LISC Milwaukee: Minority students write new chapter in city development through real estate

Associates in Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) students become graduates

MILWAUKEE, (June 14, 2016) – The 2015-2016 ACRE class graduated from the program at the MSOE Grohmann museum on June 7th 2016. Designed to cultivate minority students in the field of real estate, property management and construction, The ACRE program is coordinated by LISC Milwaukee, along with educational partners Milwaukee School Of Engineering (MSOE), Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. 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. This year, twenty students were able to enhance their skills and given an advantageous platform to begin or continue a prosperous career path.

The ACRE graduation served as a way to congratulate the students for their accomplishments as well thank partners, instructors, sponsors, and everyone else who makes the program possible for students every year. The program focuses on student’s impact to community development for the future. “The real future of the city is in the neighborhoods,” said Barry Mandel, Owner of the Mandel Group. A small, but powerful quote by Barry to give graduates and alumni motivation to focus on city development through neighborhoods in need. The graduation featured many passionate speakers that made ceremony one to remember.

The graduation speakers included: Founder Dr. Mark Eppli, Marquette University, Donsia Strong Hill, LISC, Dr. Matt Panhans, MSOE; City Common council President Ashanti Hamilton; Barry Mandel, The Mandel Group; ACRE alumni Kevin Newall, Royal Capital; graduate Lavell Young, and program administrator Sakuri Fears, LISC.

The ACRE program allows students to advance their career and become an advocate of the community. Students are already professionals in a wide variety of industries, and ACRE allows them to advance their careers and deepen their expertise. The 2016 ACRE graduates include: Jodee Benavides, Jackie Carter, Qaiyim El-Amin, Rafael Garcia, Natasha Gray, Meng Long Hao, Heidi Henley, Kate Hill, Raynetta Hill, Tim Hoye, Ariam Kesete, Omar Mallick, Samuel Martinez, Ashley Norris, Christopher Orr, Fausto Rivera, Alexander Walker, Mikal Wesley, Darnell Williams, and Lavelle Young.

ACRE’s industry partners also consists of: the Mandel Group, the OPUS foundation, and WHEDA.

# About LISC: Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is the recognized leader in neighborhood development. Since 1980, LISC national has marshaled $10 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 $130 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 www.lisc.org or www.lisc.org/milwaukee.

About Milwaukee School of Engineering: The Milwaukee School of Engineering is a private university located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As of fall 2011, the university had an enrollment of more than 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. www.msoe.edu/

About Marquette University College of Business: Marquette is a Catholic and Jesuit university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that offers more than 80 majors in its nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools.

About UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning (SARUP): UWM/SARUP is a Center of Excellence in the University of Wisconsin system, and offers an extensive array of degree programs–BSAS, M.Arch, Ph.D., MUP and Coordinated M.Arch/MUP, matched by only 6 other architecture schools nationally. The Ph.D. program is one of only 23 in the nation.