NOTE: This content created in partnership with LISC Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation – better known as the MANDIs – recently marked a quarter-century of celebrating organizations and people that have worked hard to revitalize and grow Milwaukee’s neighborhoods.
About 500 people attended this year’s event, held on Aug. 15 at the Baird Center, including Mayor Cavalier Johnson and LISC National President and CEO, Michael T. Pugh – both of whom addressed those on hand – as well as DJ Bizzon, who spun discs, and spoken word artist C.M.P. (aka Christopher Perceptions), who gave a performance.
The event was emceed by WISN-Channel 12 Morning Anchor Gerron Jordan.
The MANDIs have, since 1999, been presented locally by LISC Milwaukee to acknowledge and promote the accomplishments of the community development in Milwaukee.
The program booklet for this year's event included the names of all the winners dating back to the start of the awards program.
LISC Milwaukee is the local market office of Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the nation’s largest nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with 38 local offices across the country.
In addition to administering the MANDIs, according to LISC Milwaukee, its six-member team also manages small business support via Brew City Match; the acclaimed Associates in Commercial Real Estate (ACRE) program; capacity-building support for nonprofits and emerging developers; investments in two locally based Financial Opportunity Centers (FOCs); grants for selected community facilities including youth athletic fields; an array of lending products; and support for affordable housing development.
“Once again, this year, the MANDIs were an exceptional celebration of both past and present award winners; the people, projects and programs that have left a positive legacy of impact in our Milwaukee community for 25-years and counting” said LISC Milwaukee Executive Director Theodore Lipscomb, Sr.
“LISC, which administers the MANDIs, continues to seize the opportunity to recognize the innovative and important work happening in Milwaukee neighborhoods. People are working hard to create safe, healthy, vibrant neighborhoods for their community. For the 25th year, the MANDIs continue to showcase the efforts of those that make our neighborhoods stronger.”
After accepting nominations from the public, a 35-member volunteer Selection Committee selected 14 finalists in May, and winners were announced at the event.
MANDI winners receive a commemorative trophy and $1,000 contribution.
Here are the 2024 MANDI Award winners:
- Awarded for an innovative approach to a community problem, the Associated Bank Trailblazer Award was presented by Amanda Hernandez, Vice President, Community Accountability Officer of Associated Bank. This award was given to Community Development Alliance (CDA).
- Awarded for commitment and effectiveness over time, the BMO Cornerstone Award was presented by Jessica Noth, Vice President, Regional Manager, Community & Homeownership Advancement. This award was given to Community Advocates.
- Awarded to a public space that builds community, the Brewers Community Foundation Public Space Award was presented by Cecelia Gore, Executive Director for the foundation. This award was given to Hunger Task Force Farm.
- Awarded for a real estate project that improves the community, The Husch Blackwell Building Blocks Award was presented by Office Managing Partner, Rebecca Mitich. This award was given to ThriveOn Collaboration.
- The JPMorgan Chase Economic Development Award was presented by Andrew Keller, Managing Director, Private Bank and Milwaukee Market Leadership Chairman for JPMorgan Chase Bank. This award was given to Near West Side Partners/Bid#10Scale Up.
- Awarded to an individual for leadership, the Navigator Award was presented by LISC, National Executive Vice President, Dr. Ruth Jones Nichols. This award was given to Tarik Moody.
- Three organizations were named for the Wells Fargo People’s Choice Award, an online social media campaign where the public votes for their favorite finalists across all award categories. These awards were presented by Jeff Cressman, Wisconsin Market Leader for Wells Fargo Bank. With over 2,000 votes cast, the winners included: Hunger Task Force Farm, Teens Grow Greens and Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee Graduation Plus Program. Wells Fargo awards $1,000 to the winners.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
