Project Description

COA is having an incredible 110th anniversary year, and we are really excited about the future in the Amani, Riverwest, and Harambee neighborhoods we serve. This March we won two MANDIs (Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation); COA’s Executive Director Tom Schneider best expresses just how proud and excited we are:

“It was humbling and inspiring to accept the BMO Harris Cornerstone Award for ‘excellence and commitment’ reflecting our work in the Amani neighborhood. Being recognized at a celebration with 850 community members who’re all so dedicated to Milwaukee’s future was gratifying. And best of all we’re seeing more attention on Amani, more people excited about the work going on to revitalize the community and realizing together we can and will continue to make it better. I can’t wait for this summer in the new Moody Park!”

It’s been 11 years since COA first opened the Goldin Center in August 2005, and since then it’s been a foundation to build around; a safe, positive place for youth and families in the Amani neighborhood. Three years ago we opened the Ethel Nutis Gill Family Resource Center at Goldin, adding new programming supporting parents and caregivers and connecting them with critical social, educational, and employment resources. And that same year we also built and opened the pediatric and family care clinic as well, as part of a lasting partnership with Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin that brings quality medical access within walking distance to a community that previously had none. Then, last August, the Burke Early Education Center was built and opened to expand COA’s proven early child education programming and experience to the Amani neighborhood.

And last year also saw the realization of a seven-year effort to rebuild and restore Moody Park, transforming the dilapidated and neglected space into a beautiful new community greenspace complete with a splash pad, walking path, community building and gardens, picnic pavilion, and amazing programming planned to keep it full of great family activities all summer long. This work garnered the Milwaukee County Parks Department and Partners the Brewer’s Community Foundation Public Spaces Award MANDI, and COA is proud to have been involved in the process since the beginning, alongside other vital community organizations such as the Dominican Center for Women.

This summer in Moody Park you can look forward to Goldin Summer Day Camp where kids can have a blast with great recreational and cultural programs, meal programs, engaging community events with family-friendly free fun, and so much more. Stop down in the Goldin Center and say hi, drop in hours are 12:30-3:30 p.m. Monday – Wednesday and 1-4 p.m. Thursday, or come out for a free hot meal, arts & crafts, raffles, and more at a Community Fun Night – for specific dates and times just call 414-449-1757 or check out our Facebook: https://facebook.com/COAYFC/

A special thank you to LISC’s (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) Milwaukee branch and the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service for bringing attention to the work of so many hardworking nonprofits and community leaders.