Before we head into the holidays, consider helping out locally on Giving First Day
Dear Friend,
Today we are grateful to YOU. We are so thankful for all who care about the community and are actively working to make lives better and our neighborhoods healthier. November 22nd is "Giving First Day", an initiative of 45+ community organizations designed to "flip the script" on holiday spending.
We Support Giving First, Will You?
Since 2017, Nearby Nature has been operating on shoestring budgets but thanks to generous foundation and individual donations, we currently support two full time staff. But going forward, we have much to do to become sustainable. Earlier this year, we engaged in a strategic planning process to insure our programs can operate for years to come. But, in order to become sustainable, Nearby Nature needs to hire an operations manager or executive director.
Can you spare $8?
While we have managed to find funding to support our programs, it is very difficult to get funding for operations and infrastructure. This is where we rely on private donations from generous folks like you. If everyone on this email were to donate $8 today, we'd be well on our way to hiring a director! Can you chip in? Just click here to find out how you can help. To learn more about Giving First Day and the 45+ Milwaukee organizations involved, go to www.GivingFirstDay.org
How Nearby Nature spends your donations
Youth Environmental Education
We provide Environmental Education in youth serving agencies and schools. Our youth educator works with neighborhood schools to hold hour long sessions that integrate art, fun and nature. In 2022 we offered 8-10 week, hour-long programs to about 200 kids. We try and get kids outdoors as much as possible and sponsor at least 3 remote field trips each fall and spring season.
Renewal and access to green spaces.
Over the summer we engaged three paid youth interns to do land restoration, stewardship and community engagement on the Lincoln Creek Greenway with the support of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD)
Last Spring, we organized a Lincoln Creek Greenway Summit. This Fall saw the start of a Lincoln Creek Greenway Work Group made up of over a dozen partner organizations to track projects planned, in progress or envisioned for the betterment of Greenway neighborhoods.
We began a prairie restoration project and built a demonstration trail in Hopkins Hollow, and use it as a living laboratory for students and interns.
We held regular recreational and service outings that provided outdoor experiences to over 300 individuals. We held and collaborated in paddle outings that provided paddling experience to over 100 people, many of them first-time paddlers.
Celebrating the Environmental Movement in Milwaukee's Communities of Color
Nearby Nature initiated the African American Environmental Pioneer Awards in 2020. 35 members of Milwaukee's African American community have been honored at this annual event held in February honoring Black History Month. Planning is now underway for the 4th annual event on February 20th, 2023 The group is now working to bring past honorees together to expand collaboration among environmentalists of color.
In Gratitude
We are very grateful for all present and past support. We are grateful for the foundation support we currently get from Fund for Lake Michigan, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, and the Pettit Foundation.
In recent years we have also been blessed with generous support from Bader Philanthropies, the James E. Dutton Foundation, Mosaic Momentum, Freshwater Future, MMSD, Forward Community Investments, The Non-Profit Management Fund, St Therese Congregation in Wauwatosa and the Sierra Club Foundation.
We are especially grateful for the support we receive from individuals like you.
All contributions to Nearby Nature are tax-deductible through our non-profit fiscal sponsor the Milwaukee Environmental Consortium. Visit our website Donation page to learn how you can support this work.
