“Make A Difference”: Literacy Services | Mark Short, Speller and Board President

Listen: Over the past eight weeks, we’ve heard a number of different ways volunteers first came across their organization, from the inspiring to the expected — this time, it’s a spelling bee. Mark Short was a participant in Literacy Services of Wisconsin’s (LSW) Corporate Spelling Bee, a fund raiser that lets Milwaukee’s business community donate [...]

“Make A Difference”: Literacy Services | Joanne & Linda, Student & Teacher

Listen: For the final stop of Make A Difference, we spend a week with Literacy Services of Wisconsin (LSW), a great finale for our campaign. For one, they embody nearly every theme we’ve come across thus far — volunteering is fun, rewarding, a chance to learn, a chance to share, and so much more. These [...]

“Make A Difference”: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis | Wrap Up

Volunteering can seem hard. All the time and energy and logistics can be daunting to a person with a busy life.
However, sometimes you can make a world of difference by giving of yourself on the most basic levels. This is evident in youth mentorship, as most kids are simply looking for someone to spend time [...]

“Make A Difference”: ABCD | Annette and Willy Hopgood, Wife & Husband

Listen: In our first piece with After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD), we heard Julie speak about her first experience as a mentor and the incredible impact sharing her personal experiences made in another woman’s life. In the second, we heard how Lisa’s mentor gave her compassion and understanding as she went through treatments, a reassuring push [...]

“Make A Difference”: ABCD | Lisa, Survivor and Mentor

Listen: In our second piece with After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD), we meet Lisa Armitage. Almost six years ago, Lisa learned she had phase three breast cancer during the second trimester of her second pregnancy. Facing these dire circumstances, any semblance of optimism was difficult to find, even with the well wishes and support of her [...]

“Make A Difference”: ABCD | Julie, Survivor and Mentor

Listen: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) provides free, personalized information and one-to-one support for people affected by breast cancer — patients, families, and friends. They were founded by a group of women, including Melodie Wilson, who knew breast cancer couldn’t be reduced to just treatment. With the intention of structuring a process that was already going [...]

“Make A Difference”: ARCW | Shirley, Volunteer & Sister

Listen: Volunteering is not always direct. Oftentimes, the impact of the work may not be immediate and the rewards deferred. However, that kind of work is just as essential, especially with an organization like the ARCW. Although volunteer work may not include direct contact with clients, the cause is always there.
Shirley Tiedjen’s story is a perfect [...]

“Make A Difference”: Habitat For Humanity | Wrap Up

Listen: My week with Habitat For Humanity met my expectations in some ways, but consistently surpassed them in so many others. When Habitat For Humanity is mentioned, a few very definite ideas come to mind for most people. House building. Volunteering. Jimmy Carter? However, seeing the organization in action, I’ve gained a new appreciation for both [...]

“The First Summer of the Rest of Your Life”: An Introduction

There are a couple different ways to think about Summer in Milwaukee.  As the celebratory City of Festivals … and as a city, like so many other American cities, that spends the Summer months dealing with an increase in violent crime and the consequences of high school drop-out rates and lack of employment opportunities, like [...]

Volunteers needed for SDC’s 1st Annual Black Knowledge Bowl

Milwaukee’s Social Development Commission is holding its 1st Annual Black Knowledge Bowl on Friday, February 27, 8:30am to 3pm … and they need volunteers!
SDC needs need judges, scorekeepers, greeters, competition room support staff and general floaters.
To volunteer, or to register a high school or middle school team, contact SDC’s marketing manager Michele Nash at 414-906-2721.
SDC’s [...]