The Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDI) at an event on Tuesday at Mr. J’s Lounge announced the 15 organizations and individuals chosen as this year’s finalists.
The MANDIs partners with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Milwaukee to recognize businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals involved with community development efforts in Milwaukee’s central city.
-
- Terence Acquah and Fatima Benhaddou, both of the City of Milwaukee Department of City Development, and Ariam Kesete of AK Development LLC.
-
- Steve Adams of SEWRPC and Aruna Kallon of LISC Milwaukee.
-
- Leo Ries of Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation and Katie Pritchard of Data You Can Use.
-
- Kalan Haywood of Haywood Group LLC, Chondra Higgins of Athena Communications LLC, Teddy Tsitiridis and Anne Marie Tsitiridis, both of Pete’s Fruit Market.
-
- Raina Johnson of Artists Working in Education, Sam McGovern-Rowen of Milwaukee Public Library, Katie Sanders of Safe & Sound, and Beth Haskovec of Artists Working in Education.
-
- Shapree Bourgeois of Chic Lounge and Natalie Bowers of Colliers International.
-
- Nicole Robbins of Robbins Law Group and Ariam Kesete of AK Development LLC.
-
- Raina Johnson of Artists Working in Education, Corey Zetts and Catrina Crane, both of Menomonee Valley Partners, and Dashal Young of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
-
- Jeff Hamann and Larry Moore, both of the Larry Moore Trio.
-
- Karen Higgins of the Milwaukee Christian Center and Erin Frederick of the Zilber Family Foundation.
This year’s winners will be announced at the MANDIs annual gala on March 15 at Potawatomi Hotel and Casino. A volunteer selection committee chose two finalists for each of the six MANDI categories:
- BMO Harris Bank Cornerstone Award: Artists Working in Education Inc. and the City of Milwaukee’s Healthy Neighborhood Initiative Community Improvement Program
- Brewers Community Foundation Public Space Award: Fondy Park and Riverwest 24 Hour Bike Race
- Stare Farm Building Blocks Award: Pete’s Fruit Market and the Alexander Lofts
- PNC Bank Trail Blazer Award: Safe & Sound Inc. and Layton Boulevard West Neighbors Neighborhood Block Project
- Chase Economic Development Award: Menomonee Valley Partners and Northwest Side Community Development Corporation
- Northern Trust Navigator Award: Mark Eppli, professor of finance and Bell Chair in Real Estate at Marquette University and Kalan Haywood, president of Haywood Group LLC
Winners of this year’s new Northwestern Mutual Foundation Collaboration Award– honoring two small community-based organization partners– will be announced at the MANDI gala.
The winners of the Wells Fargo People’s Choice Award, selected through a social media campaign allowing the public to vote for the top three MANDI finalists, will also be announced at the March 15 gala.
