The winners of the 13th Annual Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDI) Awards were announced earlier this week at a gala event at the Pfister Hotel. The MANDI Awards are hosted by LISC Milwaukee. More than 700 people attended the sold-out event.
Police Chief Ed Flynn and Margaret Henningsen, executive director of the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee hosted the ceremony.
Sixteen finalists for the MANDI awards were announced in January and the five winners were announced live at the event, U.S. Bank also raffled off a $500 charitable donation that went to ArtWorks Milwaukee.
Finalists and winners were chosen by an independent selection committee made up of twenty private, public and government volunteers.
Winners included:
- Milwaukee Area Workforce Funding Alliance received The Northern Trust Navigator Award for its collaborative effort of joining diverse voices and resources in order to improve the community. In 2007, Mayor Barrett, in consultation with key members of the philanthropic and workforce development communities, came together to transform workforce development in Milwaukee, attempting to simplify the path from unemployment to training to a job. This led to the Milwaukee Area Workforce Funding Alliance (WFA) – a diverse consortium of funders, workforce development agencies, employers and the city.
- Veterans Manor Apartments received the PNC Bank Trail Blazer award for an innovative approach to a community problem. About one-fifth of the nation’s homeless population consists of veterans, while many more are at-risk of homelessness due to poverty. Veterans Manor Apartments, a non-profit/for profit partnership, at 35th and Wisconsin, was developed by Cardinal Capital and the Center for Veterans Issues. Residents have direct access to counseling and V.A benefits right in the building. A partnership with the Milwaukee Center for Independence brings employment training opportunities through an on-site commercial kitchen and other programs.
- Menomonee Valley Passage received the Brewers Community Foundation Public Space Award for the creation or use of public space contributing significantly to the overall community wellbeing. The Menomonee Valley Passage bike and pedestrian bridge creates a connection between the near South side and the neighboring renewal just 50 yards away.
- Villard Square Grandfamily Milwaukee received the State Farm Building Blocks Award for a real estate project that enhances the community. In, 2007, Neighborhood leaders looked to accommodate the area’s growing number of grandfamilies, or skip-generation families-households with school age children with grandparents as the primary caregivers and absent parents. The Northwest Side Community Development Corporation worked with Gorman and Company, as well as a group of public and private partners, to bring together 9 district investors for the 11 million dollar project. On its second floor, Villard Square has 47 units of affordable housing, currently home to 70 children. Residents have access to a social worker assisting with finance, healthcare, employment and more. A floor below, there is a busy and beautiful new library- a boon to the neighborhood’s approximately 100,000 patrons.
- Wisconsin Community Services, Inc. received the BMO Harris Bank Cornerstone Award for a long-standing commitment of persistence and effectiveness over time. In 1912, Wisconsin Community Services began as the Wisconsin Society for the Friendless. Their mission to help people who were incarcerated and assist families left behind. Today, WCS has expanded to serve Milwaukee residents who live with chronic and persistent mental illness, those with alcohol and drug addictions, and other high-risk youth and adults. In all, they have over 40 programs that advocate for justice and community safety, serving over 2000 individuals annually.
- Froedtert Health/Froedtert Hospital received the Vision Award for outstanding financial investment in Milwaukee’s central city. This award is given by the LISC Milwaukee Advisory Board. Froedtert has made deep and comprehensive investments in the Washington Park Neighborhood over the past ten years. More than 50 senior staff, including CEO Bill Petasnick, has toured the Washington Park neighborhood, meeting community partners and looking for new ways to deepen their impact.
