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LaVonda Graham, board president of Walnut Way Conservation Corp., accepts the award for the Innovations & Wellness Commons in Lindsay Heights. (All photos by Emmy A. Yates)
Three projects in the North Side Lindsay Heights neighborhood won Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDIs) Thursday evening at a dinner attended by about 800 guests.
The event, held at the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, was presented by LISC Milwaukee and U.S. Bank. All winners received a trophy and a $1,000 contribution. The 15 finalists, in five categories, were chosen by a selection committee of 40 volunteers from the private, public and government sectors. Winners of the Wells Fargo People’s Choice awards were determined by a public vote, hosted on the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service website.
The Innovations and Wellness Commons, 1617 W. North Ave., won the award for a real estate project that improves the community. The other two Lindsay Heights awards went to the Johnsons Park Revitalization project and the Historic Wally Schmidt Tavern Redevelopment, 1848 W. Fond du Lac.
Fran Dawson, acting executive director of Walnut Way Conservation Corp., which was a partner in all three Lindsay Heights projects, said that community residents deserve the credit for their success. “We live together, work together and play together. We support each other,” she said.
Tony Gibson, chairman of the Johnsons Park Neighborhood Association, said that the park’s revitalization has taken nearly a decade. He credited the Center for Resilient Cities, the Rotary Club and other partners for recognizing the potential in Johnsons Park, adding that the work isn’t done. “There’s so much looming on the horizon,” he said.
Silver Spring Neighborhood Center won the BMO Harris Bank Cornerstone Award, which recognizes an organization for its commitment and effectiveness over time. The center was also the recipient of a People’s Choice Award.
Kaylin Jones, who accepted the award for SSNC, credited the organization’s success to its ability to work with whole families. Jones, who said she “grew up in the center,” explained, “We start with prenatal, all the way through adults. When you work with a kid for years, you can and must have an impact.”
The Milwaukee Christian Center and the Journey House Community Garden also won People’s Choice awards. More than 1,800 people voted for the winners.
“The MANDIs are a celebration of Milwaukee’s neighborhoods, and the passionate, committed people who work tirelessly to improve their communities,” said Dawn Hutchison-Weiss, communications director at LISC Milwaukee.
Winners and finalists are listed below:
- The Silver Spring Neighborhood Center was awarded the BMO Harris Bank Cornerstone Award, given to an organization that demonstrates commitment and effectiveness over time. Other finalists were City on a Hill and Milwaukee Christian Center.
- The Johnsons Park Revitalization in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood received the Brewers Community Foundation Public Space Award. Other finalists were Green Tree Community Garden and the Journey House Community Garden.
- Darryl Johnson, executive director of Riverworks Development Corp., won the Northern Trust Navigator Award, given to an individual for leadership. Other finalists were Diane De La Santos, executive director of City on a Hill, and Gretchen Mead, executive director of Victory Gardens Initiative.
- The Historic Wally Schmidt Tavern Redevelopment won the PNC Bank Trailblazer Award, which recognizes an innovative approach to a community problem. Other finalists were the Fill the Gaps Initiative and the Layton Boulevard West Home Improvement Matching Grants Program
The Innovations and Wellness Commons in Lindsay Heights won the State Farm Building Blocks Award for a real estate project that improves the community. Other finalists were the Asian Public Market Phongsavan and TechForce Training Center.
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