In Service To Milwaukee

Milwaukee community leaders will focus on a renewed call for volunteerism during a MPTV town hall gathering on the evening of Tuesday, August 18th. In Service To Milwaukee, a 60 minute special will be taped on location at the Hillside Terrace Resource Center near 7th & Cherry, on the northern edge of downtown Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Public Television special will premiere at 7 p.m. October 7th on MPTV-10.1. The program will be repeated on MPTV-36.1 at 11 a.m. October 10th and at 10 p.m. October 11th. MPTV Freelance Host & Producer Mark Siegrist will lead the discussion involving about a dozen representatives from Milwaukee’s non-profit and faith communities. An invited audience from numerous volunteer-related organizations will also be participating. There’s a renewed spirit in America and the Milwaukee area for neighbors helping neighbors. President Barack Obama has echoed John F. Kennedy’s 1961 call for community service. Here in Milwaukee, the need for compassionate neighbors is great. Community outreach organizations are relying heavily on volunteer help during the recession. The town hall gathering will focus on the opportunities, need, and impact, of volunteerism in Greater Milwaukee.

Among those participating in the discussion will be Ricardo Diaz, Executive Director of the United Community Center; Sherrie Tussler, Executive Director of Hunger Task Force, Inc.; Br. Bob Smith, OFM Cap., President of Messmer Catholic Schools; Bonnie Andrews, Manager of the Volunteer Center of Greater Milwaukee; Janan Najeeb, Director of the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition; Ann Wilson, Manager of the Hillside Terrace Resource Center; Katie Kowalski, Volunteer Coordinator for Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity; Eddy Magnus, Volunteer Recruiter for Interfaith Older Adult Programs; LaNelle Ramey, Northwest Area Director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee; and Donna Gazzana, Director of Outreach Ministries for the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.

Video profiles of volunteer efforts involving affordable housing construction, a downtown community meal, and high school age mentors, will also be included in the program.