Author: NNS

Sister Patricia Rogers, executive director of The Dominican Center for Women, works in the areas of education, housing, employment and health in the Amani community. Sister Patricia Rogers recalls the time when raccoons scratched away at the interior of walls and roofing inside the Amani home of a woman named Mary. Similar to nails on a chalkboard, the raccoons racked their claws against plaster, desperately trying to break through. The noise was awful, unsettling; the walls cracked open in some places like a fleshy wound. The whole thing scared away the caretaker for Mary’s severely disabled son, Daryl. Mary...

The Milwaukee opening of the Mothers of our Nations exhibit was held at The Magnet Factory, 2424 S. Graham Street. When Jasmine Barmore was given the opportunity to create artwork inspired by a women-led organization, she thought of Chandra Cooper, the executive director and founder of Grateful Girls, a nonprofit that helps women who have escaped the sex trafficking industry. Barmore often creates portraits reflecting women’s inner beauty and strength. After she spent time interviewing Cooper and learning about Grateful Girls, Barmore decided to continue that theme. She created two portraits, each image featuring a black woman in shades...

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Sherman Park when Keisha Krumm, lead organizer for Common Ground, came face to face with the impact of institutional racism on Milwaukee’s young residents. One of several organizers talking to neighbors about possible improvements to Washington High School of Information Technology, Krumm came upon a group of children at a playground. The kids chattered excitedly as she showed off beautiful renderings of a genuine turf sports field and real track for running. All of a sudden, the group became quiet. “We don’t deserve that. We’re not going to get that,” a little...

When Sherrie Tussler took over as executive director at Hunger Task Force more than 20 years ago, things were tough. The organization struggled to meet the needs of the local network of food pantries, running out of food and ending the year in a deficit. Since then, Tussler has seen the task force grow into the state’s anti-hunger leader. She started in nonprofits in 1988, at the Hope House homeless shelter, where she was founding executive director for 10 years. In this interview, Tussler talks about her qualifications, the challenges she faces feeding Milwaukee’s hungry and the future of...

Sharon Adams sent LaShawndra Vernon sunflowers during a difficult week in Vernon’s first 100 days as the executive director of Walnut Way Conservation Corp. The note attached to the flowers said, “You are my sunshine.” At Vernon’s 100 Days of Service Celebration Brunch at The View at Evolution Milwaukee, a bright yellow bouquet of sunflowers sat on a table at the front of the room. It was a gift for Larry and Sharon Adams, Walnut Way’s founders. One hundred days into Vernon’s role as executive director, Walnut Way celebrated the successful transition of leadership, honored both new and veteran...

Attendees at the violence prevention launch rank the factors that contribute to and prevent violence in the community. The recent launch by the city’s Office of Violence Prevention of a comprehensive strategic planning process provided a great opportunity to begin building a united front against violence, said Khalil Coleman, co-founder of the Safe Zones Initiative, a program focusing on gun violence prevention. The process brings in community residents who are usually excluded from the discussion and “allows those voices to be heard,” Coleman added. Coleman was one of more than 100 attendees representing nonprofits and grassroots community, business, government,...