Friday, May 9, 2008

Habitat Builds in Harambee

Volunteers and future homeowners started work Monday on eight homes in Harambee. You can see the action in the 2900 block of North Fifth Street and the 2900 and 3000 blocks of North Seventh Street. Two more houses will start in a few weeks. Homeowners will be presented with the keys to their homes at a ceremony before tonight's Milwaukee Brewers game.

This is all part of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' investment in the Harambee Community. In addition to the ten houses to be constructed this year, they built ten in 2007, and have put up an additional $1 million to support implementation of the Harambee Community Action Plan.

Link to Journal Sentinel article

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Cops, Children Clean Cluster Two


Saturday, May 3 was a rainy day in Cluster Two, but after nearly 200 people - police recruits, children and other neighbors - picked up bags and bags of trash, by Sunday the area looked much brighter. On another bright note, Fifth District Officer Ray Robakowski shared his knowledge of community policing with the class of recruits that will be graduating from the police academy this month, and which happens to include his son. In the photo at left, a boot camp for boys from Bethany Lutheran Church paused from their work in the parking lot of Solomon Temple on MLK Drive. The ladies from Cluster Two Neighborhood Association served hot dogs, chips, and cookies and HOPI handed out "Harambee Community - I'm In!" hats. Many thanks to all who participated.

That's My Dad Event

In addition to the "Breakfast With Dad" event, the Milwaukee Fatherhood Collaborative, Inc. is scheduling it's 7th annual pre-Father's Day event: "That's My Dad". The objective of this event is to:

* Encourage fathers to be more involved in the lives of their children
* Increase the awareness of the services that are provided to fathers
* Provide an opportunity for fathers to spend quality time with both their custodial and
non-custodial children
* To award fathers that have touched the lives of their children

The details of this event are as follows:

Where: Humboldt Park
(event will take place in the park located on Milwaukee's south side)
When: Saturday June 14, 2008
Time: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

FREE Food, games for youth, essay winners, social service vendors, and more!!!

The Milwaukee Fatherhood Collaborative will be holding raffles, and are asking for donations from organizations that may be interested in sponsoring prizes. Some of these prizes are: iPods, CD players, Boys & Girls Bicycle, Gift Certificates, Board Games, Boom Box, TV, Play Station, Children's Books, Watches.

They will also be hosting a Tug-O-War competition where the proceeds will go towards funding the academic scholarship fund. To enter the competition, teams must have 8 team members and pay a $125 registration fee. Again, all proceeds go toward the academic scholarship fund, and the winners of the competition will receive a trophy and have the scholarship issued in the organization's name. The deadline for signing up for this competition is Thursday, June 5, 2008. Teams must be registered and fee paid by this date.

If you or your organization are willing to help sponsor a raffle prize or join the Tug-O-War competition, please contact Charles Richardson from the Vincent Center (President of the Milwaukee Fatherhood Collaborative) at (414) 374-0109.

Breakfast With Dad

Charles Richardson from the Vincent Center passed along the following information about the upcoming "Breakfast With Dad" event scheduled for this upcoming Saturday, May 10. The event details are as follows:

Where: 5600 W Fond du Lac Ave
When: Saturday, May 10th, 2008
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 noon

Breakfast With Dad is a Shared Project with the Milwaukee Fatherhood Collaborative, the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and Milwaukee County Child Support Enforcement.

Municipal Judges and Court Commissioners have also been invited.

Staff will be available to assist with issues of:

  • Family Preservation
  • Health Disparities
  • Child Support Enforcement
  • Drivers License Recovery

    For More information call (414)374-0109