Men Mending Men in the Community is a new organization created to, among other things, support and integrate men returning from incarceration into the community.
The organization came out of conversations between Bryan Winters, who wears different hats, and his friend and colleague, Phil Harvey, about ways to emotionally and spiritually support men who have been incarcerated.
One way they aim to do this is by welcoming everyone in the community to be a part of what it does.
An Aug. 10 event was the group’s first opportunity to do so.
People curious about what Men Mending Men in the Community has to offer line up at its table. (Photo by Devin Blake)
The event took place by the pool house at Washington Park at 4023 W. Galena St.
The event’s theme was harm reduction, an approach to substance abuse treatment that emphasizes methods to reduce use rather than outright abstinence.
The event began around 7:45 a.m. with a jog led by its program director, John Coburn. After that, the atmosphere morphed into a combination of a resource fair and a cookout, with service providers, free food and games.
The goal is to have a similar event every other month.
Those interested in learning about volunteer opportunities, becoming a member or making a donation, can email info@menmendingmen.org.
Devin Blake is the criminal justice reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. His position is funded by the Public Welfare Foundation, which plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.
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