Neighborhood House of Milwaukee

NH programs serve children from birth to adulthood and provide them with a safe and nurturing place to grow and explore the world. We offer activities and events that educate and inspire, promote health, provide access to resources, strengthen parenting skills and help families learn and grow together. We empower all who we serve to become actively engaged in overcoming inequities and realizing their full potential. NH’s high-quality programs, designed to enrich participants’ lives, include:

• Early Childhood Program (ECP). NH’s state-licensed, YoungStar 5 rated early childhood educational provides exceptional care working parents can rely upon. ECP serves children ages 6 weeks to 5 years and ranks as one of the best providers in Milwaukee. ECP helps youngsters develop cognitively, socially and emotionally. Further, it helps literacy and math skills and supports school readiness. Parental engagement is also a core component.

• School-Aged Youth Programs (ages 6-12). is a state-licensed, before- and after-school program housed at our min site as well as at Story Elementary School. We also offer our annual11 week Summer Day Camp. We provide educational enrichment using a dynamic STEAM/L (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math and Literacy) as well as a wide variety of recreational opportunities, all designed to improve academic achievement, promote healthy lifestyles, and strengthen life skills.

• Teen Program serves youth between the ages of 13-19. The program empowers teens to realize the value of education, make healthy choices, avoid or reduce drug and alcohol use, develop leadership skills and make positive contributions to the community. Our program offers academic enrichment experiences as well as provides financial literacy along with recreational opportunities as important program components. Organized sports help youth develop athletic skills, promote teamwork, leadership and healthy lifestyles.

• The new NH Food Pantry. After the only food pantry serving the Near Westside closed abruptly in February, the Hunger Task Force (HTF) approached NH about starting a new Food Pantry at our main site. With the support and partnership of HTF, NH successfully opened the pantry in July 2020 and served 2,945 unduplicated people who made 9,954 visits just in our first year – rather remarkable numbers as the pantry is open only on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The NH Food Pantry is unique as it is a Full Choice Food Pantry.

• Family Programs feature free or very low cost events designed to entertain, inspire, educate and strengthen families, including Family Adventures activities and Family Fun nights. All Family Program activities include a parental engagement component that empowers parents to serve as their children’s teachers. Throughout the year, NH also offers a variety of events specifically serving NH families that celebrate holiday, cultural and programming benchmarks. These events give parents more relaxed opportunities to interact with staff and see their children’s work. Additionally, staff from ECP, UKC and Teen programs consult with and support parents on a regular basis throughout the year.

• International Learning Program (ILP) is the state’s largest and leading center for adult refugees, offering adult ESL and employment skills training directly to 300+ refugees and their families annually. In addition to ESL education, ILP offers math, pre-GED, specialized vocational ESL and workforce readiness skills, parenting and citizenship classes. ILP also referrals for trauma counseling and medical needs and offers job and school support.

• Environmental Education Program (EE). One of the oldest environmental education programs in Milwaukee, EE provides science-based education and direct engagement in environmental stewardship. This is critical because many of our youth and families have limited interaction with nature due to restricted access to safe, public green spaces, urban dangers, and lack of access to camps and other nature-based enrichment. EE is interwoven throughout NH’s other programming areas and includes our innovative Lead & Learn Conservation Corps Program that offers 14 paid internships, job readiness training and natural resources career explorations to highly qualified, urban, high school and college students.

• Community Education. Understanding that a strong community consists of healthy individuals and families, NH offers health and wellness events and initiatives. Specific offerings include our annual health resource fair and fall flu immunization events; Woman 2 Woman Empowerment Program; workshops and health screenings. NH also offers referrals to immunizations, mental health and other community resources. Most recently, this program received a grant to help increase immunization among people of color. To date, our efforts resulted in more than 450 people being vaccinated.