Community organizations continue to mobilize in an effort to address a growing health care crisis in Milwaukee. One of the latest blows was the abrupt closure in April of City on a Hill, a long-standing community health clinic that served many of the city’s most vulnerable residents.
In response, Health Connections Inc., a nonprofit health care organization, and the MKE Black Grassroots Network for Health Equity, a group of leaders and organizations working to reduce disparities in Milwaukee, have been hosting community meetings and conversations to help residents access resources and avoid future crises.
On June 6, the groups partnered with Safe & Sound to host a Milwaukee Community Health Care Access Day and Unity Weekend.
The event included a rally, press conference and health care resources and services for community members. Residents learned how to access care, receive free health screenings, improve food security and strengthen community connections.
“All of this work is about justice work,” said Quinton Cotton, a cofounder of the MKE Black Grassroots Network for Health Equity. “We want to transform systems that impact our everyday experience. So for us this work is all about community-centered care.”
The event, held at the Safe & Sound headquarters, 4422 W. Leon Terrace, was also part of “Wear Orange Weekend 2026,” uniting the fight for health care access with a call to end gun violence.
“It just made sense to marry the events,” said Bridget Whitaker, executive director of Safe & Sound. “Community access is the idea that when I have all the things I need like food, shelter and job access, I’m less likely to think of a different way to get what I need.”
Serving the public
According to Ericka Sinclair, a co-founder of MKE Black Grassroots Network for Health Equity and founder and CEO of Health Connections Inc., people felt hopeless after City on a Hill closed. Organizers wanted to show people that help does exist.
“It just felt like another loss of resources,” she said. “We wanted to be visible and show the public where they could go to get resources.
Pastor Greg Lewis said issues impacting communities are compounding.
“Too many people delay doctors visits, skip medications or go without preventative care because of cost, access or lack of resources,” he said. “Good health should not depend on your ZIP code.”
Sinclair said City on a Hill’s closure is not isolated. Safety-net clinics across Milwaukee are under growing pressure from unstable funding, workforce shortages and rising demand.
“We are all experiencing or going to experience funding cuts tied to federal dollars,” Sinclair said. “So we have to partner, merge events and communicate with one another. That’s how we get through this.”
The network also wants to ensure transparency moving forward.
“We know organizations are struggling, and sometimes there is a shame that comes with failing,” Sinclair said. “That shame should take a backseat to community wellness.”
People-led care
Cotton said this event was the beginning of a large conversation on what care looks like.
“Yes, we are here to talk about safety, gun violence and access to quality affordable health care,” he said. “But at the end of the day we want this work to be people directed and people led. The system should work for us.”
For more information
For more information or to get involved, you can reach out to Health Connections Inc.
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