Voices from the Tables2 0 1 8 CO M M U N I T Y R E P O R T

Voices from the Tables

Powered by bold conversation, On the Table

MKE inspired thousands of people across

greater Milwaukee to connect and collaborate

in 2018 to advance positive change in our

community.

Led by the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, On

the Table MKE is a large collection of small

gatherings where participants share a meal, talk

about topics that matter in their lives and put

their ideas in motion to address those issues.

Thanks to the vision and ambition of hundreds of

hosts who held meaningful discussions across

the region on Oct. 9, the initiative was a

tremendous success in its second year. For many,

On the Table MKE provided a unique

opportunity to meet new people, exchange

ideas and bridge social divides, sometimes in

life-changing ways. Many others engaged in

deeper dialogue as conversations in 2018 were

increasingly deliberate in focus and oriented

toward action.

While On the Table MKE is a single day of civic

engagement, the relationships it strengthens are

built to last, and the efforts it sows have far-

reaching impact. Those vital connections and

inspired actions are key to the future of a more

equitable and prosperous community.

CONVERSATION AT A WHOLE NEW LEVEL

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99%found their conversation valuable

would participate again

99%

felt their table meaningfully bridged a social divide

86%

VITAL CONNECTIONS Taking time to pause, listen and get to know one

another is an On the Table MKE practice highly

valued by participants. Our community

demonstrated it is energized and eager to find

common purpose, connect on a personal level and

cooperate to advance promising ideas.

People found that On the Table MKE exposed them

to diverse perspectives, and they used the

opportunity to share experiences and explore a

range of topics, each with a tremendous bearing on

quality of life in southeast Wisconsin. By a large

margin, matters of race, equity and inclusion were

most frequently at the center of people’s

discussions, underscoring the need and desire in our

community to interact honestly and intentionally

about race.

Tables held at 160 locations, with participants

from at least 61 unique ZIP codes

*Data based on 228 completed On the Table MKE surveys.

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Matters of race or racial equity were discussed at

77% of tables

SUBJECT MATTERS

Race, Racism, Segregation, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion

• The significant and damaging effect of racism, segregation and racial inequity on people and communities of color, especially children and youth, and the region as a whole

• The structural, systemic and institutional forms of racism, and the need for systemic changes

• Racial inequity in housing and the role de facto segregation,

laws, policies and institutions played in creating it

Community Vitality, Community Engagement, Community Involvement

• The impact of building personal relationships on our ability to address issues and become a more vibrant community

• The importance of working together, collaborating and not accepting silos

within and between neighborhoods and/or communities

Education, Schools, Youth• The importance of early childhood education, especially supporting early

education teachers

• The power of youth using their voice, youth leaders and youth-led solutions

• Ensuring that all youth have access to good education and opportunity to pursue their dreams

Health, Health Care, Human Services• Making health care coverage and health care resources affordable and

accessible for all• Healthy birth outcomes, racial disparities and building awareness around

this issue

• Health in communities of color and the importance of culturally responsive care

Top 10 topics of discussionin order of prevalence, and the key themes that surfaced in 2018

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2.

3.

4.

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Intersecting Issues• The critical role of transportation for job access, food access, accessing

services and more• The impact recreation and coaches can have on increasing the physical,

mental and social-emotional health of youth• Creating a larger, stronger pipeline between education and the workforce

Mass Incarceration & Public Safety• Pursuing prison reform and ending mass incarceration

• Improving police-community relations

• Preventing violence, specifically gun violence

Employment, Workforce, Economy• Overcoming challenges to achieve greater employee retention• Creating paths to and opportunities for better employment and addressing

barriers that stand in the way• How employer practices, hiring processes and workplace cultures must work

better for and be more responsive to people, especially those from culturally diverse backgrounds

Voting• The importance of voting and the impact it has on issues like health care• Increasing voter registration, voter turnout and voter mobilization efforts

Nonprofit Sector• How and why nonprofit organizations should make advocacy, lobbying and

voter registration part of what they do• How nonprofit organizations can more deeply connect with the surrounding

community and the community with them

Housing & Homelessness• Increasing awareness of homelessness• Preventing and reducing homelessness by ensuring that services are available

and accessible• The need for more affordable housing

5.

6.

7.

8.

10.

9.

Connecting & collaborating | Education | Race, equity & inclusion Youth & mentoring | Health & well-being | Family support | Personal efforts Economic opportunity | Housing & homelessness | Media & perception

10 frequent themes

from 2017

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7.YOUTH VOICES

An added emphasis on youth outreach resulted in the voices of many more young people coming to the table in 2018. High school teachers and administrators also had access to a custom lesson plan adapting the On the Table MKE concept to the classroom.

Hundreds of students in over 20 schools – including several colleges and universities – participated in On the Table MKE conversations in 2018.

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Very helpful 68%

Somewhat helpful 30%

Adding valueOn the Table MKE helps participants advance their work.

For many, On the Table MKE was a time to convert quality conversation into innovative action. Some committed to personal steps they could take to make their neighborhood, school, workplace or community a better place. Others established plans for collaboration among individuals or organizations to address challenges or opportunities around areas of shared concern or interest.

The clear majority of participants found On the Table MKE to be an effective catalyst for community benefit.

INSPIREDACTIONS

90% will take action

because of their

conversation

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Building momentumConversations foster new and existing ideas.

15%

19%

68%

Sparked new efforts

Built on prior efforts

Both

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Carmen High School of Science and Technology: Breaking Down Stereotypes$2,500 to support student meetings and conversations across the Carmen High Schools and Hmong American Peace Academy to learn about each other’s cultural differences and similarities, culminating in a student-led project to share cultural customs, food, music and art.

Center for Youth Engagement: Building Community Dialogue Around Mass Incarceration$2,500 to support four panel discussion events, followed by small group table conversations, for people to learn about mass incarceration and the impact on communities of color. At the end of the events, participants will be asked to complete pledge cards to take some form of action.

Community Advocates: Tenant-Landlord Training Voucher Project$2,500 to support a voucher program to prevent evictions when a tenant completes a tenant-landlord training and the landlord agrees not to pursue an eviction.

Greater Milwaukee Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses: Addressing Chronic Disease Morbidity in Hispanic Women$2,360 to support the coordination and facilitation of community education sessions for Latino women, addressing women’s health and chronic diseases.

5 Points Neighborhood Association: The Arts as a Means of Self-Expression$2,000 to support a performing arts event, bringing individuals together to build unity, empathy and opportunity in Milwaukee’s 5 Points neighborhood and its surrounding neighborhoods. Following the performances, conversations will be facilitated over a meal to discuss commonalities and concerns around various topics.

Pathfinders: Youth Voice: Communicating about Mental Health and Stability$2,000 to support youth-facilitated conversations with other youth about mental health and stability, a self-advocacy training for youth, and to give youth a voice at the Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee coalition spring meeting through a youth-led panel discussion.

Menomonee Valley Partners: Developing a Valley Workforce Shuttle Pilot$2,000 to support feasibility planning to pilot a Menomonee Valley workforce shuttle to connect adjacent neighborhood residents to jobs in the valley.

United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County: Westlawn Best Babies Zone Storytelling$1,500 to support a partnership with Ex Fabula to engage Westlawn neighborhood residents to share birth stories in a series of events that includes an introductory storytelling workshop, story circles, and a culminating “StorySlam” community event, bringing awareness to the Best Babies Zone Initiative to reduce disparities in infant mortality and birth outcomes.

IDEAS TO ACTIONTo accelerate ideas developed through On the Table MKE conversations, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation introduced a funding opportunity for table participants in 2018 called Ideas to Action.

After taking proposals from eligible applicants, the Foundation convened an advisory committee with community, donor and Foundation staff representation. Based on committee recommendations, the Foundation invested a total of $25,000 in 16 projects designed to help strengthen community, deepen civic involvement and cultivate the new ideas from the tables. The projects will be taking place this spring. Thank you for putting actions behind your words and shaping a stronger community together!

IDE A S TO AC TION RECIPIENTS:

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Alive MKE: Visibility Conference $1,440 to support a conference focused on college and career readiness and professional development for high school and college students and young professionals. The event will provide access to resources, networks and opportunities for participants to thrive in college and in their careers.

Lake Valley Camp: The Culture Connection$1,350 to support an event focused on bringing Milwaukee’s Midtown community together through a series of interactive culture stations led by residents, encouraging people to learn about the neighborhood’s diversity and allowing neighbors to build relationships.

Phillip Mason: Inclusion Initiative for Professionals with Disabilities$1,000 to support the creation of an advisory board focused on building self-efficacy and increasing civic engagement among individuals with disabilities. The advisory board will be composed primarily of individuals with disabilities and their allies. The project is focused on growing participation of people of color.

Catholic Memorial High School: Conversations Leading to Change$1,000 to support a school presentation from Serve2Unite to share and work with students, faculty and staff to value humanity and the aspiration of living a life as a peacemaker, and creating inclusive, compassionate and nonviolent climates in their schools and communities.

Islands of Brilliance: Neurodiverse MKE$1,000 to support a series of conversations to gather input and information on the best way to deliver student-centered outcomes that improve the likelihood of employment and independence for individuals living with autism.

America SCORES Milwaukee: Neurosequential Sport Training for Coaches and Mentors$800 to support the participation of 25 coaches in an online Neurosequential Model in Sport training series that will inform effectiveness in coaching, performing, training and other key skills needed for success in sport. The training will provide practical applications that can have immediate impact on individuals and programs involved in sport to improve effectiveness in providing healthy developmental experiences and improved performance.

Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative: Mothers on a Mission$550 to support mothers from Milwaukee’s Clarke Square neighborhood to gather for regular neighborhood clean-ups to show stewardship of the neighborhood and take pride in the community.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Washington County: Healthy Minds$500 to support the creation of a “Zen Den” at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Washington County for youth who face mental health concerns and trauma.

$25,000 invested in

16 projects designed to strengthen

the community

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onthetableMKE.org | #onthetableMKE

“Improve access to services, remove barriers and increase engagement for children and families in shelter that extends into housing placement.” – Amy Rowell

“We hope to build empathy and connections between individuals that care deeply about our community.”– Leah Fiasca

“We need to create time and space for life-changing conversations like the ones we had together to occur on a wider scale. This won’t happen without intentionality, determination, and planning.”– Rebecca Moczulewski

“Get our organization involved with registering voters. Educate and get involved with the next generation.” – Dell Mercado

“Increase amount of Hispanic (health care) providers in the area. Inspire youth to pursue these paths. Be role models that they can relate to and be inspired by.”– Erika A. Colón

On the Table MKE will return Oct. 10, 2019S A V E T H E D A T E

WHAT DO YOU

HOPE TO ACHIEVE?

“More community building and amplifying youth-led solutions.”– Fidel Verdin

“Leveling the playing field for all students to have access to good education.”– Mary Kay Mark