Community Driven Change
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2024 MKE A
Purple Shampoo
2024 ECCHO Milwaukee Cohort A launched two powerful initiatives around reproductive justice.
Cohort members created and presented "Purple Shampoo",
Cohort members also designed a Patient-Centered Reproductive Justice Advocacy Program designed to improve access to reproductive healthcare services, reduce disparities, and enhance the overall patient experience. Through personalized advocacy, education, and community engagement, the program fosters a supportive environment where individuals can make informed decisions and exercise their reproductive rights without facing unnecessary obstacles.
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2024 MKE B
S.O.S. Save Our Communities
In 2024, ECCHO Milwaukee Cohort B developed a civic engagement project that focuses on three tenets of creating safer communities.
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Neighborhood Beautification: We believe that empowering residents to come together to clean up neighborhoods or plant gardens, fosters a sense of unity and pride.
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Creation of Safe Spaces: Provide learning opportunities for safety education. Offering resources to handle conflict resolution and/or mental health crisis.
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Community Building: Encourage interpersonal relationships amongst neighbors, local businesses and schools.
This project was designed to benefit all underrepresented groups, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or socio-economic status. Safety and security are universal needs that affect everyone, and the positive outcomes of this initiative had lasting effects on individuals’ physical and mental health. The initiative was inclusive of all age groups, diverse family structures, and individuals across various cultural backgrounds, as the sense of belonging and safety was vital for all.
"This was a really nice event for the community. I was happy to be a part of it. Having the opportunity to hear the stories of those in our community was heartfelt. Sharing how they can integrate breathwork and mindfulness into their day-to-day lives is why I got into this work. My nephew was also on the news—he and my niece really enjoyed the experience. Thanks again for your efforts and hard work!"
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2024 DANE
Social Determinant of Health: Housing
In 2024, ECCHO Dane County
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2024 ROCK
Housing
ECCHO Milwaukee Cohort B has developed a civic engagement project that focuses on three tenets of creating safer communities.
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Neighborhood Beautification: We believe that empowering residents to come together to clean up neighborhoods or plant gardens, fosters a sense of unity and pride.
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Creation of Safe Spaces: Provide learning opportunities for safety education. Offering resources to handle conflict resolution and/or mental health crisis.
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Community Building: Encourage interpersonal relationships amongst neighbors, local businesses and schools.
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2023 MKE A
Expanding Access to Hot Foods
In response to food insecurity challenges, the 2023 ECCHO MKE A cohort created a petition to request that the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) seek authorization from the Wisconsin State Legislature to submit a federal waiver to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to join the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (RMP).
Approximately 1,000 people signed this petition.
The 2023 ECCHO MKE A cohort chose food insecurity as the focus of their cohort project.
The reality of food insecurity is particularly harsh for vulnerable populations in Milwaukee, such as the elderly, disabled, and homeless individuals. According to local statistics, food insecurity rates are disproportionately high among these groups, contributing to negative health outcomes and increasing dependency on emergency food assistance.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as FoodShare in Wisconsin, provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budgets, enabling them to afford nutritious food essential for health and well-being. Jointly administered by federal, state, and local governments, this program plays a vital role in alleviating food insecurity for millions of families across the country.
However, under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, SNAP recipients are prohibited from purchasing hot or prepared foods. This creates an inconsistent and counterintuitive experience, where individuals can purchase raw or frozen foods, such as a whole chicken, but are not allowed to purchase a cooked rotisserie chicken. This restriction is especially problematic for individuals who are elderly, disabled, or homeless, as they may not have the ability or resources to prepare meals for themselves. Additionally, this policy impacts single parents who, after a full workday, may not have the time or energy to prepare meals for their children.
The RMP is a state option that allows certain SNAP recipients, who may not be able to prepare meals for themselves or lack the necessary resources or permanent housing for meal preparation, to purchase hot, prepared meals at participating restaurants. In some cases, the program also permits beneficiaries to purchase hot food from the deli sections of participating grocery stores. This program is designed to provide greater autonomy to recipients, allowing them to make their own decisions about the food they wish to purchase.
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2023 MKE B
Youth Civic Engagement: Voice Your Choice Town Hall
The 2023 ECCHO MKE B cohort chose youth civic engagement as the focus of their cohort project.
To achieve their goal of increasing youth civic engagement in Milwaukee, the cohort hosted a town hall with local elected leaders, youth, and their families on September 11th, 2023.
The ECCHO: Voice Your Choice Town Hall was designed to empower young people in Milwaukee by equipping them with the knowledge, tools, and resources to become active participants in their community’s political life. Through open discussions, interactive sessions, and opportunities for direct engagement, participants gained a deeper understanding of local political structures, the importance of voting, and how their voices could inspire positive change in their communities.
Throughout the town hall, youth were encouraged to ask questions about local politics and the decision-making process. Whether they wanted to learn how policies were made or explore ways to get involved, this event provided a valuable opportunity for education and empowerment. Voter registration assistance was also available for those who needed it.
The event wasn’t just about politics; it was about creating a space for youth to feel heard, ask questions, and understand the impact of their choices. Together, the community took steps toward creating stronger, more engaged neighborhoods in Milwaukee.
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2023 ROCK
How Does Your Garden Grow?
2023 ECCHO Rock County launched a project "How Does Your Garden Grow" to address healthy food and increasing community cohesion and contact.
Communities of Color in Rock County who live in areas that are in food deserts and who are disproportionately impacted at a large number of both mental and physical health issues across the lifespan. This Rock County Cohort members worked to increase the access to health food by providing education and tools to gardening knowledge and working with legislators to improve access to gardening necessities and programs to increase knowledge of gardening tips and support. The second identified benefit is to increase community cohesion by creating opportunities for community members to be more visible to one another and to also connect over a common interest-gardening.
When successful, communities will be closer as people connect over their gardens and increased relationship as they are interacting more as a result of being outside. We will also create exchanges of ideas and produce as community members grow produce and there is an abundance. Members of the community will have better health outcomes because they are accessing fresh produce and increasing physical activity.
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2023 DANE
Domestic Violence
2023 ECCOs Dane County requested a comprehensive review of Dane County's domestic violence services, policies and procedures to improve outreach efforts to Spanish-speaking survivors in Dane County.
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