PEAK Annual Report 2021

2021

ANNUAL REPORT

front cover



A LETTER
FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

My incredible PEAK people! Let’s talk about 2021. 2021 was a year full of new beginnings and renewed
promise as we continued to learn, grow, and evolve to deliver programmatic goodness through persistent
messiness. In 2021, the resilience of the PEAK team and the overwhelming support and encouragement of
our stakeholders allowed us, with great enthusiasm, to bring our young-people, families, and team back
together in-person to learn and lead.

In June of 2021 we finished construction and cut the ribbon on a vibrant new program; and community
center in our familiar home of Tiefenthaler Park. We then immediately filled this beautiful and functional
space with the buzz of excited day campers hungry for activity and social connection. Bringing people
together is what we do and it felt so good to be able to do it live and in-person again in 2021.

In 2021 we launched new look offerings to go along with some of our tried and true programs, we solidified
new and important partnerships; and we added new leadership with an expanded governing board and a
growing team to better suit the needs and interests of the young people we serve. In 2021 we also began
preparing for a new senior leader as I readied to step away from the Executive Director role after 7 amazing
years. A smooth transition was made possible because of our strength in culture, shared leadership ap-
proach, and rooting everything we do in our values (which are NOT new). At PEAK we cultivate leaders,
and our approach to leadership continues to stem from the beliefs that every living being has inherent
value, everyone has the power to change their world, we can only grow when we’re honest about our
mistakes, and the community is better when everyone contributes. I couldn’t be more excited and honored
to be able to pass the torch at the end of 2021 to my team member and partner in this work since 2017,
Demetria Smith, a true leader who exemplifies the PEAK beliefs and who will build on the PEAK way for
years to come.

Dan Schiller

Outgoing PEAK Executive Director

THEORY OF CHANGE

KIDS ARE AWESOME.

UNFORTUNATELY, OUR APPROACH IS BASED ON 4 STRATEGIES:
CIRCUMSTANCES
ARE NOT. POTENTIAL

Inequity creates barriers to realizing potential for Nurture potential through supportive relationships with a diverse group
many young people, particularly African-American of positive peers and adults.
and Latine youth in the U.S. Lack of access to
positively formative experiences as well as gaps EXPERIENCE
in societal encouragement and support are
contributing factors. Engage young people in boundary pushing experiences that support social
emotional learning and quantifiable skill development.
PEAK IS WORKING TO CHANGE THAT.
ACCESS
Our mission is to bring out the limitless potential in
young leaders through extraordinary experiences Provide young people access to places, people, and activities that might
& nurturing relationships. otherwise be out of reach due to social and economic barriers.

KNOWLEDGE

Offer opportunities for young people to lead at all ages in a variety of environments,
actively increasing knowledge of self, knowledge of others, and knowledge of the world.
Support experience-developed skills that allow for meaningful contribution.

THESE STRATEGIES LEAD TO:

SHORT TERM OUTCOMES: LONG TERM OUTCOMES:
MINDSET & SKILLS ACTIONS & BEHAVIORS

As young people progress on their As young people progress on their PEAK journey, they
PEAK journey, they learn and live learn and live the Four Beliefs. Leadership In Action looks like:
the Four Beliefs. Leadership In
Action looks like: SELF SUFFICIENT

ALL LIVING BEINGS Able to meet their needs comfortably with available resources.
HAVE INHERENT VALUE.
ENGAGED WITH COMMUNITY
WE CAN ONLY GROW We practice this core belief by identifying
WHEN WE ARE HONEST and appreciating the experiences, talents Promoting quality of life for self and others.
ABOUT OUR MISTAKES. and skills in ourselves and others. We show
up as advocates, supporting the interests SOCIALLY & EMOTIONALLY WELL
We practice this core belief by
persisting through challenges, learning of a person, group or cause. Possessing the outlook, skills, and supportive network to flourish.

from experience, and exhibiting the We aspire to build skills in ULTIMATE OUTCOMES:
courage to do the next right thing. empathy and nurturing a IMPACT & VISION
strengths-focused outlook.
PEAK Alumni shape their communities with
We aspire to build skills in EVERYONE HAS THE POWER poise, persistence, confidence, and character; and
self-awareness and cultivating TO CHANGE THEIR WORLD. communities in which PEAK Alumni live and work are
more equitable, harmonious, and/or prosperous as a
a growth mindset. We practice this core belief by direct result of their contributions.
imagining the ideal future and building
THE COMMUNITY IS toward the results we want to achieve,
BETTER WHEN EVERYONE
using the resources that we have.
CONTRIBUTES.
We aspire to build skills
We practice this core belief through in problem solving and
community exploration, identification of cultivating resilience.
assets, building connections with others,

and showing interest and care for
shared spaces and goals.

We aspire to build skills
in communication
and collaboration.

EVERY LIVING BEING
HAS INHERENT VALUE.

STRENGTHS FOCUS • EMPATHY

We practice this core belief by identifying
and appreciating the experiences, talents
and skills in ourselves and others. We show
up as advocates, supporting the interests of
a person, group or cause.

FOUR BELIEFS IN ACTION

After over a year of limited in-person programming, PEAK and Lake Valley
Camp were back in action! The realities of our young leaders living through
a pandemic meant that extra care, understanding, and support
was imperative to a successful summer for our campers. This was the first
in-person program most campers had been a part of since the beginning of
the pandemic. Staff worked diligently to show up as advocates for them
and facilitate programming that not only kept them safe, healthy, and
connected, it also met the unique needs living through a pandemic imposed.

LEADER IN ACTION

As a new Pathfinder, Aylin Valdovinos showed immense growth as a leader,
a student, and a friend during her six week camp session. One of Aylin’s
greatest strengths is creating an inclusive community among her peers. At
camp, she would actively seek relationships with new campers, and include
nervous campers in activities. Aylin also grew in her understanding and
practice of empathy by finding commonalities among new friends to help
them feel welcomed and a part of the PEAK community.

PEAK integrates everyone
from different communities,
going to PEAK has helped
my daughter learn about
more diversity.”

— Marisol Ramos, PEAK Parent

WE CAN ONLY GROW WHEN WE
ARE HONEST ABOUT OUR MISTAKES.

SELF-AWARENESS • GROWTH MINDSET

We practice this core belief by persisting
through challenges, learning from experience,
and exhibiting the courage to do the next
right thing.

FOUR BELIEFS IN ACTION

Leadership is not always an easy journey. Developing a growth mindset
and giving young people an opportunity to fail forward is integral to PEAK
programming. At Pioneer Day Camp, one of the main objectives is to
complete short term goals through a growth mindset lens. This year
campers were given the opportunity to learn some basic building skills
and were tasked with creating a birdhouse from scratch. Frustrations
arose at all skill levels and staff guided the Pioneers through the project
using growth mindset coaching. Although the process was messy at
times, every single Pioneer was able to complete a birdhouse and proudly
displayed their hard work at Final Share.

LEADER IN ACTION

Having self-awareness of your skill set and the determination to improve
is an area many adults still haven’t mastered. Pioneer Henry Dixon joined
us for Day Camp, not knowing how to ride a bike. While the rest of the
Pioneers were practicing advanced skills on standard bikes, Henry started
on a balance bike. Through patience and determination, and with an
always cheery disposition, he finished the summer by going on an 8 mile
bike excursion with his peers.

People will often view mistakes
and failure as a roadblock. Being
able to remodel our initial
response to these challenges by
encouraging them as a learning
experience, is just one of the
ways PEAK inspires our young
leaders to put in their best
effort. It’s not about how many
times you fail, it’s about how you
grow from every opportunity
you took.”

– M ason Wyland,
Pioneer Boys Village Coordinator

THE COMMUNITY IS BETTER
WHEN EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES.

COMMUNICATION • COLLABORATION

We practice this core belief through community
exploration, identification of assets, building
connections with others, and showing interest
and care for shared spaces and goals.

FOUR BELIEFS IN ACTION

The Leaders in Training (LT) Internship Program is a cornerstone of
our leadership development philosophy. Allowing our LT interns to take
ownership of projects and programs enhances the youth driven aspect of
our program. It provides LTs the opportunity to show up as role models for
all participants and contribute to the PEAK community. Contributions were
vast this year, including showing up as program facilitators in Milwaukee,
contributing their voice through community circles, and improving the Lake
Valley Camp space through building benches, camp signs, and cabin posts.

LEADER IN ACTION

Identifying how to contribute your individual strengths to the community is
an important leadership skill. During his fourth LT Internship, Lamarrion
Franklin collaborated with fellow LTs Cipriano Padron and Mary Brewington
to plan and execute a workshop for younger participants. Through the LT
Internship program Lamarrion has grown as a leader, contributing his
unique style into the direct facilitation of programs.

PEAK has created such a
sense of community and
family and they’ve prepared
them emotionally to really
grow and learn and lead.”

– Evelyn Orta, PEAK Parent

EVERYONE HAS THE POWER
TO CHANGE THEIR WORLD.

RESILIENCE • PROBLEM SOLVING

We practice this core belief by imagining
the ideal future and building toward the results
we want to achieve, using the resources that
we have.

FOUR BELIEFS IN ACTION

A critical part of leadership is learning to navigate unfamiliar spaces
and learning how to stick with it through our discomfort. We change the
world when we insist on participating meaningfully in all spaces and PEAK
works to offer access to new horizons for our youth. To that end, we
offered mountain biking for the first time! This sport has historically low
involvement from Black, Latine, and female identifying athletes and,
through a partnership with Milwaukee Recreation and the National
Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), we were able to get kids riding
this summer. Voyagers Layloni Jackson, Kyree Dunn, and High Schooler
Jalesa Young took it to the next level and competed in state-wide races
and received scholarships for equipment and race fees.

LEADER IN ACTION

From apprentice to entrepreneur. After taking the Sewing Workshop
and learning a new skill, Voyager Valentina Martinez built an inventory
of hand sewn items and sold her products for profit at CirculateMKE,
a local artists market, hosted at the PEAK Program Center. Through
dedication and perseverance, Valentina is actively creating new avenues
for leadership and growth for herself.

PEAK guides young people
into embracing their individual
leadership styles and provides
tools and skill building to not
only talk about change but to
put it into action.”

– L ila Weatherall, Director of
Teen & Community Programs

PARTICIPANT DEMOGRAPHICS

RACE/ETHNICITY

BLACK 63%
MULTIRACIAL 10%
WHITE 1%
LATINE 25
OTHER 1%

TOTAL PARTICIPANTS

UNIQUE PARTICIPANTS 305
TOTAL REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS 771
TOTAL DROP-IN PARTICIPANTS 1420

GENDER EXPRESSION

MALE 46%
FEMALE 53%
TGNC* 1%

*Trans/Gender-nonconforming/Non-binary

ANNUAL STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS, PARTNERS, NEW DONORS

ANNUAL STAFF Rodney Sanchez BOARD MEMBERS
Operations Manager
Dan Schiller Cecilia Gencuski Bill Kellogg (Founder & Governing Board Chair)
Executive Director Community Programs Manager Retired from Kohl’s
Demetria Smith Aris Townsend Kurt Kellogg (Kellogg Family Foundation Representative)
Senior Director of Programs Communications Coordinator Retired from ACME Tackle
Jason Beard Kathy Wallace Peter Sommerhauser
Director of Operations and Finance HR & Finance Coordinator Godfrey & Kahn
Eve Smallwood Maggie Kellogg Stephanie Maney
Lake Valley Camp Director Youth Programs Coordinator City Year Milwaukee
Haley Woods Cindy Garcia Jay Creagh
Assistant Director of Camp Operations Youth Programs Coordinator Godfrey & Kahn
Lila Weatherall Mason Wyland
Assistant Director Teen Program Coordinator PARTNERS DreamBikes
of Teen & Community Programs Imani Ray Milwaukee County Parks
Hannah Janaky Teen Program Coordinator Messmer St. Mary Midtown Neighborhood
Camp & Expeditions Program Manager Richard Barnes Messmer St. Rose Alliance
Beth Neuens Facilities & Maintenance Specialist BloomMKE Children’s of Wisconsin
Youth Programs Manager Prince of Peace She Slangs Wood
Erin Baldeon Fischer All Hands Boatworks Neu-Life
Impact & Engagement Manager Wisconsin Bike Federation Boscobel Public Library
MENTOR Milwaukee
Milwaukee Recreation
National Interscholastic
Cycling Association (NICA)