This blog provides the top 5 highlights or updates about Family Promise of Waukesha County for Friday, March 10, 2023.
The Friday Five is a weekly blog post/update that focuses on the top five occurrences, issues, opportunities facing Family Promise each week. It is our hope that it will help you stay informed and connected to the mission of Family Promise of Waukesha County.
Our mission is to help low-income families and families experiencing homelessness achieve sustainable independence
through a community-based response.
The stories you can read this week are:
Joe Nettesheim joined Executive Directors from Minnesota and Wisconsin for a day-long in-service. It was held at the Family Promise of Ozaukee County new shelter facility.
TRIVIA (POLL) OF THE WEEK
This week's poll of the week is actually trivia. Since we recognize the women on our staff for Women's History month the question is which two case managers are responsible for the prevention program?
1. COMMUNITY SHELTER PARTNERS
We are excited to announce FIVE NEW PARTNERS for the Family Promise Waukesha Community Shelter Program.
Welcome to NEW Community Shelter Partners:
They are joining these partners:
Looking for ways to get involved?
Partner with Family Promise
We still are looking for partner organizations to join the fun! Learn more about the commitment:
Volunteer
Those who would like to commit to serving as individual volunteers can connect with Maria.
All volunteers are asked to complete the online training before April 1.
Once online sessions are concluded, please select an in-person session.
Wednesday, April 12 12 pm or 6pm
Thursday, April 13 1 pm or 5:30pm
Saturday, April 15 10 am or noon
Tuesday, April 18 12 pm or 5pm
Wednesday, April 19 12 pm or 6pm
Thursday, April 20 1pm or 5:30pm
Saturday, April 22 10 am or noon
TRIVIA OF THE WEEK
What two staff members are responsible for the Prevention Program?
Callie and Courtney
Courtney and Kelly
Callie and Kelly
Kelly and Kaylee
2. FIVE OBSERVATIONS
This past week Joe Nettesheim spent the day with Executive Directors from affiliates in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Here are five observations:
1] The new shelter in Ozaukee County is wonderful. Each family will have a suite, which includes a bedroom, small living room, kitchenette and full bath. The dorm style shelter model is passing. Suites give people more independence, responsibility and dignity.
2] Family Promise affiliates are moving to static shelter sites and doing so in ways that engage volunteers. A community response to homelessness is still a core value of our mission. In addition to Ozaukee County, Family Promise of Anoka County in Minnesota is a campus! It must be said it added to our hopes and dreams.
3] Affordable or workforce housing is a need in EVERY community because families are working and receiving wages that simply cannot meet the cost of rent. There needs to be more urgency around this issue.
4] Every affiliate has been forced to change services and programs due to Covid. Having time to reflect at the in-service really made it obvious how much we have changed since 2019. The programs we offer now did not exist then. It is quite remarkable and would not have been possible without a board willing to adapt, commitment of volunteers, the generosity of donors and a creative staff.
5] Family Promise is an excellent organization that is making an impact across the country. Meeting with just a few affiliates gives one a sense of the larger impact of this organization as a whole.
3. WELCOME JIBRIL!
We are excited to welcome Jibril Odogba to the Family Promise Board of Trustees. Jibril has a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering and a Master in Systems Engineering and is currently the Managing Principal for Pangaea Dimensions, a real estate development company. His interest in developing affordable housing will be an immense help to setting a vision for our future. You can read his biography on our Board page.
“I believe in service that is free and entrenched in humility, which provides abundant joy and pleasure.”
Welcome, Jibril!
4. A BED TO SLEEP IN: GOLF OUTING JULY 24
We are pleased to announce that Green Bay Packaging will be the presenting sponsor of our golf outing for the second consecutive year. The support provided to Family Promise from Green Bay Packaging-Baird Design is humbling. The Baird Display Division creates unique, high-impact temporary and semi-permanent point of purchase displays, merchandisers and signage that converts interest into action and helps brands stand out from the crowd.
The theme for the July 24, 2023 golf outing is a Bed to Sleep In.
When asked what was her best day at Family Promise of Waukesha County, Ann responded, it was the first day because she was "seeing my kids sleeping in a bed." After two months in her car, doing everything in her power to keep her family's experience of homelessness a secret; sleeping in a bed with a pillow; under the covers; with a roof over their head; falling asleep to a bedtime story; had to feel like a luxury.
Your participation in the golf outing will support our shelter and prevention programs which help families to have a bed to sleep in. Mark your calendars today and watch for more details.
5. WOMEN WHO INSPIRE
On the second Friday of March we honor the women on the staff of Family Promise. These women are committed and dedicated to empowering families experiencing homelessness. This month we honor the women on our team who care for families experiencing homelessness with compassion. Here are their sentiments about our mission. They really are women who inspire.
Kelly Hawkins, Case Manager - Prevention
“Working at Family Promise I was surprised to learn of the large amount of community support and volunteers working with our organization. It is also apparent that our community does not have enough resources to support families experiencing homelessness.”
Lisa LaBorde, Administrative Assistant
“I wanted to work somewhere that was doing something meaningful in my community. I had volunteered a few times and did some work for Family Promise, so when I saw the ad and the job description, it seemed to be a great fit.”
Maria Mundt, Program Coordinator
“I am motivated by the work we are doing because it impacts families and children experiencing homelessness. Our aim is to break the cycle of poverty.”
Callie Pauc, Case Manager- Prevention
“The golf outing really was an incredible day for me. Hearing the testimonies and being part of an event that brought everyone together made me feel connected to our mission, our donors, our volunteers, and OUR STAFF! It was beautiful to see so many people come together to support such an important cause and find great importance in our clients and their unique challenges was heartwarming.”
Courtney Rutkowski, Lead Case Manager
“It is important to me to help families experiencing homelessness because every child deserves a safe and comfortable place to call home. Families experiencing homelessness need the support from the community to break the homelessness cycle.”
YOU ARE INVITED: IFTAR 2023
Our partners at the Islamic Society of Brookfield invite you to Noor’s Interfaith Iftar 2023. This will be held on April 1 at 6pm. Iftar is a meal eaten after sundown during Ramadan. The celebration will include:
Middle Eastern food from Taqwa’s Bakery
Tours and a brief presentation
Participants will be allowed to witness Magrib prayers. This is a prayer at sunset about 5-10 minutes in length.
Please register soon as there is a limited number who can participate to ensure ease in moving around for the tours.
We are grateful for the partnership of the Islamic Society of Brookfield and hope you will see this as an opportunity to bring people together.
A CALL TO END HOMELESSNESS
Join SOPHIA (Stewards of Prophetic Hopeful Intentional Action) on March 18 from 1-2:30pm at First United Methodist Church 121 E Wisconsin Avenue, Waukesha WI 53186 for a seminar titled: A Call to End Homelessness.
JOIN US: TREASURES OF THE CHURCH AWARD
Join us on March 28 when Family Promise of Waukesha County is awarded the Treasures of the Church Award from Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
March 19 Presentation at St Leonard, Muskego
March 28 Lenten Luncheon: Family Promise receives Treasures of the Church Award
Registration required. St Anthony on the Lake, Pewaukee
April 1 Islamic Society of Brookfield Noor's Interfaith Iftar 6:00 pm
Apr 2 - Apr 8 Host: St. Anthony on the Lake
April 12 In-Person Volunteer Training at 12pm or 6pm
April 13 In-Person Volunteer Training at 1pm or 5:30pm
April 15 In-Person Volunteer Training at 10am or 12 noon
April 18 In-Person Volunteer Training at 12pm or 5pm
April 19 In-Person Volunteer Training at 12pm or 6pm
April 20 In-Person Volunteer Training at 1pm or 5:30pm
April 20 GIVING DAY
April 22 In-Person Volunteer Training at 10am or 12 noon
July 24 Family Promise Golf Outing
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA. JUST CLICK THE ICONS BELOW.
You can also join our Facebook volunteer group to learn about volunteer opportunities.