Grand Avenue Club ~ December 2015 Employers, Employees Send

Grand Avenue Club ~ December 2015
Employers, Employees Send Message to Milwaukee: GAC Works
By Darren Griffiths and Nikki Lelinski
A message soundposition mainly
ed from City Hall
comprised of
on September
keeping RitzHo30th: GAC works.
manCPA’s filing
Since 1993, startsystems up to
ing with a messendate (scanning
ger position at a
documents and
Employers display their certificates of recognition along with Mayor Tom Barrett. retrieving files in a
law firm, GAC has
been helping peofast paced, multiple find the connections they need with employers. In ple-step process) and Barry Duffek excelled at this
2014, some $1.1 million of taxable income was
during his time there.
earned by Grand Avenue Club members. That sum is
In early March, we were approached by the owner of
a reflection of the dedication of our committed, hardUncanny Soup Company about a much-needed dishworking members. Our members gain selfwasher position. We responded quickly and learned
sufficiency by earning income, they produce for societhe position, and it was an ideal location, right next
ty, and feel self-esteem in the process.
door to GAC. Only days after the first meeting, GarOur festivities filled the rotunda field Slaton was being trained by his new placement
of Milwaukee’s City Hall with a
managers. It was great to be able to step right outprogram of speakers including
side of our Water Street entrance and do a site visit at
Mayor Tom Barrett, GAC memthis new TE placement.
bers, and the employers with
In June, we started a highly productive employment
whom we partner. There were
relationship with a new restaurant, Colour Palate,
remarks from Executive Director
which has a strong culture of work satisfaction and
Rachel Forman and GAC Board
happiness. J.B. Reid is the member who is currently
Mayor Tom Barrett
President Mary K. Braza.
working there alongside the salad crafters as a dishThis year our speakers included several of our emwasher.
ployment partners: J. Omar Andrietsch, Founder of
In August we started our new TE position at
Colour Palate; the Reverend Lisa Bates-Froiland of
Colectivo, in Bay View, as a Bakery Assistant.
Redeemer Lutheran Church; Randy McCarthy of OutHermoine McCoy is currently working there, labeling
post Foods; and Fred Geilfuss, Partner at Foley &
cookie and bread bags, filling cookie bags, and
Lardner, LLP. Several of our members also spoke
building bakery boxes. Before this position she
about their employment journeys: Gennady Shevelev successfully completed her position at First Baptist
Foley & Lardner, LLP, Dave Hanson - Ada S.
McKinley/ U.S. Naval Base, Franny Hanson -Milwaukee Church of West Allis.
Athletic Club, and J.B. Reid - Colour Palate.
Most recently, in September, Vance Klim began his TE
at the InterContinental Hotel in the housekeeping
A highlight included our newest partners in Transitional Employment (TE) from this year: for example, department. We have sought to work with the Marwe were delighted to work at RitzHolmanCPA’s dur- cus Corporation for many years, and we are excited to
be working with this great company.
ing their busy tax season. This was a seasonal
P AGE 2
“Just James” Art Show Takes
Gallery Grand in Good Humor
The opening night of Grand Avenue Club’s current
show, “Just James,”took place on Wednesday, October 21. It drew a crowd of 56 people to Gallery
Grand on the fourth floor of GAC.
T HE P HOENIX
Elizabeth headed up a team of GAC colleagues including Nikki Lelinski, Rick Knight, Paul Koslowski,
Eva Norton, Jenny Teuscher, Michael Thorson,
Louisa Hogan and Rachel Forman as well as volunteers Elena Scherr and Brittany Mahlberg.
We sorted James’s art
and developed categories for his work. Elizabeth encouraged him to
use color for the first
time and then arranged
to create larger murals
from work that was
James Wolfe in front of a
originally done on much
selection of his illustrations.
smaller paper. She also
devised a unique display
consisting of wired mesh hanging from the ceiling of
our gallery. Paul Kozlowski painted a section of one
of our gallery walls a bright yellow to enhance the
presentation.
James B. Wolfe,
a self-taught artist
and a long-time
GAC member, has
been giving his
work to various
GAC colleagues
over the years.
We decided that the
James Wolfe, sharing some jokes
time had come to
share James’s work with the Milwaukee community,
including personnel from Milwaukee’s Fire Department. (James visits Station 1 of the Fire Department
regularly.)
Several pieces of art were
sold during the evening.
Because James rarely calls attention to himself we
We also created a new set
enjoyed thinking about how to highlight the work of of GAC notecards in time
our prolific but unassuming colleague. We want the for holiday giving from
community to appreciate our friend as we do.
12 of James’s works. A
box of 12 cards is availaThe gallery’s largest room is filled with James’s
ble for $20. To order
drawings, some of which were enhanced via color by them please call
him for this show. While some of his drawings stand 414.727.3362 from 10 am
alone, many others are accompanied by social com- to 4 pm Monday through
mentary, details about how to save lives, and…jokes! Friday.
James’s jokes are clever; no one enjoys creating a
“play on words” more than he does and, after he tells On Wednesday evening, November 18, we orgayou one of his jokes, he is demonstrably pleased at
nized a special program on the arts that was held in
the very moment that you get the point.
the gallery. Twenty-seven GAC colleagues-- some
artists themselves, others art appreciators—came toGAC was fortunate to
gether to discuss the work of all our GAC artists and
secure the services of
the importance of unfettered artistic expression. It
curator Elizabeth Vogt,
was a satisfying evening and we hope to do more of
pictured far right. Her
them in the coming year.
skill in engaging James
and implementing imagiOnce again the GAC community is grateful to the
native ways of displayMary Nohl Fund of the Greater Milwaukee Foundaing his art have been
tion for its support of our arts programming.
critical to the show.
M ILWAUKEE , W ISCONSIN
P AGE 3
New Faces, New Places
GAC People at Work
Manufacturing
An-Kor Plating Rack Co., Milwaukee, hired Ben Patulski to work in
an Independent Employment
Position full-time.
Professional Services
Alternatives in Psychological
Consultation S.C., Milwaukee area,
hired Carol Kaminski as an
Administrative Assistant in a fulltime Independent Employment
position.
Allen
Jennings
Boyd
Kaminski
Claypool
Klim
Gadow
Love-Sewell
Gulden
Mazell
Derco Aerospace hired James
Boyd, as a Documents Scanner as
part of GAC’s TE program.
Hospitality
McRae
Olson
Pajunen
Patulski
Ponko
Marcus Hotels and Resorts,
InterContinental Hotel,
Milwaukee, hired Vance Klim to
provide housekeeping services as
part of GAC’s TE program.
Restaurant/Food Service
Renaissance Child Development
Center, Milwaukee, hired Tara
Gulden to prepare and serve
children’s lunches as part of GAC’s
TE program.
Outpost Natural Foods, Milwaukee,
hired Regina Gadow at its Bay View
store as part of GAC’s TE program,
replacing Cody Mazell who successfully completed his six month TE.
Also hired was Jennifer James who
is replacing Evan Read, who completed his six month TE at the
Wauwatosa store.
Read
Rhodes
Soczka
Custodial Services
BILTRITE Furniture, Milwaukee,
hired Deb Olson to work as a
custodian in GAC’s TE program.
Redeemer Lutheran Church,
Milwaukee hired Randy Martin,
Phillip Ponko, Anna Pajunen, Jennifer James, Howard McRae,
Helen Love-Sewell, Dennis Soczka,
Jason Schmidt. and Steve Jennings
as custodial staff for its GAC Group
Placement.
Thomas
Troyer
Milwaukee County Division of
Housing, Milwaukee, hired
Anthony Knox, Michael Rhodes,
Scott Troyer, Brandon
Claypool, Phillipa Thomas, Tieara
Spears, and Lashawanda Allen to
provide custodial services as part of
the GAC Group Placement Program.
Ada S. McKinley hired Darryn
Candler to work as a custodian at
the Army Reserve base in
Milwaukee as part of GAC’s
Supported Employment program.
T HE P HOENIX
P AGE 4
GAC Colleagues Explore With
Clubhouse Colleagues From All
Over The World
By Jenny Teuscher and Grenesha Reed
This year, Grand Avenue Club sent two colleagues to
Denver, Colorado to participate in the Clubhouse International Seminar. The Clubhouse International Seminar,
or World Seminar, is held every two years by ClubLeft to right are Grenesha Reed, Jenny Teuscher and
house International, in partnership with member Clubcolleagues from around the world.
houses, in order to facilitate dialogue, innovation, and
networking among the international Clubhouse commu- Grenesha’s Take
nity.
The whole experience was amazing. Not only was I able
to strengthen my relationship with my colleague and
Jenny’s Take
friend Jenny while living, eating, breathing Clubhouse,
The experience of participating in the World Seminar
but I was able to make connections with people from all
was both eye opening and humbling for me. I have been around the world. Specifically, we became close with the
part of Grand Avenue Club since January 2012. I began colleagues from Fontenehuset I Stavanger, Norway; Carmy internship through the University of Wisconsinriage House, from Fort Wayne, Indiana; as well as StepMilwaukee, and have been here since. I currently work
ping Stone from Brisbane Australia. Being able to meet
in the Education and Employment Unit, working closely someone from another part of the world and be on the
with the Young Adult Program and the Supported Edu- same page was amazing. It was an overwhelming feeling
cation Program (YASE). My colleague Grenesha has
to have instant connections with people based on the sole
also been a member since 2012, after hearing about the factor that everyone there has the same belief in the
Club in a Day treatment program. She plans to finish her Clubhouse movement. People used the term “extended
degree and work in art and design and also continue to
family” as they referred to their newly acquainted colparticipate in clubhouse activities.
leagues.
I was excited to attend the seminar and bring back new
ideas to my Clubhouse from people all around the world.
I attended all of the plenaries, and managed to go to as
many of the workshops that focused on my areas of interest, education and young adults. Grenesha and I also
presented in the workshop Building Careers: The Importance of Clubhouse Supported Education. She shared
her experience with wanting to go back to college and
being inspired by many of our successful student members. It was clear that other Clubhouses were eager to
hear what Grand Avenue Club was doing in the area of
education.
And that is the feeling that I am left with. We were glad
to hear about new programs, ideas and new Clubhouses.
We remain in contact with our new friends, and I believe
the connections made as well as the impact this seminar
has left will stay with us for a very long time. I returned
to Grand Avenue Club excited and energized to continue
to work toward the mission of the Clubhouse model.
This Place Rocks!
For the fourth annual Doors Open Milwaukee tour on September 19, put on by Historic Milwaukee
Incorporated, Grand Avenue Club was open for the third straight year. Our tour was very successful. A
record 533 people went through our Clubhouse on Saturday. We had comments ranging from “excellent tour”
to that we were a “cool place.” We also had an enthusiastic cry of “This place rocks!”
Hugh Swofford
M ILWAUKEE , W ISCONSIN
P AGE 5
25th Anniversary and the Campaign for GAC
By Carl Lockrem
Starting in 2016, Grand Avenue Club will officially begin celebrating its 25th anniversary. This milestone is marked not just by dates, but by the amazing stories of
recovery and our lifetime commitment to the members of GAC. Recently Linda
Buddle, a member of GAC, celebrated her successful completion of a training
program for a new job. The Culinary Unit prepared a special dessert for the occasion and as she thanked everyone for the support she received to achieve her goal.
She also shared that the GAC community has been supporting her in numerous
ways for the last 24 years. During the upcoming months we will be sharing more
of these stories with you and the celebration will culminate at this year’s Grand
Event on Thursday, June 16, 2016. Please mark your calendars and SAVE THE
DATE for this milestone Grand Event. We want you to celebrate these accomplishments with us and be reminded of how much of a lifeline GAC is to so many
in our community.
Linda Buddle
Grand Avenue Club is not just looking back but is committed to the next 25 years as
well with a Campaign for GAC. This special campaign has as its goals to address
the capital needs of our historic home as well as planning for programmatic growth
to increase the number of people we can serve. The ambitious $2.5 Million goal
has been kick-started with lead gifts and tremendous volunteer efforts by Arnie
Peltz, Linda Bader, Mayor Tom Barrett, Mary K. Braza, Ruth Brash, Robo Brumder, Fred Geilfuss, Patrick Hammer, and Ed Rapee III. To date they have raised
$1.7 Million with pledges over a 3 to 5 year period. Our work is not done but we
are inspired by the generosity of all our donors to date. We ask you to consider
joining this effort with a gift of your own. You can visit the campaign page on our
website (www.grandavenueclub.org) or call our development office at 414-7273361 for more information.
25 years is definitely a milestone worthy of celebration. We hope you will consider being part of our
celebration at Grand Event as well as a part of our campaign to ensure the next 25 years for GAC.
WORK-ORDERED DAY
PAID EMPLOYMENT
YOUNG ADULTS HAVING FUN
Karlie Stadler and Walter Heard Jr. making a birthday cake; GAC members Lynne Schultz and Darryn
Candler working on a group placement at Redeemer Lutheran Church; and young adults at Lapham
Peak on a September evening.
M ILWAUKEE , W ISCONSIN
P AGE 6
New Member, Chatisha Jackson,
Lights Up Culinary Unit
By Culinary Unit Colleagues
Chatisha Jackson has been a member of GAC for about 4
months now and has every intention of staying for years to
come. Although her real name is Chatisha, most of us call
her Cha-Cha, a nickname Susie Katz came up with that just
happened to stick. Cha-Cha enjoys cooking and spends
almost all her time on the second floor Culinary Unit.
Most often you can find her in the kitchen working side-by
-side with members and staff preparing the main dish. She
Left to right: Chatisha Jackson, Susie Katz, and
loves everyone and enjoys getting to know people. Work- Dorothy Cannady prepare a meal on another busy day
ing with others and socializing is something she likes most. in Culinary.
Cha-Cha learned about Grand Avenue Club through her psychiatrist and is sure glad she is here with us.
From the beginning, she was excited and was looking forward to a work-ordered day all while getting to
know people at GAC. She mentioned that, from her first day at GAC, she knew she would like it here. So
far she has no interest in Transitional Employment and really likes spending time with her Culinary Unit
colleagues, but who knows what the future holds?
Cha-Cha was born and raised in Milwaukee, graduated from high school, and took up some courses at Milwaukee Career College. She’s a mother of one and a grandmother of one. Outside of the Clubhouse, she
likes to watch some of her all-time favorite TV shows: Bugs Bunny and Tom and Jerry cartoons, and the
classic Andy Griffith Show. Besides watching television, she enjoys going to the mall, going for walks, and
playing volleyball. Her goal is to someday work with children at her church. She hopes to one day visit
California and enjoy the warm sunshine and the people there.
“I plan on staying at GAC for a long time, I love it here,” Cha-Cha said. The Culinary Unit is equally glad
to have Cha-Cha as a part of our team.
Left to right are Bernadette Allen, Susie Katz, James Walls, Cha-Cha, and Cha-Cha and friends at the
Colleague Appreciation Luncheon.
P AGE 7
T HE P HOENIX
Tom The Photography
Teacher
By Dale K. Hester
This is about Tom our photography “ Guru” who faithfully on
Thursday afternoon at 2: 00pm
“helps” us to get to the basic use of
camera equipment. His insights of
how it works are so easy to accomplish and make things interesting and
Left to right are Tyler Richter, Dale Hester, Hugh Swofford,
“fun”. He has donated a Nikon digital
James Boyd, Randy Martin and Tom Hester.
SLR with a 18-250 mm lens to capture
some pretty awesome photographs! We have used this camera on several occasions. The biggest and most
important one to date has been the Work Celebration at City Hall with Mayor Tom Barrett and all the Staff
and Colleagues were in attendance and TE people as well. So the next time you see Tom tell him “keep up
the great job” Also the camera was used at the Harvest Dance. The energy was ‘high energy” !!! The camera got some “great” photographs. This camera was such an awesome donation to GAC! Thank you so
much for all the words of wisdom and your lovingkindness in giving of your gifts and talents.
Colleague Appreciation
Luncheon– September 16th 2015
By Culinary Unit Colleagues
There’s nothing better than being a part of
“A community that works.” On September 16th we all
came together in our beautifully decorated Boxer Morris
Room and celebrated one another. We share our appreciation for one another on a daily basis, but with the help
of our partners at Northwestern Mutual Life and United
Sitting at the table l-r are Amer Aris, Mary
Way we were able to create a special lunch to really
Wood, Lynne Schultz, Grenesha and Terrence
thank our colleagues for everything they do. We wanted
Reed, Tim Neis, Breck Ticknor and Maria-Elena
to thank those who put in a lot of time inside the club
Lepesqueur
working versus outside the club. The culinary team and
our volunteers were busy all morning creating a pasta
bar, which included a red sauce, an alfredo sauce, and a homemade pesto sauce! In addition, we made garlic bread, tossed salad, and fruit salad. The Boxer Morris Room was booming by lunch time. A slideshow
was presented highlighting the hard work that we all put in and the atmosphere was priceless. Smiling faces, good food, and most importantly the room was filled with thanks. Once everyone was served and seated, a someone from each unit stood up and spoke about each and every member that was present from the
unit. The energy in the room was unlike anything else; the kindest of words were shared. And to top it all
off, we provided an ice cream bar which included a variety of yummy toppings at the end! Thanks to everyone who was a part of this special event and to those who helped make it a big success.
P AGE 8
Love On The
Loose
By Deb Love
As we approach the last few
months before another new year
begins, we begin to think about
positive changes in our lifestyles
that we are resolved to make during the coming year. Every day is
a good day to make these changes
but a new year seems like a really
good time to part with our old tired
habits and other behaviors that
don’t do us any good anyway.
Some of us hope to make changes
that don’t involve unwanted habits
or behaviors. I walked around the
Clubhouse asking my colleagues,
“What are some things you hope
to accomplish in 2016?”
John Manzuk would like to continue to work on personal selfactualization; being at the highest
level of achievement in every way
possible. He used Abraham
Maslows’ pyramid as a reference.
T HE P HOENIX
Dorothy Cannady wants to stop
drinking.
Mike Anderson wants to lose
weight.
James Walls is going to work toward getting a driver’s license.
Gennady Shevelev intends to get
a full time job, not a part time job.
Walter Heard Jr. would like to
work toward having better health.
Beth Warrington is in the process
of finding a different place to live
and she wants to access inexpensive art classes and materials.
Ann Witczak would like to find a
new place to live.
Cathy Litwin is going to get more
organized and audit an art class at
UWM.
Linda Buddle wants to stay at a
job.
Maria-Elena Lepesqueur would
like to expand a school research
project into a published article.
Megan Gipp intends to be back in
school.
Garfield Slaton wants to stay employed.
Paul Kozlowski would like to stabilize in his employment situation,
improve his diet, begin an exercise
regimen and investigate education
opportunities.
Sam Berndt wants to get his living situation stabilized, continue
being drug free and quit smoking.
Michael Thorson wants to continue working with his colleagues at
Grand Avenue Club.
Deb Love intends to reduce her
impulse non-essential shopping to
planned times and budgeted
amounts.
I regret that I don’t have the space
to include more colleagues’ responses to my question. What’s
important is that as a community
or family we are here to support
each other in our efforts to accomplish our goals. Grand Avenue
Club, specifically and the Clubhouse movement in general, are
unique in that members have the
freedom to use the Clubhouse for
their own purposes; to work toward personal goals that they want
to accomplish.
A place to come to. A place to return to.
A place to find meaningful and satisfying work.
A place to find meaningful relationships.
A place to grow.
Interested in
becoming a
member?
Come for
a tour!
Tours are available every
Wednesday and Thursday
at 10:30 am.
No Appointment is necessary.
Please come to 210 E Michigan.
Amer Aris and Carol
Meverden are ready to talk
to you about joining GAC.
(the corner of Water and Michigan)
Grand Avenue Club
Ph: 414.727.3366
www.grandavenueclub.org
M ILWAUKEE , W ISCONSIN
Donations processed
9/1/2015 to 11/17/2015
Anon Charitable Trust
Anonymous
Diana & Richard Barthel
Tim Beaudoin
The Lynde and Harry Bradley
Foundation
James & Mary Kay Braza
Susan Brennan
Brewers Community Foundation
Paul Brodwin
Keith Greinke &
Kathleen Buddle
Norma Lee Carroll
Richard Chudnow
CT Fund Of The Jewish
Community Foundation
John Delzer
Karen & Bill Elliott
Ralph Evinrude Foundation Inc.
Pamela Fleider
Maria Fleschner
Rachel Forman & Boaz Avital
Fred & Anne Geilfuss
GE United Way Campaign
Inez & Gene Gilbert
Michelle Goldenberg
Gordon Family Foundation
Judy Gordon
William Hughes
Howard & Judy Karsh
John & Debra Kissinger
LFF Foundation
M3 Insurance Solutions, Inc.
Bruce & Antonette McDonald
Jere McGaffey
Mary Meehan
P AGE 9
Ann Megan
John & Patricia Megan
MGIC
Suzanne & Michael Neilsen
Eric Nelson
Lois O'Keefe
Arnie Peltz
Harry & Marilyn Pelz
Cathy & Greg Radke
Diane Resek
Dawn Schlicke
Timothy Schlueter
Erich Schwenker
Judith Grace & Bob Scott
Silicon Valley Community
Foundation
Barbara Stein
David & Julia Uihlein Foundation
United Way Metro Chicago
United Way of Coastal Fairfield
County
Joe & Katie Wahlberg
Suzanne Wile
In Memory of . . .
. . . Jerry Bloedel
Norma Marcus
. . . Arthur Elkon
Lorraine Hoffmann
. . . Elizabeth Elser Doolittle
The Elizabeth Elser Doolittle
Charitable Trusts
. . . Jerry Feldman
Toby Harris
. . . George & Berna Lewis
Joan Lossing
. . . George Wells Mace
Nora & David Lewis
. . . Gerald Minkoff
Toby Harris
. . . Daniel Reilly
Nora Reilly
. . . Mark Steinke
Eddy Sadowsky & Carol Knabe
. . . Daughter-in-Law Anne Thiele
Norma Marcus
. . . Barbara Williamson
Brenda Williamson Wood
In Honor of . . .
. . . Deb Love
Ellen & Michael Sullivan
. . . GAC Staff
Bonnie & Robert Bruch
Michael Thorson
. . . Grenesha Reed
Raymond Bierle
. . . The Marriage of Ilana Avital and
Jeremy Brandman
Lorraine Hoffmann
. . . my birthday
Kenny Gumb
Happy Holidays from
all of us at
Grand Avenue Club
December 2015
210 E. Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: 414-276-6474
Fax: 414-291-0218
E-mail: admin@grandavenueclub.org
grandavenueclub.org
We’re on Facebook!
The Phoenix was named for the mythical
bird that grew up out of the ashes of destruction. It is a symbol of life and hope.
Grand Avenue Club’s mission is to provide people who
have experienced mental illness with opportunities for
work, housing, education, recreation and friendship.
Grand Avenue Club is
accredited by Clubhouse
International and is a United
Way community partner.
Grand Avenue Club
210 E Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202