report to see how we facilitate Collaboration among partners, build Capacity of our members and foster meaningful Connections across sectors.
In August, week we celebrated our work and yours with more than 70 of our members, partners and supporters at UEDA’s Annual Community Gathering – this year hosted at the Sherman Phoenix. This is our annual opportunity to thank those that support our work and highlight organizational accomplishments. We also recognized Mueller Communications as our Extraordinary UEDA Community Partner, and Sandy Zoeller and Paul Bachowski as our two Outstanding UEDA Volunteers for their commitment to UEDA and the community and economic development sector.
If you are not a current Member of UEDA, we hope you will consider joining our network! Over the past few years, our membership base has grown by 22%, providing members with a unique opportunity to connect with individuals, organizations, corporations and funders that are active in a variety sector areas. Information about membership levels and benefits can be found on our website at Join UEDA.
Please feel free to contact us with your ideas and thoughts, or to set up a meeting to discuss how we can continue to work together to revitalize Wisconsin communities, neighborhoods and commercial districts. We’d be happy to hear from you!
Sincerely,
Kristi Luzar
Executive Director
kristi@uedawi.org
Urban Economic Development Association of Wisconsin, Inc. (UEDA)
1915 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Suite 260 | Milwaukee, WI 53212
Phone: (414) 562-9904 * www.uedawi.org * Connect with us on Facebook!
UEDA Board of Directors
Dominique Samari, P3 Development Group (President)
Stephan LeSure, Affinity IT (Vice President)
Peter Richardson, Northwestern Mutual (Treasurer)
Nathan Guesquierre, AECOM (Secretary)
Vaughn Barker, AdvocateAurora Health
Marlene Castillo, Johnson Bank
Damion Forrest, U.S. Bank
Kate Madison, City of Milwaukee Department of City Development
Nikki Payne, Southeastern WI Regional Planning Commission
Nikki Purvis, City of Milwaukee Office of Small Business Development
|
|
JOIN US AT THESE
UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES!
|
|
|
HUD 5-Year Consolidated Plan Focus Groups
You are invited to join us for one or all of these sessions. Please invite other staff from your organization and those you serve to attend as well. We will provide light snacks and beverages.
- Housing #1
Tuesday, September 17 | 5:30PM - 7:30PM
THE VIBE (518 E Concordia Ave, Milwaukee)
Register Here >>
- Housing #2
Tuesday, September 24 | 5:30PM - 7:30PM
Greater Milwaukee Foundation (101 W Pleasant St, Milwaukee)
Register Here >>
- Small Business / Commercial Corridors
Wednesday, October 2 | 9:00AM - 11:00AM
YWCA Southeast Wisconsin (1915 N Doctor M.L.K. Jr Dr, Milwaukee)
Register Here >>
- Youth Services
Thursday, October 3 | 9:00AM - 11:00AM
Hillside Family Health Center (1452 N 7th St, Milwaukee)
Register Here >>
Emerging Topic Series #2
Bank On Greater Milwaukee Local Launch Event
Thursday, September 19 | 8:30AM - 11:30AM | Alverno College
Attendees will learn about how BOGM is working to ensure that all Milwaukee-area households have access to safe and affordable bank accounts that meet their needs, allow them to increase assets, and strengthen their financial stability. Neighborhood organizations, community groups, youth service agencies, workforce development staff, financial institutions and neighborhood organizers are encouraged to join us for the opportunity to talk with coalition members on how to best connect clients and residents to the financial education, credit counseling, savings, employment assistance and youth financial empowerment services and resources they provide. REGISTER HERE >>
UEDA & Diverse Dining Partnership Meal: Neighborhood Narratives
Monday, September 30 | 5:30AM - 8:00AM | Cafe el Sol
The third installment in our partnership meal series will focus on neighborhoods - what and how guests define them, what it means to be a good neighbor and who is working locally to ensure our city is a fair and safe place for all to live. Join us for an information conversation where you can meet and learn from individuals with different experiences and backgrounds from the greater Milwaukee area. Current UEDA members receive a $5 discount. TICKETS HERE >>
Emerging Topic Series #3
Mapping Prejudice: A Conversation with Kirsten Delegard
SAVE THE DATE -- Friday, October 11 | 9:00AM | The Grace Center
In partnership with Forward Community Investments and the Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development, we will welcome Kristen Delegard, Co-Founder of the Minneapolis-based research group, Mapping Prejudice. She will show how their research and mapping work unearthed racial covenants in local property deeds, revealing how much land was reserved for the exclusive use of white people in most of the 20th century. Attendees will discuss how historical, racists housing practices like racial covenants, redlining and predatory lending helped to design the housing patterns we live with today. REGISTRATION COMING SOON.
|
|
|
|
|
