Congratulations to these UEDA Members and Partner organizations for their employees’ recognition in the 40 Under 40 Class for 2023: Dr. Kate Essad (AdvocateAuroraHealth), Julie Niznanski (Associated Bank), Maggie Dauss (Greater Milwaukee Committee) and Evan Reed (Northwestern Mutual). Access the lists for all class members here>>

UEDA Board Member Nikki Purvis, President & CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce, was featured in this recent “Workforce Insights” podcast by Employ Milwaukee. She discussed challenges facing small businesses and new Federal investments to support them. Listen here>>

Congratulations to the following for receiving Federal Community Project Funds as part of the FY 2023 omnibus bill passed in December: Revitalize Milwaukee (emergency home repairs), LISC Milwaukee (predevelopment loans for affordable housing), Milwaukee Public Library (Ready to Read program), Near West Side Partners (Concordia 27 Consortium), and Milwaukee County (rehabilitate foreclosed properties). See the full list of projects sponsored by Congresswoman Gwen Moore and Senator Tammy Baldwin.

2022 Home Upgrade Grant Program is opened! Revitalize Milwaukee and Green Homeowners United have opened their home energy efficiency upgrade program for low-income seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities who own their home. The program is funded by a grant from the Public Service Commission. Upgrades aim to reduce utility bills and increase comfort. Each home will be evaluated for the improvements that best meet those goals and include things like attic insulation, gap sealing, and air conditioning, and more. Learn more about the 2022 Home Upgrade Grant Program.

The FlexRide initiative was featured by Urban Milwaukee! A micro-transit service connecting Milwaukee residents to jobs in suburban communities called FlexRide is planning to expand its service area in 2023. A number of other organizations are partnering on the project, including the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC). Read the article here >>

WWBIC's "Strong Women Strong Coffee" series recently featured client Aureal Ojeda, owner of Outwoken Tea who was also was recently featured on CBS 58! Check it out here>>

Check out this recap of the LISC Rubinger Fellowship program, which supported 49 community developers in mid-career with funding and professional development and recently came to a conclusion. This cohort included two people from the Milwaukee, Dasha Kelly and Branden Dupont who worked on projects that helped advance creative place-making and rental housing work.

Save the Date! “Working Together to Protect Wisconsin Consumers” Conference
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Madison College - Goodman South Campus, Madison
Attendance is free! The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s Bureau of Consumer Protection (DATCP) is hosting this event for organizations that work with diverse and traditionally underserved communities, including community-based organizations and chambers of commerce. Topics will include the history & current state of consumer protection, housing & eviction issues, data privacy, consumer reporting with the Federal Trade Commission, and a season on how to work together. Agenda and registration link coming soon! 

MEMBER & PARTNER JOB OPENINGS
Find a listing of current job openings HERE. Contact kat@uedawi.org if you are a member and have an opening you would like added. And, be sure to check out the Jobs That Help website to find or list a nonprofit job opportunity in the state!

February is Black History Month! Check out some of these opportunities to celebrate, learn, and connect. 

• From the Milwaukee Public Library check out a variety of learning activities and opportunities to connect, including a reading challenge, crafting, Jeopardy, crafts, documentary screening, and more. They've also put together a curated spread of must-read books by Black authors for the reader’s advisory presentation in the library’s community room. View the full listing on the library's website>>. 
• America's Black Holocaust Museum is coordinating Black Business Expo 2023 and the Magical Black Tears Experience exhibit. Learn more on ABHM's website. 
• MKE Film has their Black Lens series, which has put together film screenings and events for the month. View the Black History Month Guide, purchase tickets, and the full-line up of events here. 
• At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee planetarium, you can celebrate Black History Month under the stars with "Stars, Stories, & Rhythms of Africa." The free event features indoor stargazing, dancing, music and storytelling. During the month of February, the planetarium will also have three nights of indoor stargazing entitled “Under African Skies,” featuring a different guest speaker each night. The Feb. 8, 15 and 22 events cost $6 per person. Learn more here>>. 

In Celebration of Valentine’s Day, the City of Milwaukee would like to hear from residents, who are the heart of our City, about how the balance of ARPA funding should be spent. Alderwoman Milele Coggs sent out a press release with the listening sessions information and survey information. View the press release here.  You can also take the survey now in English, Spanish or Hmong. The City of Milwaukee also made an "ARPA Love MKE" website with information on the feedback initiative.

Community Advocates has updated its Milwaukee County Mental Health & Wellness Resource Guide. Included in the guide are trainings, toolkits, and wellness resources. You can download it here. 

Mark your calendars for the 2023 Alverno Community Conference on April 28, 8:45 am – 12:30 pm!
The annual Alverno Community Conference invites faculty, staff, students, alumni and the greater Milwaukee community to engage in dialogue highlighting the opportunities and challenges facing Southeastern Wisconsin. The 2023 Community Conference theme, Building a Stronger Milwaukee, aims to bring us together to celebrate our differences, open our minds, and explore various topics to strengthen our community. Session proposals are being accepted through February 9th. To submit a proposal, fill out this form. More information on the conference or view the 2022 program HERE. 

Community Advocates and Soares has partnered to create a Spanish-language mental health/substance use prevention workshop tailored to Milwaukee’s Hispanic/Latinx residents’ needs. This workshop will be available to the community in Spring/Summer. The project is supported by Milwaukee County’s Better Ways to Cope initiative and a SAMHSA Mental Health Awareness Training grant. Soares’ work helps to fill a gap in culturally appropriate mental health services for Hispanic/Latinx individuals and families in Milwaukee County, who face many barriers to care. You can find mental health and wellness resources on PPI’s website, including “Escucha Tus Emociones: Cuida Tu Vida / Listen to Your Emotions: Care for Your Life” videos and materials, plus an interview with Soares.

Department of Children and Families published a new LGBTQ+ Resource Hub website. This website links to resources and learning opportunities for our child welfare workforce, service providers and out-of-home care providers at all levels, and children and families.  See below for additional details.

SecureFutures is looking for volunteers to serve in the Money Coach program for the spring semester! They have the goal to serve 20 sites in the Milwaukee area, and need volunteers to bring Money Coach to even more teens in the community! Please check out the volunteer recruitment flyer for a program overview and the coach role descriptions for more details. 

Marquette University Trinity Fellows Program is accepting nonprofit or government applications to host a Fellow.  The Trinity Fellows Program is a 21-month work/study fellowship designed to develop emerging leaders for social and economic justice. Fellows are graduate students with a background in service, social justice, and civic engagement, who work at Milwaukee-based organizations while attaining their master’s degree.  Fellows work 18 hours per week for 21 months with their placement and organizations get supportive funding to cover the cost of a Fellow. Organization applications to host a Fellow are due February 17, 2023. The organization applications and instructions can be found here>>.