Spotlight

These organizations and individuals have a personal connection to Brett’s story, all promoting work that we care about.

Project Kindred’s mission is to disrupt the cycle of segregation in Milwaukee by uniting young people of diverse backgrounds and empowering them to lead our city toward justice, equity, and love.

Project Kindred

The PEAK Initiative Program looks to bring out the limitless potential in young leaders through extraordinary experiences and nurturing relationships.

Referenced in Chapter 15, “Dang, Look Those Shoes” and Chapter 16, “I Don’t Have a Ride”

The Kellogg PEAK Initiative

Bridge the City believes that local media is key in shifting the narrative and empowering our city to make progress. Through their content, they seek to amplify voices in Milwaukee and introduce listeners to movements, ideas, and parts of the city you may not have known about before.

Bridge the City

The BrandLab is changing the face and voice of the marketing and advertising industry. They empower young talent from Indigenous, Black, Brown, AAPI and Hispanic/Latinx backgrounds to launch sustainable careers in thriving workplaces of creativity, inclusivity and belonging.

The BrandLab

Life Navigators provides children and adults with disabilities with comprehensive disability support services and individualized support to ensure safe, happy, and healthy lives.

Life Navigators

CORE El Centro serves adults and children of all income levels. Using a pay-what-you-can model, they offer integrative healing services such as acupuncture, massage therapy and body work; gardening and nutrition programs; children's wellness; social change through community health advocacy; and movement classes.

CORE El Centro

Latinos in Tech

Latinos in Tech aims to empower Latin@s to support and develop one another through resource-sharing, special events, and professional development services.

Milwaukee Parks Foundation strives to collectively steward a thriving parks system. Through fundraising, raising awareness, building community capacity and partnerships, and advocacy, MPF is dedicated to building a more vibrant and equitable parks system that benefits all.

Milwaukee Parks Foundation

National Coalition for the Homeless

The National Coalition for the Homeless works to prevent and end homelessness while ensuring the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness are met and their civil rights protected.

Referenced in Chapter 14, “The Urban Plunge”

Stephanie Hildebrand, Compass Realty

Referenced in Chapter 41, “To The “Subs’”
Often professionals synthesize information. Could you do what they/we do? Technically. Will you? Probably not… Will you without costly mistakes or delays? Definitely not.

Our first realtor, Kim Devine, treated us well in spite of being low-budget and high maintenance.

The second realtor that seamlessly moved us as busy parents? Stephanie Hildebrand. Stephanie understands that not every real estate transaction is the same; financially or emotionally. Her clients benefit from a process tailored to meet each individual’s needs.

Climb USA focuses on helping teens and young adults improve their financial capability through education and capital market engagement.

Climb USA

Arts @ Large

Arts @ Large is committed to providing equitable access to educational experiences that include the arts.

Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity

Brett spent 10 months as Construction Volunteer Lead with Habitat as an full-time Americorps volunteer, seeing homeowners and volunteers working side by side, and seeing how the mortgages are structured as a lift into generational wealth through homeownership. 

The Wisconsin Bike Fed looks to cultivate, motivate and unite a strong community of residents as well as business and political leaders to move bicycling forward in Wisconsin – through education, legislation and involvement.

Wisconsin Bike Fed

UW-Milwaukee Education Psychology Department

The Department of Educational Psychology at UW- Milwaukee trains the next generation of leaders in cognitive and developmental sciences, counseling psychology, educational statistics and measurement, school and clinical mental health counseling, and school psychology.

Muscular Dystrophy Association

Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is the #1 voluntary health organization in the United States for people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases. For over 70 years, MDA has led the way in accelerating research, advancing care, and advocating for the support of families.

Literacy Services of Wisconsin partners with motivated adults to provide access to quality basic education and skills training so they can improve their lives, enrich their families, and strengthen our community.

Literacy Services of Wisconsin

Best Buddies is an organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Best Buddies

House of Anaya is a wellness solutions firm specializing in retreat planning, mindfulness in business workshops, concierge services, and a unique focus on DE&I through the wellness lens. With a passion for holistic well-being, they offer transformative experiences to individuals and organizations, promoting personal growth, work-life balance, and a mindful approach to all aspects of life.

House of Anaya

Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin

The Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin's mission is to provide support to Wisconsin families and individuals with Down syndrome and related disabilities through awareness, education, information, programs, services, and the exchange of ideas and experiences