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Mission/History
"People United in the Love and
Purpose of Jesus Christ"
History
HeartLove Place programs began humbly 15 years ago through the inspired volunteer
ministry of dedicated individuals who recognized the huge challenges
facing Milwaukee's low-income population. Fractured families, debilitating
unemployment, struggling schools, increasing crime and violence,
and record teen pregnancy rates plagued our urban families and youth.
To overcome these challenges, the leadership of HeartLove Place
relied upon Christian values and teaching to build capacity within
Central-City Milwaukee residents. HeartLove Place was established
in 1999, continuing and building on the success of the Partners
for Youth program that began in 1989. Like its predecessor, HeartLove
Place is a grassroots, neighborhood-based organization located
side by side with, and committed to, the residents of Central Milwaukee
and the Harambee Neighborhood. In order to provide a superior level
of quality services, HeartLove Place works with several Supported
and Collaborative Organizations. Please see HLP's "Links"
page for more information on our extended family of partners.
"Through the influence
and knowledge of Jesus Christ, assist Milwaukee's central city families
by teaching, encouraging and mentoring individuals to accept responsibility,
incorporate good judgment and fairness in their work ethic, and
build positive character."
HeartLove
Place's Vision Statement
"A community transformed
by healthy Christian families."
The goals of HeartLove Place are consistent with its mission to
build stronger individuals, families and communities through comprehensive
educational and social programming that are built on, and try to
instill, convictions based on the Christian faith. Some of these
goals are as follows:
- Provide services and programming to all community residents
who request them.
- Encourage collaboration between public and private agencies
to supply needed services.
- Strengthen families through education, nurturing information
and access to resources.
- Illustrate compassion through Christian principles without
passing judgment.
- Provide employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for community
members.
Area Served
Specifically, HeartLove Place is located in the Harambee North Neighborhood
of Milwaukee, Wisconsin -- one of the most troubled central city
neighborhoods in Milwaukee. Harambee North is bounded by Capitol
Drive on the north, I-43 on the west, Center Street on the south,
and on the east, Holton St. and the Rail Corridor between Keefe
and Capitol. The 2000 US Census found 11,671 persons living in 3,935
households within the neighborhood which encompasses 1.06 square
miles, or about 114 city blocks.
Reliable
data indicates that poverty, segregation, general low educational
achievement and all the associated evils plague this community.
African Americans make-up 88% of the population with an average
median income of $18,737, almost 50% less than the City of Milwaukee's
average income of $32,596. In addition, 44% of residents have no
high-school diploma and 38% of families are living well below the
poverty level. Crime is also extremely high in the community, reporting
one of the highest levels of violent crime in the city. This far
exceeds the overall rate of indexed crimes experienced citywide.
Combining these statistics it is clear that without intervention
on the part of a compassionate organization like HLP, the Harambee
North Neighborhood along with many other neighborhoods in Central
City Milwaukee are in danger of continuing the cycle of poverty
and hopelessness experienced by so many.
Click
here to the Harambee North Neighborhood at a Glance.
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