Maurice Jones named to replace Michael Rubinger as LISC President and CEO

Jones brings business, management, policy experience to LISC

Maurice Jones, Virginia’s commerce secretary and a former HUD official, has been chosen to serve as LISC’s new president and CEO. He succeeds Michael Rubinger, who will step down after 17 years as CEO. Jones brings to the leadership role a career’s worth of business, management and policy experience and an enduring personal commitment to improving communities and the lives of low-income Americans.   read more

Reflections from New Executive Director, Donsia Strong Hill

Donsia Strong Hill, LISC's new executive, at MANDI Awards, Photo by Andrea Waxman, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Over the last 60 days, I have had the pleasure of meeting with 25 LISC executive directors and visiting three LISC sites, New York, Cincinnati and Indianapolis. With our numerous sites and partners, LISC has access to a wide range of “best practices.”  Although every LISC site has its own unique set of circumstances and approaches, there are some strongly recurring themes. read more

Students write new chapter in city development through Real Estate

ACRE Class 2016

Marking the culmination of a 26-week course that began last September, 20 students graduated from the Associates in Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) program on June 7 at the MSOE Grohmann Museum. The 26-week program includes working with experienced professionals to provide a better understanding of the real estate industry as well as a hands-on approach to develop experience. The curriculum includes commercial real estate development, and property and construction management taught by industry leadlers, and "real-life" class projects. Congratulations to the class of 2016 graduates! read more  Gallery on Milwaukee NNS Facebook Photo Alum

Neighborhood Practitioners, Law Enforcement, and Others Learn How To Prevent Crime Through Environmental Design

Students discuss design elements to reduce opportunities for crime

LISC recently sponsored a three-day training in how to reduce and prevent crime through environmental design concepts and activation of space. The Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) methodology is growing in popularity and considered a critical part of engaging community, law enforcement, and developers in joint problem-solving around crime. Art Hushen, President of the National Institute for Crime Prevention facilitated the CPTED Professional Designation Qualifying Course.

Those trained included fifteen officers from the Milwaukee Police Department (representing four districts), City of Milwaukee planners, the District Attorney’s Office, Safe & Sound, Artists Working in Education and neighborhood practitioners from eight neighborhoods. article

Home-Grown Developers

Chris Orr, Darnell Williams, Michael Leah at Mitchell Pointe Apartments

The two owners of JMC2 Investments, Michael Lea and Chris Orr, are no strangers to Milwaukee. Both grew up in the city, Michael in Sherman Park on Milwaukee’s north side, and Chris on the northwest side near 84th and Mill Road.  Both have been investing in small properties, single family and duplexes, for many years. Long-time friends, Michael and Chris both yearned for bigger projects.  To accomplish this goal, they joined forces and created JMC2 Investments LLC. Through the ACRE program, Chris met Darnell Williams, and a "team" was formed. read more

Monitoring Reports Offer Neighborhoods Insights on Economic Trends

Reports help leaders with data on neighborhood trends

LISC Milwaukee is a part of an emerging movement to provide useful data to neighborhood partners and community leaders. To help community leaders pursue comprehensive change, LISC prepares and distributes Neighborhood Monitoring Reports containing data on neighborhood social and economic trends. These reports, created by the LISC National Office of Research and Assessment (ORA), provide data and information designed to assist local leaders and stakeholders with decision-making, communication, and partnerships. The ORA produces these reports for each of LISC’s 115 Building Sustainable Communities (BSC) neighborhoods.

In June 2016, Chris Walker, Director of ORA, came to Milwaukee to provide an analysis of reports on five neighborhoods in an effort to help local LISC staff, neighborhood leaders and stakeholders understand the research methodology data and use for strategy development, fund development or course correction. These neighborhoods included Layton Boulevard West, Clarke Square, Harambee, Lindsay Heights, and Washington Park. Mr. Walker also identified comparison neighborhoods on such factors as income levels and homeownership.

ACRE Program Now Accepting Applications for Fall Class

The goal of the Associates in Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) Program is to expand minority representation in the commercial real estate fields of development, property management, and construction management. This program offers students the opportunity to expand their knowledge of these industries while creating a valuable network of fellow students, ACRE graduates and industry professionals.ACRE is a 26-week program that runs from September through May. Typical ACRE students have some college training and several years of business experience. Applications are due July 15th. read more / apply

NFL Grants

Want to build a football field? LISC and the NFL help communities with the financial and technical assistance to install play fields. Applications are due August 15th. Learn more about 2016 grants and how to apply. read more / apply