LISC Milwaukee: The Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation launch a social media voting campaign to increase interest in and knowledge of Central City projects

Awards Recognize Innovative Projects Improving Milwaukee Neighborhoods

Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation

Since 1999, LISC Milwaukee has hosted the Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDI). The MANDIs highlight the unsung heroes working hard to revitalize Milwaukee’s most distressed urban neighborhoods. This Oscar-style event is attended by 750 civic leaders including neighborhood residents, nonprofits, private sector leaders, and elected officials. The MANDIs have grown into the premier event for the community development world, and it tells the much-needed story of what’s right with Milwaukee’s neighborhoods. The MANDI Selection Committee includes a panel of 40 volunteers.

Make Your Voice Heard– And Help a Nonprofit Win $1,000!

The Wells Fargo People’s Choice Award is a brand new interactive award category where the winner is chosen by the public through an online voting system. The goal is to increase exposure to the good work of the finalists in the broader community. The three groups who receive the most votes will each receive $1000! Please cast your vote between March 30-April 14 at http://www.milwaukeenns.org/mandivote

Starting Monday, March 30, articles written by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and videos produced by LISC Milwaukee about each finalist can be found at milwaukeenns.org/mandivote.

Event Information

Hosted by US Bank, the MANDIs will be held on Wednesday, April 15th, at the Potawatomi Event Center. A cocktail hour and Neighborhood Art Walk will be held from 4:15-5:30pm followed by dinner and awards from 5:30-7:30pm. The evening will close with a Neighborhood Dessert Reception and DJ from 7:30-9pm. For registration and information visit http://www.lisc.org/milwaukee/mandi/2015_mandi/index.php

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“The MANDIs shine a light on inspiring stories of passionate, creative, and effective leaders and projects, working hard to make our city great. We want to help the public have a more complete picture of what’s happening in Milwaukee’s central city. These groups need our support, and deserve our recognition.” Dawn Hutchison-Weiss, Communications Director.

MANDI 2015 Finalists

BMO Harris Bank Cornerstone Award: Express Yourself Milwaukee, Pan-African Community Association, Rotary Club of Milwaukee

Brewers Community Foundation Public Space Award: The ARTery, Holton Bridge Swing Park, HOME GR/OWN’s Ezekiel Gillespie Park

Northern Trust Navigator Award; LaKetta Caldwell, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, Todd Hutchison, Impact Seven, Venice Williams, Alice’s Garden

PNC Trailblazer Award; Cream City Gardens and Rain Harvesting, Guest House of Milwaukee, Sisters Diversion Project, Bendict Center, Mobile Bike Hub, Layton Boulevard West Neighbors

State Farm Building Blocks Award; Veterans Administration Community Resource and Referral Center on MLK Drive; Zilber School of Public Health

About LISC: Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is the recognized leader in neighborhood development. Since 1980, LISC national has marshaled $9 billion from 3,100 investors, lenders and donors to foster the revitalization of more than 300 urban neighborhoods and rural communities. Since 1995, LISC Milwaukee has invested $100 million in the central city by mobilizing resources for neighborhood revitalization and investing these funds through grants, loans and technical assistance to neighborhood-based community development efforts.

More information is available at http://www.lisc.org or http://www.lisc.org/milwaukee.