Associated Bank Invests in Community Action

May 22, 2019

Madison, WI – WISCAP is excited to announce Associated Bank’s new philanthropic investment of $100,000 in Wisconsin’s community action network. The fund was announced and presented by Associated Bank’s Community Accountability Officer, Bill Kopka at WISCAP’s Annual Conference, held today in Madison. Associated Bank and WISCAP share a common goal of creating stronger communities through economic development.

This investment will specifically expand access for low-and moderate-income communities in the areas of homeownership, home repair, small business, financial literacy and workforce development programs. In addition, it will increase staff capacity and give local community action agencies the ability to bolster case management, client identification and enrollment in trainings, business development, and access to affordable housing and repair.

“By partnering with WISCAP, Associated Bank continues to demonstrate a positive commitment to the communities where they have a presence,” said Brad Paul, Executive Director of WISCAP. “It is crucial that we expand housing opportunities and job and skill training for low to moderate income Wisconsinites. Our network exists to fight poverty and help people faced with its effects. This meaningful investment by Associated Bank will allow us to advance that mission.”

Kopka added, “the community action network in Wisconsin shares our focus around economic and community development, making this grant a keystone investment in the future of Wisconsin’s rural and urban communities.  We are excited to partner with WISCAP, and leverage their insight  to the tremendous poverty fighting and community development efforts by member agencies.  We know our shared communities will benefit from this investment in Community Action’s proven mission, programs and impact.” 

Community Action Month in Wisconsin 

Contact: Brad Paul
Phone: (608) 244-4422
Email: [email protected]
Website: Wiscap.org

For Immediate Release: May 15, 2019

Madison, WI –The Office of the Governor has proclaimed May “Community Action Month in Wisconsin.” The Governor’s proclamation highlights statewide community action programming in the areas of affordable housing, weatherization, food security, employment, entrepreneurship, Head Start, community economic development, health and education. The proclamation further commends WISCAP’s network for assisting more than 240,000 Wisconsinites faced with poverty last year.

“We are pleased Governor Evers has recognized the work of our statewide network and the critical role it plays in fighting poverty in Wisconsin,” said WISCAP Executive Director Brad Paul. “In order to make further progress, we require greater investments in affordable housing, job training, child care, transportation, and the expansion of health and income supports, which is why we enthusiastically support soon-to-be-introduced anti-poverty legislation, the Wisconsin Opportunity Act,” added Paul. “Confronting poverty also requires broad and creative partnerships from the private sector, and we invite our friends in the business community and philanthropic world to join us in advancing real solutions by supporting WISCAP and local community action agencies.”

To mark Community Action Month, WISCAP will hold its annual conference in Madison from May 21st to May 23rd. The three-day meeting features WISCAP’s annual award luncheon. Among this year’s recipients are Senator LaTonya Johnson (D-6) for the Gaylord Nelson Human Services Award and Representative Mike Rohrkaste (R-55) for the William Steiger Human Services Award. Department of Workforce Development Secretary Caleb Frostman will be on hand to offer remarks. Additionally, Department of Children and Families Secretary Emilie Amundson will present the Governor’s Excellence in Community Action Award which distinguishes one CAA for an outstanding program that especially exemplifies the spirit of community action.

Community Action Month also provides an opportunity for WISCAP to highlight several of its new and ongoing partnerships, including with Associated Bank, Forward Community Investments (FCI), Mutual of America, Wipfli LLP, District 7 Council of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), and the School of Business at Edgewood College.

Governor Evers Declares May 2019 ‘Community Action Month’

May 14, 2019

WHEREAS; the Wisconsin Community Action Program Association (WISCAP) is comprised of 16 Community Action Agencies in Wisconsin working to fight poverty and help people achieve economic self-sufficiency; and

WHEREAS; since 1974, Community Action Agencies in Wisconsin contribute major programming in the areas of affordable housing, weatherization, food security; employment and entrepreneurship, Head Start, community economic development, health and education; and

WHEREAS; their statewide partners are the United Migrant Opportunity Services and the Foundation for Rural Housing; and

WHEREAS; the board structure of Community Action Agencies includes low-income individuals and families, elected officials or their representatives, and others from among business, industry, labor, religious, law enforcement, education, and groups and interests in the community served; and

WHEREAS; in 2017, 243,551 low-income and working poor residents of Wisconsin turned to community action agencies for assistance; and WISCAP member agencies helped more than 6,000 families obtain or maintain affordable housing served nearly 200,000 people monthly with emergency food assistance; and

WHEREAS; WISCAP and its member agencies has helped to start over 2,200 businesses and create over 6,000 jobs through its statewide management and implementation of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Job and Business Development Program (JBD);

NOW THEREFORE, I, Tony Evers, Governor of the State of Wisconsin,
do hereby proclaim May 2019 as COMMUNITY ACTION MONTH throughout the State of Wisconsin and I commend this observance to all of our citizens.

For Immediate Release: April 8, 2019

Contact: Kassidy Berens, Communications Manager, WISCAP
(608) 244-4422

WISCAP & Forward Madison FC Join Forces to ‘Show Poverty the Red Card’

Madison, WI – WISCAP is teaming up with Forward Madison FC to “Show Poverty the Red Card” at the Flamingo’s inaugural home opener on Saturday, April 27th at Breese Stevens Field in Madison.

Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes will also be on hand for the ceremonial ‘first kick’ at the start of the game. Throughout the night, educational materials on poverty in Wisconsin will be distributed and featured in video and PA announcements. WISCAP, Wisconsin’s Poverty Fighting Network, is comprised of 16 local community action agencies and two single purpose agencies working across the state to address the realities of poverty and economic dislocation.

“I’m excited to join Forward Madison FC for their first-ever match at home and I’m just as excited to stand with WISCAP against poverty. Everyone in our state deserves the opportunity to thrive—regardless of their ZIP code. I’m happy to see Forward Madison FC and WISCAP bring awareness to an issue that affects so many families and communities in our state,” said Lieutenant Governor Barnes.

“Forward Madison is pleased to support WISCAP at our inaugural home game. It is important to build awareness of poverty in Wisconsin, make people aware of the good work WISCAP does to combat poverty and give our fans the opportunity to be part of its solution,” Forward Madison Managing Director Peter Wilt said. 

“More than ten percent of Wisconsinites live below the poverty line. The people of our state who struggle in these circumstances deserve our respect — and our boldest, most innovative efforts to find solutions. Sports, including soccer, can serve as a great way to bring people together and draw attention to this important issue,” commented WISCAP’s Executive Director Brad Paul.

If you are interested in a corporate sponsorship or a group outing with friends or employees, please call WISCAP at (608) 244-4422 or email [email protected]

About WISCAP: The Wisconsin Community Action Program Association (WISCAP) is the statewide association for Wisconsin’s sixteen (16) Community Action agencies and two single-purpose agencies with statewide focus. You can learn more about WISCAP at wiscap.org

About Forward Madison FC: Forward Madison FC is a charter member of USL League One launching in the spring of 2019. Club name, colors and crest were developed with input from the public to build a club that truly represents the community. The club will play its home games at Breese Stevens Field, a multi-purpose stadium listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and located in downtown Madison on East Washington Avenue. More information and registration for the team’s weekly newsletter is available at www.forwardmadisonfc.com . Follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.