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 Annual Report 2018

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OUR MISSION

To foster civil dialogue & invite trust in the midst of differences.

ABOUT US

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Founded in 2006 by former Milwaukee Mayor Frank Zeidler, the Zeidler Center is a Milwaukee-based, international non-profit organization dedicated to helping people have difficult conversations.

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We utilize dynamic group processes and trauma-informed facilitation to build bridges and uncover evidence-based solutions. Our work addresses systemic and complex social issues including police and resident relations, political polarization, diversity and inclusion, environmental resilience and much more.

 

We provide professional facilitation, team building, strategic planning and community engagement services, working with organizations, neighborhoods, businesses and faith communities. To individuals we offer facilitator training and professional development, equipping youth and adult facilitators to lead a range of group processes.  

The Zeidler Center is driving the charge for much needed civil dialogue in the midst of polarized debates and divided communities. Our work has been featured locally and nationally in publications including the New York Times for our police & resident listening circles, and in American Theatre Magazine for our facilitation of post-play dialogues with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. 

 

In the years to come, we will continue to expand our strong partnerships in the arenas of the arts, community, business, education and faith. We are working to create a national model for police & community relations. In our international programs, we look to expand our work in East Africa, Europe, and Latin America.

OUR MISSION & VISION

Our Mission: To foster civil dialogue and invite trust in the midst of differences. 

 

Our Vision:  Our vision is to equip people with the skills of facilitation, and increase the practice of civil dialogue in communities, businesses, education, the arts, and faith groups, enabling people to have a deeper understanding of their shared humanity, leading to a more healthy exchange of ideas and shifts in behavior that improve lives. 

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OUR 2018

BOARD

Adam Carr

Community Connector

Board President

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Rev. Lisa Bates-Froiland, PhD

Redeemer Lutheran Church

Board Vice President 

 

Carole Poth

St. Catherine’s

Board Secretary 

 

Brett Heaton-Juarez

Northwestern Mutual

Board Treasurer 

 

Katherine Wilson, PhD

Executive Director 

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Susan Tyndall, JD

Habush, Habush and Rottier

ZEIDLER CENTER STAFF & TEAM

Rev. Rick Deines

Zeidler Center founder 
 

Reggie Jackson

America’s Black Holocaust Museum 

 

Joyce Tang Boyland, PhD

Alverno University

 

Mary Campbell, JD

ELCA Global Mission

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Anita Zeidler, PhD

Former Board Treasurer, On Monday, September 3, 2018, we lost our dear friend and board member Anita Zeidler. She was the daughter of our Center’s namesake, Mayor Frank P. Zeidler, and she served as Treasurer on the Zeidler Center Board for 4 years. Her zeal for the Zeidler Center, and especially her tireless work on behalf of the common good, will be missed beyond measure.

Katherine Wilson, PhD

Executive Director 

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Julie Barrot De Brito

Associate Director 

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Antoine Carter

Community Engagement & Events Director

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Hana Zammel

Office Manager 

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Monica Miller

Executive Assistant 

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Anna Opgenorth

Director of Development

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Linda Xiong

Data Analytics Intern

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OUR COMMITTEES

Community Outreach

Engages community members & organizational partners in our work & develops new opportunities. 

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Program Development & Evaluation

Evaluates current programming & develops new initiatives. 

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Fundraising & Events

Organizes year-round initiatives & events in support of our programs. 

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Finance & Operations

Reviews Zeidler Center budget, policies and procedures.

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Board Governance & Nominations

Analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of the Board and on-boards new members.

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Jules Maloney

Lead Trainer

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Sharon McMurray

Neighborhood Coordinator --

Milwaukee Police & Community Program

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Blanche Brown

Neighborhood Coordinator --

Milwaukee Police & Community Program

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Cornelius Taylor

Lead YPI Trainer

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Joseph Woodlin

Lead YPI Trainer

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April Monique Shields

Neighborhood Coordinator --

Madison Northside Peace & Safety Program

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Sed Smith

Program Director --

Dane County Police & Community Program

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Madisen Stoler 

Program Director -- Lutheran Congregations

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Noelle Dela Cruz

Youth Coordinator --

Milwaukee Police & Community Program

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BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN POLICE AND COMMUNITY

Program Highlights 2015–2018

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January 2018 – Launch of our Milwaukee Youth and Police Program 

  • First Youth and Police Initiative (YPI) workshop in Milwaukee 

  • Youth Facilitator Trainings begin

 

2018 Milwaukee Sponsors & Partners: 

  • Ron & Micky Sadoff 

  • Greater Milwaukee Foundation 

  • Northwestern Mutual Foundation 

  • Milwaukee Police Department 

  • Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office 

  • Safe and Sound 

  • Bader Philanthropies 

  • NAFI 

  • Silver Spring Neighborhood Center 

  • Housing Authority of Milwaukee 

  • Boys and Girls Clubs of Milwaukee 

  • Operation Dream 

  • Urban Underground 

  • Milwaukee Department of
    Corrections 

  • Milwaukee Police Academy 

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August 2018 – Expansion into Madison 

2018 Madison Sponsors & Partners: 

  • Center for Community Stewardship 

  • Madison Police Department 

  • City of Madison 

  • Northside Planning Council 

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January 2017 – Expansion to 5 neighborhoods

Amani, Clarke Square, Harambee, Metcalfe Park and Sherman Park

 

2017 Sponsors & Partners: 

  • Greater Milwaukee Foundation 

  • Northwestern Mutual Foundation 

  • Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative 

  • Milwaukee Police Department 

  • Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office 

  • Safe and Sound 

February 2016 – First Police & Resident Listening Circles in Harambee, Metcalfe Park and Amani 

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2016 Sponsors & Partners: 

  • Greater Milwaukee
    Foundation 

  • Milwaukee Police
    Department 

  • Milwaukee District
    Attorney’s Office 

  • Safe and Sound 

Input groups and visioning of police & resident dialogues 

FINANCIALS

EXPENSES 

$330,859

INCOME 

$331,210 

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2013–2018 

ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH

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THANK YOU 

to our 2018 Organizational Partners and Supporters 

Dialogue & Community 

  • Police, Youth & Resident Programming (see chart above for our many sponsors of this program!) 

  • Millennial Action Project (Across the Red & Blue Divide) 

  • WUWM 

  • Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 

  • Herb Kohl 

  • Beevangelists (Bee the Change) 

  • Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce (Intersections of Sexuality & Mental Health) 

  • The Forgiveness Project (Circles of Compassion) 

  • Marquette University Office of Community Engagement (A Mother’s Voice Input Groups) 

  • Waukesha Green Team 

  • Tosa Together 

  • Milwaukee County 

  • Greater Milwaukee Foundation (On the Table) 

  • Community Building Institute 

  • Wisconsin Community Services 

  • Medical College of Wisconsin (Veterans Dialogues on the Experience of War) 

  • Eliminate Racism Rockford 

  • Mueller Communications 

  • MB Wacker Associates 

  • Nonprofit Management Fund 

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Dialogue & Faith 

  • Workshop Architects (Interfaith Student Center) 

  • Greater Milwaukee Synod (Lutheran Congregations Facing Transformational Change) 

  • Siebert Lutheran Foundation 

  • ELCA 

  • Lutheran Volunteer Corps 

  • Redeemer Lutheran 

  • Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee 

Dialogue & the Arts 

  • Ex Fabula (Fellow & Facilitator Series) 

  • Milwaukee Repertory Theater (Act II Dialogues; Dumplings & Dialogue) 

  • Milwaukee Film Festival (Post-Film Conversations) 

  • Greater Together & MKE<->LAX (Designing Equity) 

  • Milwaukee Public Museum (Curiosity Circles) 

  • March on Milwaukee 50th (MKE Monumental) 

  • Still Waters Collective 

  • First Stage (Children’s Theater Youth Discussions) 

  • Beheard.world 

  • Creative Mornings

 

Dialogue & Education 

  • Alverno University 

  • Gateway Technical College 

  • Lakeland University 

  • MATC 

  • Marquette Trinity Fellows 

  • Marquette University (Truth to Reconciliation; Faith & Democracy) 

  • University School of Milwaukee 

  • UWM Masters of Sustainable Peacebuilding Program 

  • UWM NAMI 

  • Wauwatosa School District 

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