Proud of our grant partners...thank you for the work you do to address issues at their core.
Cathedral Center, Women’s Independence Program
Women’s Independence Program bridges the gap between traditional workforce development programs and homeless assistance programs. All participants receive the support they need to be gainfully employed because all components are customized to the jobseekers’ unique needs.
Continued support from Women’s Fund allows Cathedral Center to maintain the program’s rate of growth. This includes expanding the program’s staff capacity, services, reach, and partnerships. changes to utilize these skills, and build and strengthen networks of women across the state.
Center for Leadership of Afrikan Women’s Wellness, Healthy Equity for Black Women
The Center for Leadership of Afrikan Women’s Wellness is a predominately African American women-led organization, whose mission is to increase awareness and develop a network of services and circles of individualized support for Black/African American women affected by trauma in Milwaukee County.
A grant from the Women’s Fund helps educate Black women about health conditions that affect Black women and teach and coach them on speaking with their doctors, empowering self- advocacy. As a result they anticipate behavior will change. Maternal and infant mortality rates will decrease, and Black women will live longer and healthier lives. Women with diabetes will gain better control and overweight or obese women will see the benefits of a healthier weight.
CONVERGENCE Resource Center, Enhanced Mental Health Services for Female Human Trafficking
The Convergence Resource Center is a faith-based, community service organization providing client-focused, trauma-informed care including education and training for community organizations and service providers. It was founded in 2004 serving justice-involved women and human trafficking survivors.
The Center supports women as they turn their lives around by providing training, education, awareness and partnership to the community at large. Using a trauma informed client focus approach, the Convergence Resource Center will ensure human trafficking survivors feel safe and supported during their mental health journey. The Center currently provides several mental health services to clients including but not limited to: individual therapy, support groups for substance abuse and specialized groups for human trafficking resilience, recovery and resistance. Funding for this project will provide a wrap-around approach with a lead psychotherapist and a team supporting the mental health of the survivor as they heal through this process.
i.c.stars Milwaukee, Promoting Economic Empowerment and Leadership Development for Marginalized Women
i.c.stars was started to create opportunities for those who lacked them due to circumstances including gender inequality, structural racism, neighborhood disinvestment, educational barriers, and other obstacles to a living wage career.
A grant from the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee would enable us to provide an enhanced technology workforce program to underserved Milwaukee adults, focusing on women. Specifically, funds would support:
- Expanded hybrid technology job skills program for 65-70 Milwaukee participants
- Increased wraparound support including trauma-informed counseling, case management, and career development assistance
- Development of a pipeline resulting in 50% of those served identifying as women.
LOTUS Legal Clinic, Survivor Advisory and Advocacy Program
The core of the LOTUS mission and work is rooted in providing anti-trafficking services. Legal services include: crime victim’s rights enforcement, criminal record relief, immigration representation for survivors of human trafficking and/or sexual violence, civil restraining orders, school & workplace advocacy & protections, and consumer law issues related to victimization.
Funding from the Women’s Fund covers the salary cost of research and time spent meeting with legislators and advocates, as well as expert consulting fees to support the work and any printed materials necessary for awareness-building campaigns.
Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, Woman 2 Woman Empowerment Program (W2W)
Neighborhood House of Milwaukee has served as a stabilizing organization, educating and empowering generations of underserved children and families since 1945. Today, they are guided by their mission to inspire discovery in children and families from all backgrounds in our community.
One way it does this is through the Woman 2 Woman Empowerment Program (W2W), a dynamic initiative that uses education, peer interaction and mentoring to help marginalized young women of color address barriers to their ability to realize their full potential. The Women’s Fund grant will make a significant impact on W2W by helping to ensure program continuation and expansion.
Planned Parenthood Wisconsin (PPWI), Advocacy to Increase Sexual and Reproductive Health Access
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin advocates, on a non-partisan basis, to ensure that Wisconsin residents have access to medically sound and non-judgmental health care. As a strong advocate for women and girls, their goals are to secure and protect confidential access to comprehensive family planning services, including abortion. Their commitment remains strong to enact policies that advance preventive health care access, protect abortion access, and create an atmosphere that fosters legislative support of, and activist engagement in, the reproductive health of our state.
The grant from the Women’s Fund of Milwaukee supports direct community outreach events with partners in Milwaukee and our activities at one of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin’s largest Milwaukee health centers to engage/educate patients on civic engagement.
Revitalize Milwaukee, Safe, Healthy Affordable Homes
Revitalize Milwaukee’s mission is dedicated to transforming communities by providing free, critical home repairs and comprehensive services to low-income veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities. The grant from the Women’s Fund will support the following:
- Accessibility Modifications: As our population ages, many find they are in need of modifications to make living spaces more accessible and safer.
- Emergency Repairs: This program is designed to remove safety hazards, including addressing electric or plumbing systems or broken water heaters. Emergency Repairs are addressed within 24 hours of receipt of the application. In 2021, 182 emergency repair projects were completed.
- Healthy Homes: This year Revitalize Milwaukee added remediation services and hazard control projects to protect the health of children. They are committed to making a difference and serving the community where we live. By offering home-based interventions, contaminants and pests that trigger asthma or poison children with lead will be removed, moisture and mold will be eliminated, and a home’s failing mechanical systems (furnaces, water heaters), so families live in safe and healthy environments will be addressed.
Sojourner, Commitment to Milwaukee’s Domestic Abuse Survivors
The mission of Sojourner is to transform lives impacted by domestic violence. The non-profit strives to ensure the safety of survivors and provides a way out of the violence for survivors through opportunities to make positive and lasting changes for themselves and their children. Sojourner takes a holistic approach to healing to offer survivors the best chance to make lasting change.
Last year, 406 people sought the safety of our emergency shelter for a total of 13,557 nights. As the demand for domestic violence services increases, so does their need to fund the work being done with survivors at Sojourner.
Wisconsin Women’s Network, Policy Institute 2023
The Wisconsin Women’s Network Policy Institute is a nonpartisan program that trains women of all ages and backgrounds from across Wisconsin to be advocates in their communities and to navigate Wisconsin’s legislative and state budget process to advance policies that improve the lives of women and girls. The organization is committed to increasing the number of Wisconsin women who have the confidence, skills, and strategic knowledge to successfully engage in their local and statewide communities on policy issues that matter to Wisconsin women and girls.
When more women are confident in their skills as leaders and change makers, we see shifts in policies that can significantly improve the lives of girls and women in our state. After completing the program, they have seen many graduates go on to run for elected office, start grassroots campaigns to advocate for girls and women, make career changes to utilize these skills, and build and strengthen networks of women across the state.