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Vol. 34 • No. 29 • Thurs., July 16, 2015 - Wed., July 22, 2015 • An NCON Publication Serving The Milwaukee Area • 65¢
Despite recent issues SDC’s CEO optimistic about agency’s future By Steve Waring Special to The Milwaukee Times
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Milwaukee native George P. Hinton spent more than 12 years as president of Aurora Sinai Medical Center before accepting the position of CEO of the Social Development Commission in January 2014. Prior to his arrival the SDC lost approximately 80 percent of its funding over a two-year period beginning in 2012. Mr. Hinton faces a further challenge as the SDC budget for 2016 has been reduced by about 33 percent.
Between 2012 and 2014 the Social Development Commission (SDC) downsized from an annual budget of $52 million and 400 employees to an annual budget of $16 million with about 150 employees, after a W-2 state program was not renewed in 2013. The following year for the first time in 45 years, it did not receive funding for its Head Start program. The loss of Head Start was particularly painful. In addition to losing more than $20 million in funding for 2014, the agency was also left with leases and ownership of properties for which it no longer had any use. This includes its headquarters at 4041 N. Richards St. George P. Hinton, who was appointed CEO in January 2014, said the agency hoped to complete the move from its current location by early next year. Mr. Hinton was appointed CEO of SDC after the deci-
sion to terminate funding for W-2 and Head Start had already been made. He said he felt it was important for him especially in the beginning to lift the spirits of the remaining employees and help the agency refocus its mission. The SDC was established as an intergovernmental commission under Wisconsin State Statute in 1964. In refocusing the agency, Mr. Hinton said he read the wording of the original statute which charges the commission with “recommend[ing] solutions for the major social, economic and cultural programs … and discrimination in housing employment, and public accommodations and facilities on the basis of sex, class, race, religion, sexual orientation or ethnic or minority status.” Finances and staff stabilized after 2014, according to Mr. Hinton who said the commission recently completed a long-term strategic planning process. For the (Continued on pg. 2)
Milwaukee's Earn and Learn program pays a visit to the Milwaukee Times offices Youth participating in the city of Milwaukee’s “Summer Earn and Learn Program” visited the offices of The Milwaukee Times Weekly Newspaper on July 9 as part of a lesson on small business. Pictured (from left) are Aleczander Crosby, HOPE Christian High School; Jakobie Davis, Messmer High School; Anon Crosby, HOPE Christian High School; and Octavis Hicks, Texas Bufkin Christian Academy, led by Dr. Andrew Calhoun of Grace Fellowship Church. They met with Times contributor Jacquelyn Heath. The summer job program includes two days of community work service, a day of visiting employers and educational institutions as well as a day of learning socalled ‘soft job skills’ for proper decorum in the workplace environment. During their visit to the Times, the students were told about the importance of education, a course of study that will lead to a degree, and career paths where employers are likely to be hiring in the future.
In This Issue: Being Frank: A murderous future - Page 3
Childhood stress may explain your adult weight gain - Page 12
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