COA Announces 2016 Rising Star Award Recipients!

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COA Announces 2016 Rising Star Award Recipients!Development2016-12-22T14:11:06-06:00

Project Description

We are proud to recognize these Rising Stars for their tremendous leadership and personal growth throughout their participation in COA programs. Azalea and Chris embody COA’s holistic mission to serve children, strengthen families, and build our Milwaukee community.

Chris Morgan

Chris Morgan is a mentor, leader, and coach passionate about the Amani neighborhood where he grew up. He first joined COA as a participant in the preteen program and is now a critical part of COA’s new Burke Early Education Center. Chris dedicates his time outside work to a youth basketball team which he founded in 2012 to offer a positive outlet for teens in 53206. His tireless, unwavering service makes him an asset to Amani, COA, and all of the people he inspires every day. Thank you Chris!

Azalea Martinez

Azalea Martinez is a senior at Riverside University High School and a member of the COA Community Learning Center’s regional champion “Robotigers” robotics team at the school. She joined COA as a preschooler — one of the very first participants in our Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) early education program. Since then, Azalea’s academic achievement, leadership, and consistently positive outlook have made her a role model and leader. Inspired by her time on the robotics team, Azalea plans to become an engineer. Go Azalea!

Project Details

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Our Mission

COA Youth & Family Centers helps Milwaukee children, teens, and families reach their greatest potential through a continuum of educational, recreational, and social work programs offered through its urban community centers and rural camp facility. As a multicultural agency, COA values diversity and cooperation, and promotes growth and positive social interaction.

The COA Philosophy

COA Youth & Family Centers’ history is deeply rooted in the American Settlement House movement. The underlying foundation of this movement was that a holistic approach is essential to give children and families the tools to become self-sufficient. And more than a century later, COA continues to provide families with a holistic array of services to give children and families these tools to become stronger, healthier, and more self-sufficient.

Four-Star Organization

For nine consecutive years, COA has received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, a national evaluator of nonprofit organizations. Only one percent of the nation's charities have received the highest four-star rating for twelve consecutive years.

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When I was 20 and a new mom, I found the Family Center. At 22 with 2 kids, the center saved me time and time again. Today, 42 and pregnant with 4 kids under 3years old in my care, you brightened my rainy day as usual. So grateful for this resource!

"COA is a lifesaver!! We go stir crazy in the house. The kids love it here. I need to feel a social connection with other parents. I get so bored and lonely and isolated home with the kids all day. Also – social interactions for the toddlers is invaluable."

"I come to the COA to expose my son to other kids, so he can interact and learn from them. I appreciate the many different people from different cultures and walks of life. I love all the difference art projects that my son can try without messing up my house."

"I come to COA because it is an awesome, clean, friendly environment that is very well-suited to my kids. I also really appreciate the educational aspect of drop-in, such as crafts and songs. My kids would not be the same had we not been coming to COA. Thank you Anne and COA."