Photo inside Pathways from poverty to success NSP-18 Neighborhood Clean-Up
Social Development Commission Appointed Partner Agencies
Addressing the Needs of Milwaukee County Residents The Social Development Commission (SDC) is here to help Milwaukee residents in the lived experience of poverty. Since 1963, we've been working to lift people out of poverty through research, strategic partnerships, and community-focused programming. SDC is unique in its structure, including board members from the government, businesses, and representation from the community in need. In the 1960s, leaders like Mayor Henry Maier, President Lyndon B. Johnson, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. saw poverty as a big problem. In 1963, Mayor Maier and other local leadership started the Social Development Commission (SDC) as the anti-poverty commission for Milwaukee County to address the inequalities that so many were experiencing at the time. President Johnson and Dr. Martin Luther Kink's advocacy ushered in Community Action Agencies nationwide. Through the Economic Opportunity Act in 1964, SDC also became Milwaukee County's Community Action Agency. What makes us unique is that we're not just about quick fixes. We're also about finding the real reasons behind problems. We use research and speaking up for people to get to the root of issues. Our main goal is to give people in Milwaukee County what they need to beat poverty. We do this by being a force for significant change and providing practical help. We aim to empower Milwaukee County residents with the resources to move beyond poverty. OUR HISTORY Since 1963 1
FROM THE BOARD CHAIR Our world is changing, and so is our work at the Social Development Commission (SDC). We've been working hard to fight against poverty for many years, but it can be challenging. Poverty is a big problem that affects many people, and it's not always clear how to solve it. We know that when things change around us, it can make life difficult. This means we need to think differently about how we help people. We need to find new ways to give support to those who need it. Understanding this challenge is important because it helps us find better solutions. To make a real difference, we need to learn and take action. We're researching to understand poverty better, and we're also taking steps to help people directly. We aim to use what we learn to create solutions that can truly make a lasting change. This journey needs knowledge and determination. We need to be ready to take action. We want to learn more and understand better. Our commitment is to work on both research and programming. By putting these two things together, we can find real ways to change lives and break the cycle of poverty. Thank you for your support on this important journey. Elmer Moore, Jr., Chairman The 2022 George Matthews Community Service Award was given to Attorney James Hall, former SDC Attorney, for his committment to the Social Development Commission (SDC) and its mission. Hall received this award at the SDC Annual Meeting that was held during the 2022 Summit on Poverty. Attorney James Hall 2
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Carlisa Harris District 1 Barbara Toles District 2 Kimberly Njoroge District 3 Alfred Komolafe District 4 Attorney Vincent Bobot District 6 Serina Chavez District 5 Nikki Purvis Vice-Chair City of Milwaukee Donna Brown-Martin Secretary Milwaukee County Terese Caro Treasurer Office of the Governor Ossie Kendrix, Jr. African American Chamber of Commerce John Jacobs AFL-CIO Milw. Area Labor Council Dan Gomez Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Dr. Chia Youyee Vang University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Dr. Bret Seamons Interfaith Conference Glen Carson United Way of Greater Milwaukee Dr. Valencia Brown Milwaukee Area Technical College Matthew Boswell Milwaukee Public Schools 3
The year 2022 has been different from any other. We've helped thousands of people throughout Milwaukee County. We aim to help people get the things they need to move beyond poverty. We've done this by working with others, studying the issues of poverty, and creating innovative programming. We were recognized with awards for our teamwork and the ways we've made a difference. The Community Impact Award is one example. It shows how we've changed lives by giving people more access to important things they need. Our events, like the Summit on Poverty and the Youth Empowerment Summit, have been great ways to share our experiences, strategies, and successes. These events have also let us join forces with partners who support our mission and make a more significant impact on alleviating poverty and the challenges that come along with living in the experience of poverty. Our team of case managers has been essential. They listened to people and understood the problems they faced. Our programs and services teams worked hard to solve these problems using the tools we had. Our senior volunteers also have been amazing. They supported students in school and older adults in their homes, showing resilience even when things have been tough. Looking ahead, as we move toward our 60th Anniversary, our duty is clear. We must keep finding good ways to help people and create lasting changes. We're on track to do this through the Institute of Poverty and Structured Racism. With your help and everyone's combined efforts, we can make our goals even more powerful. Your support and dedication to this important mission make all the difference. Thank you for being a part of this vital journey. Sincerely, George P. Hinton, PhD, CEO Social Development Commission FROM OUR CEO “There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.” ~ Desmond Tutu 4
OUR IMPACT IN 2022 MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS SERVICES Admitted for Counseling Services 35 Gained Health Insurance 36 Received Prescription Assistance 12 YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES Family Case Management Services 325 Youth Recreation Participants 585 Adults Served 414 Youth Served 2,120 EDUCATION SERVICES Started HSED/GED 144 Obtained High School Diploma 70 Pearson Vue Exams Provided 185 FINANCIAL SERVICES 4,753 Taxes Filed $8.1MTotal Refunds Distributed 138Received Financial Coaching CAREER SERVICES HOUSING STABILIZATION SERVICES MERA Awards Amount Awarded 8,394 $32.3M WHH Assigned Apps Amount Pending/Awarded 2,293 $9.9M 24 Pathways to Homeownership Completed Workshops Individuals Served Meals Served 3,283 735,408 Food Pantry Boxes Dist. 751 NUTRITION SERVICES RESIDENTIAL SERVICES Weatherization Emergency Furnace 517 Units Completed Energy Audits 604 271 Completed Healthy Homes Programs 95 Units Completed Career Enhancement Absolute Advantage 117 54 ChefStart Healthcare Discovery Enrolled Completed 549 Received Career Enhancement Services 29 28 Enrolled Completed 29 25 Enrolled Completed 5 25 24 Active Senior Companions Hours Donated 21,536 Hours Donated 22,201 SENIOR SERVICES Active Foster Grandparents
DON SYKES COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD We're honored that the Social Development Commission (SDC) received the 2022 Don Sykes Community Impact Award from Employ Milwaukee. This award recognizes our hard work in helping people in Milwaukee have better lives and move out of poverty. CEO Chytania Brown from Employ Milwaukee presented this award during a special fundraising event. She praised SDC for our dedication to communities and changing lives, even during tough times like the pandemic when many other organizations had to close down. Dr. George Hinton, CEO of SDC, thanked everyone who helped us, including partners and community members. "We have been involved with communities and have seen the impact of our programs, but we must continue to support each other while paying attention to the existing systems that put them in needy situations," he said. Milwaukee's Mayor, Cavalier Johnson, who has benefited from our programs, shared how these opportunities shape the city's future. He knows the challenges that people in the community face because he's experienced them too. One crucial program funded by Employ Milwaukee is our ChefStart Program. It's a 6-week training in cooking. In 2022, four groups of students graduated from this program. This collaboration helps individuals in the lived experience of poverty by giving them skills in professional cooking and job readiness. This program also, helps with things like health, education, and finding a place to live. “We have been involved with communities and have seen the impact of our programs but we must continue to support each other while paying attention to the existing systems that put them in needy situations.” ~ Dr. George Hinton, SDC CEO Dr. Hinton with the Don Sykes Community Impact Award 6
2022 Youth Empowerment Summit Attracts 200 Youth Vowing To Overcome Inequalities The 2022 Youth Empowerment Summit hosted by the Social Development Commission (SDC) brought together more than 200 young people, parents, and schools in person and online. The Summit was all about making communities stronger and teaching young people that they have the power to make positive changes in their neighborhoods. One of our Youth Advisory Board members, Lilliana Valenzuela, talked about how the pandemic changed things for teenagers. She said, "Being a teen is about being with friends, but COVID took that away. It felt like a part of me was gone." She believes events like this Summit are important to help young people feel connected and supported in their community. Jamaal Smith spoke about how inequality affects young people and how they can overcome it. Another speaker, La'Ketta Caldwell, shared her childhood experiences and encouraged young people to believe in themselves and keep going, even when things are tough. The Summit had special workshops led by True Skool, Brooks Griffin from the INSPIRED Network, SDC's Youth Advisory Board, and SDC Youth Services. There were also workshops for parents and teachers, where they learned how to talk to young people about important topics like mental health, drugs, and alcohol. Our Youth Services Team and Youth Advisory Board organize this Summit every year. It's a way to address young people's challenges in neighborhoods with limited resources. Through events like these, we're working together to strengthen our community and give young people a voice. EMPOWERING OUR YOUTH 7
UNITING FATHERS: THE 2022 FATHERHOOD SUMMIT SDC Partners with City of Milwaukee for the 2022 Fatherhood Summit The 2022 Fatherhood Summit hosted by the Fatherhood Initiative, the City of Milwaukee, and the Social Development Commission (SDC) brought fathers together from across the City of Milwaukee. The goal was to help fathers with their fatherhood challenges and provide them with practical resources. Fathers got together to learn from each other, talk about their experiences, and get support for their personal, work, financial, and mental well-being. At the Summit, classes were available to fathers to learn about resources in health, school, jobs, legal help, and housing. The Summit wanted to show fathers that many resources are available to help them be great fathers. Dr. George Hinton, CEO of SDC, spoke at the event. He encouraged fathers to take responsibility for their actions and be there for their kids. He said, "Everyone makes mistakes, but you must keep going. You have to be there for your kids." Milwaukee's Mayor, Cavalier Johnson, also spoke. He told dads that the city and partners like SDC want to help. "We know what being a dad means. We want to give you different services and work with groups to give you more chances for your family," he said. Ms. Ella Dunbar, Community Outreach Manager, led our team from SDC. She was proud to be part of the Summit. She said, "The Summit lets dads know what SDC can help with. Many dads wanted to know about jobs and getting their driver's license back. These things are important for finding work and getting to work." The Fatherhood Summit happened because many groups worked together. Their goal is to inspire, teach, help, and get everyone involved in supporting good fatherhood. SDC supports the Summit because we know that families dealing with poverty need help, and dads play a big part in improving things. “We know what fatherhood means and what fathers encounter. So, we strive to provide diverse services. We also work with community groups so we can increase opportunities for you and your family,” ~ Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson 8
CAREER SERVICES A Mother’s Pride in Son’s Culinary Arts Achievement Meet Ms. Lacreshia Whiters, a joyful mom who always cheers for her son, Tayvion. Tayvion is a teenager, and after he completed high school, his mom wanted to help him get started in life. She believed that with the proper training, Tayvion could find a job and have better chances for the future. Her dream was for him to learn a skill that could lead to a promising career. Tayvion's story began when he finished high school. He loved cooking at home and had a passion for it. His mom encouraged him to apply when she learned about the ChefStart program with SDC. Tayvion joined the program to learn more about cooking and get a SafeServe certification. Ms. Whiters shared, "Tayvion is an amazing cook at home. He loves being creative in the kitchen. I wanted him to have a chance to explore his love for cooking and find a job. He's done even better than I imagined. I'm so proud of him!" Tayvion was excited about the program and the opportunities it could bring. He learned a lot during the ChefStart program and got job offers before he even finished. He said, "I'm really happy I could start my career after training. I want to learn more and maybe even open my own restaurant. That way, I can control my work and my future." His mom shares Tayvion's dream of opening his own restaurant. She sees him starting with a food truck and maybe having a big restaurant someday. "I'm just happy he can be independent and successful as an adult. He's learned so much from this cooking program, and I'm proud he brings his skills home," she said. Tayvion is one of many graduates from the 2022 Culinary Arts program, and he already has job offers. The ChefStart program is a partnership between SDC and Employ Milwaukee to help people like Tayvion find work and build their careers. Chef Feker, Tayvion Whiters, and Lacreshia Whiters 9
SDC Connects Shaquana Johnson with Home Ownership Meet Shaquana Johnson. She used to be homeless and had a dream of owning a home. With four kids and two grandchildren, she wanted a safe and comfortable place for her family. Shaquana faced challenges, but she was determined. She reached out for help and got connected with Financial Coach Warwees Holt from SDC. She worked with her to manage her money and improve her credit. Her big goal was to buy a house, and she was super determined, even when things got tough. Shaquana never wanted her kids to go through what she went through with homelessness. With SDC’s support, she participated in a homebuyer education workshop, learned about money, and met with a lender and a real estate agent. She kept pushing, and her dream came true when her offer to buy a house was accepted. Warwees said, “Owning a home means belonging and pride. It's also a way to build wealth and leave something for your kids.” SDC’s Pathways to Home Ownership Program helps people like Shaquana achieve their dreams. We provide one-on-one help from counselors who know about buying and owning a home. We’re thankful for all our partners who support us and make this program possible. TURNING DREAMS INTO REALITY: PATHWAYS TO HOME OWNERSHIP Shaquana Johnson 10
JOINING FORCES AGAINST POVERTY: THE 2022 SDC SUMMIT ON POVERTY Standing Strong Against Poverty In 2022, the SDC Summit on Poverty brought together people across Milwaukee County and the Midwest region to discuss poverty and its impact. The discussions were full of helpful information to help Milwaukee residents understand more about poverty. CEO Dr. George Hinton, highlighted the resilient achievements of the SDC amidst the pandemic, noting that poverty took on a different turn and complicated the administration of programs, requiring innovative approaches to serve Milwaukee residents. Keynote speakers elaborated the impact of structured poverty on social, cultural, political, academic, economic and health of people experiencing poverty. This, they said, was evident especially amongst minorities, most of whom live below the poverty index, and was corroborated by other speeches with historical and scientific research. Dr. Jonathan Metzl, a professor of history and a medical doctor, set the tone by capturing structural inequalities in health, nutrition, cultural stigmatization and the role of the media in caricaturing stereotypes that glorify the inequalities. “You can tell from historical news media that the idea of structuring access to and provision of services and goods depicts an unequal relation among races and social classes and which in turn impact health and overall life outcomes,” he said. His sentiments were echoed by Dr. Dorothy Roberts, an award-winning sociologist, law professor and social justice advocate, who weighed in on the interplay of gender, racism and class in legal issues concerning reproductive health. “We cannot separate people from their life’s experience. We know that racism affects their choices and opportunities in accessing the best of everything they would need. And the problem is not race. The problem is racism,” she remarked. The 2022 Summit on Poverty brought together numerous organizations, government, educational institutions, scholars, medics, and community advocacy champions. SDC took the occasion to launch its Institute on Poverty and Systemic Racism, a collaboration with Marquette University, the Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. This partnership will help SDC in understanding the causes, impact and effective solutions to poverty in Milwaukee. 11 Rep. Park Cannon Rosa Clemente Dr. Arturo Menefee Dr. Jonathan Metzl Dr. John Meurer Dr. Dorothy Roberts KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Food and Housing Top Needs Identified for Milwaukee County Residents According to the newly released 2022 Community Needs Assessment report by the Social Development Commission, 80% of Milwaukee residents still live in poverty in spite of a 65% employment level in Wisconsin’s most populous and diverse County – Milwaukee County. As the number of people living in poverty remains at a high of 176,331, the report indicates that there is still a high percentage of residents who are poor and have ranked food, health, housing, safety and employment amongst their highest needs. Dr. George Hinton, CEO SDC says, “This year, more than two-thousand community members actively participated in the 2022 Community Needs Assessment survey, focus groups and interviews. The voice of the community was resounding, and will aid our mission to empower people with the resources to move beyond poverty.” The findings paint a picture of stark divergence ranging from the majority of the residents reporting an overall good quality of life, to data expressing the overwhelming burden that unaffordable housing places on renters – at least 59.9% of renters devote more than half their income to rent, even though a higher percentage of those believe housing in their communities is not of the highest quality. Although nearly all participants reported possessing health insurance, they highlighted uncertainty in availability of food, with at least 49% unsure about having enough food for themselves and their households within the last year. This was another clear indicator of the correlation between access to nutrition and health in the low-income households. The majority of this year’s assessment respondents identified as female (80%), and African American (64%). This prompts SDC’s commitment to boost outreach to Milwaukee County residents who have the lived experience of poverty regardless of their race, ethnicity or gender. SDC conducts annual community assessments to understand the extent of gaps in resource availability and allocation for residents. The assessments inform policy, decision-making, budgetary allocation and provide valuable data for efficient socio-economic interventions that can mitigate poverty. Previous research has helped the SDC empower Milwaukee residents to overcome poverty. Housing Food Safety Employment Health 12 COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT
2022 FINANCIALS Revenues General $16,074 Charges for Services $7,593 Grants $69,874,478 Total $69,898,145 Expenses Career Services $1,574,888 Education Services $559,621 Financial Services $939,709 Health & Wellness Services $852,411 Nutrition Services $2,770,919 Quality, Research & Policy $5,765,899 Residential Services $56,878,442 Senior Services $319,528 Youth Services $808,176 Total $70,469,593 Career Services Educational Services Financial Services Health & Wellness Services Nutrition Services Quality, Research & Policy Residential Services Senior Services Youth Services General & Charges for Services Grants
SDC Main Office 1730 W. North Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53205 SDC Teutonia 6850 N. Teutonia Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53209 SDC Northwest 9155 N. 76th St. Milwaukee, WI 53223 SDC Southside 2968 S. Chase Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53207 SDC Southwest 9004 W. Lincoln Ave. West Allis, WI 53227 cr-sdc.org | (414) 906-2700 | [email protected] Community Action Promise: Community Action changes people's lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other. Our Mission: Empowering Milwaukee County residents with the resources to move beyond poverty. Follow us! Like us! @SDCMilwaukee