Margaret Henningsen, a master of ceremonies at the MANDI Awards dinner, chats with attendees after the award presentations. (Photo by Kenya Evans)
More than 700 community members recently attended LISC Milwaukee’s 13th Annual Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDI) at the Pfister Hotel. Five winners were announced live at the event.
MANDI winners were: Veterans Manor Apartments (PNC Trail Blazer Award), Team Valley Passage (Brewers Community Foundation Public Space Award), Wisconsin Community Services (BMO Harris Bank Cornerstone Award), Milwaukee Area Workforce Funding Alliance (Northern Trust Navigator Award) and Villard Square Grandfamily Milwaukee (State Farm Building Blocks Award). Froedtert Health/Froedtert Hospital (Vision Award) also was recognized for its commitment to health and wellness in the Washington Park neighborhood.
Finalists and winners were chosen by an independent selection committee made up of 20 volunteers. Sixteen finalists were announced in January.
LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) hosts the MANDI Awards to showcase organizations that are committed to improving Milwaukee’s central city neighborhoods, according to Leo Ries, LISC executive director.
“LISC is about neighborhoods,” said Catherine Madden, LISC Milwaukee advisory board chair. “We transform neighborhoods into healthy communities.”
Froedtert Health/Froedtert Hospital was also recognized by the LISC Milwaukee Local Advisory Board for its commitment to health and wellness in the Washington Park neighborhood.
The event’s MCs were Police Chief Edward Flynn and Margaret Henningsen, executive director of the Women’s Fund. Additionally, Mayor Tom Barrett and other government officials, corporate leaders and representatives of neighborhood development groups were among the attendees. U.S. Bank was the presenting sponsor.
Jezamil Vega-Skeels, neighborhood planner at Layton Boulevard West Neighbors, has attended the MANDI Awards three times. “I think it’s a great night to not only celebrate,” she said, “but reflect on a hard year of work as a community.”
