CNI NEWS

On Saturday, October 16th the sounds of celebration were heard from the Westlawn Community Garden space! CNI's Northwest Fresh Food Access Council hosted Harvest Festival from 3pm-6pm to celebrate the end of a great growing season, offer some wellness activities for neighbors, and to get residents signed up for a garden plot in spring of 2022. Over 150 community members came out to enjoy the event and celebrate the end of a great growing season! Many neighborhood partners cam

The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation to administer educational and technical support, access to equity and debt capital The program aims to advance economic parity for Black entrepreneurs and business owners MILWAUKEE, Oct. 13, 2021 – The PNC Foundation is awarding a $600,000 grant to support the launch of the Black Business Boost Fund, an ecosystem designed to increase opportunities for Black entrepreneurs and business owners in underinvested neighborhoods o

The Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) was the recipient of the 2018 Governor's Financial Literacy Award. Governor Tony Evers and his wife, Kathy, presented the award to HACM Case Manager Nannette Ray (left) and former Westlawn Resident Alysia Mullins, who utilized the HACM/WWBIC financial literacy program to purchase a home and pay for school. Over 2,400 others have also graduated from the Make Your Money Talk Financial Empowerment series, and over 350 graduat

Ultimate Farm Collaborative, a new business venture, is coming to the Choice Neighborhood at the location that used to be home to Growing Power. The business will seek to empower farmers to grow food on the land, host events, and potentially open up a coffee shop and music venue. For more information, check out the Journal Sentinel's article on the business here.

The community gardens at Westlawn Gardens will open soon, and everyone is invited to grow with their community! A nominal $10 fee is requested for use of each 4' x 8' garden plot for the entire growing season (let us know if this is a financial hardship). One of the great features of the gardens is the availability of water spigots throughout the garden area, making watering very easy. Gardening tools and assistance from the garden manager are also available. Contact Delicia

The Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) and partners offer unique resources to help businesses grow within the CNI boundaries (N. Sherman Blvd. west to N. 76th Street and W. Villard Avenue north to W. Mill Road). The resources include a Revolving Loan Fund for start-up and existing businesses that provides up to $250,000 for start-up capital, inventory and equipment, business expansion, working capital and business support. Learn more here. CNI also offers Commercial Exter

Voting is also underway through April 10th for the People's Choice Awards at the Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDIs). You can help the Multi-Sport Complex at Browning Elementary/SSNC win by voting here. Winners will be announced at the MANDIs on April 11th. The new sports complex is also a finalist for the Brewers Community Foundation Public Space Award.

Best Babies Zone is teaming up with story-telling experts Ex Fabula to offer a FREE STORYTELLING WORKSHOP focused on birth stories from community members of the Choice Neighborhood area. Whether it's a story from your own experience or someone you know, each birth story is unique and powerful. Was it amazing? Challenging? Devastating? Life-changing? You will be guided by an Ex Fabula coach to share your story through effective storytelling skills, and you'll connect with othe

Havenwoods State Forest, one of many incredible neighborhood assets, is offering a multitude of spring programming options. Get the best spring experience by participating in family nature hikes, discovering nocturnal animals, and learning at free workshops in the new year. For more information on the spring schedule, click here.

Final preparations are underway to welcome new residents to Victory Manor in February and March. Members of the Westlawn Resident Council and Choice Neighborhood case management team (shown below) got a "first look" at the building, which is located at the corner of N. 68th Street & W. Silver Spring Drive. The building features 60 modern one-bedroom apartments with balconies, a large community room, business office, exercise room, small group meeting space, and common areas f