IMAGINE Connecting people in cities to nature and each other
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IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE EVERY URBAN CHILD CAN EXPLORE THE NATURAL WORLD EVERY DAY OF EVERY SEASON OF EVERY YEAR OF THEIR LIFE.
Imagine adults who have the skills and passion to share and guide this child as a mentor in adventure, building curiosity, and understanding and respect for the natural world. Imagine a place where people can come together in an outdoor laboratory, a neighborhood Urban Ecology Center, which educates and inspires people to understand and value nature as motivation for positive change.
NOW IMAGINE
A CITY THAT TAKES THIS VISION SERIOUSLY, STRIVES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, AND IS A BEACON FOR THE WORLD.
This is what we seek through the Urban Ecology Center’s Milwaukee Vision. The Imagine campaign will make this possible. ®
Connecting people in cities to nature and each other
HOPE & HEALING THROUGH NATURE At the Urban Ecology Center it starts with one nature walk or trip down the river; the first fish caught or garden planted. And something stirs within the mind of a child or heart of an adult. A curiosity for and love of nature begins. Our vision is to inspire generations to build environmental curiosity, understanding, and respect. We restore hope and heal our urban natural world, neighborhood by neighborhood.
OUR IMPACT IN 2020
3 Branches
200+
• Riverside Park • Menomonee Valley • Washington Park
blogs, videos and activities were created by staff for our new virtual platform – UEC In my Backyard – since March 2020 with 18,000 views
500,000
1,354
22,000+
visitors connected to our green spaces – more than double the year prior!
volunteers dedicated 8,241 hours to the Urban Ecology Center
Neighborhood Environmental Education Project (NEEP) visits to our three branches
HOW WE DELIVER OUR PROGRAMS:
THROUGH OUR WORK: HEALTH improves
• Environmental Education ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT goes up • Land Stewardship LAND is healed • Summer Camps THE COMMUNITY is inspired and engaged • Visitor Engagement ECOLOGICAL LITERACY improves • Research & Citizen Science YOUTH ARE PREPARED for jobs • Green Career Pipeline JOBS are created • Community Programs NEIGHBORHOODS thrive • Volunteer Engagement
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Connecting people in cities to nature and each other
A VISION FOR MORE: IMAGINE SOMETHING GREATER We know that regular time in nature is critical to one’s mental, physical and spiritual well-being. Yet with more than 80% of the nation residing in urban areas, many don’t experience nature. We also know that while we reach a good portion of Milwaukee students and residents – there is additional work we can do to ensure that more people spend time in nature to develop environmental understanding and behaviors.
Our Milwaukee Vision will allow us to introduce more people to the transformational properties of nature, ensure UEC’s longevity to reach generations of people, and respond to interest in our model so we can spread our knowledge and deepen our impact. Plans include: • Washington Park Improvements • Riverland Development • Organizational Excellence • Endowment Growth
TOGETHER WE CAN IMAGINE
For the Average Milwaukee Kid:
For every Milwaukee Resident:
For the City of Milwaukee:
Through UEC programming and collaborative efforts across the city, each child can grow to appreciate nature and know the environment through hands-on, direct experience in every year of his or her life.
Every household in Milwaukee would have knowledge of and access to the Urban Ecology Center and/or UEC style programming thanks to growing collaborations.
The UEC adds to the brand of Milwaukee. We become known as an ecological city. Through this vision, Milwaukee is a desirable place to move to and live in, in part, because of the UEC’s work.
For the World: Milwaukee becomes a center for urban environmental education. With a published account of our story and methods and a growing training Institute, Milwaukee can serve other cities that would like to do this work.
The Urban Ecology Center has gone from a trailer to three branches in diverse areas of the city, with resources shared throughout the world. But we know there’s more to do to continue to bring hope and healing through nature.
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NAN GARDETTO President, Every Day Good Foundation Connecting people in cities to nature and each other
IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE: New Education and Community Building Construct a new, environmentally responsible building that will foster an inviting learning atmosphere, serve as a neighborhood gathering space, and maximize the natural setting. The community will enjoy better equipment lending and programs, increasing recreation and connections to nature.
WASHINGTON PARK SPARKING THE WONDER OF NATURE IN THE HEART OF A NEIGHBORHOOD
Our Washington Park location was opened in 2007 to serve more neighborhood schools with our acclaimed Neighborhood Environmental Education Project. Located at the former site of the Milwaukee Zoo, local neighborhood associations and corporations invited us to open a site there to help with the neighborhood revitalization efforts. And it worked. Washington Park welcomes more than 60,000 school children and families for education and outdoor recreation. However, the outdated and inefficient building is limiting our ability to increase our programming and does not provide the welcoming environment we wish to offer. Community feedback and evolving needs call for us to create a new gathering and education center and surrounding greenspace to double our programming, launch early childhood education programming, and reach more kids and adults from across the city.
Land Stewardship: 20 Acres Surrounding the Building Beautification of the park will foster a better understanding of the natural world and its intrinsic value to people. Land improvements will create a higher quality habitat for wildlife, and conserve native plants in a world of ever-shrinking green space. Lagoon Renewal* Restoration of dilapidated historic pedestrian bridges crossing the lagoon, along with modest lagoon edge restoration. (Worth noting, parallel to this campaign the County, MMSD and UEC are seeking public dollars as part of a full lagoon restoration plan, which would enhance the quality of aquatic lands for recreation, wildlife habitat and water supply – making it an exemplary natural body of water in an urban landscape). Infrastructure Upgrade* Improve parking lot, road way, and lighting to improve safety and allocate storage space for UEC buses, equipment and perishable nursery plants – with a focus on creating a more environmentally friendly and welcoming space.
The presence of the Urban Ecology Center has a positive impact on this community. UEC staff are doing amazing work to help make local youth and residents feel more welcome. With greater activation, residents feel safer exploring and enjoying their local park. We’ve also seen inspiring ecological improvements and advancements in science education. The UEC is a community anchor we must continue to invest in. CHAIRWOMAN MARCELIA NICHOLSON Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors
TOTAL NEED: $19,000,000
* In partnership with Milwaukee County Parks and MMSD
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Connecting people in cities to nature and each other
IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE:
RIVERLAND DEVELOPMENT A GATEWAY TO NATURE WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD FEEL
Located between the Riverwest and East Side communities, we have officed out of and offered programming at our Riverside Park branch since 2004. Riverside Park includes 40+ acres of wooded land and riparian habitat on the east bank of the Milwaukee River with access to the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum. The evolution of the property has posed challenges to how people are welcomed and activities are carried out. Additions and improvements to the Riverland location will provide a unique, eco-friendly event hall, an engaging environment for the community to enjoy greenspace and support our growing program and operational needs. This inviting property will be a destination for neighbors near and far to connect to each other and to nature.
The Urban Ecology Center’s plan seeks to weave buildings and environment into a wholistic experience. Rather than simply place buildings where opportunity exists, this plan seeks to first understand and consider how the space between buildings and ecology will support places for people.
New Event Hall Repurpose historic Cream City brick building to create a premiere ecofriendly event destination. Located adjacent to beautiful park land and with an industrial feel, the revenue generated will allow the Center to sustain mission-based environmental education and outdoor recreation programs. Land Stewardship and Facilities Workspace and Storage Create an easily accessible, flexible and expanded storage capacity for essential site work and land management equipment. This new space will be efficient, will meet OSHA standards, and will improve storage and longevity of equipment. Outdoor Gathering Space and Play Area This natural gathering space for community and school visits provides a welcoming entrance to the Center. Modified Space in Current Riverside Park Building Reconfiguring the facility will create more classroom space for thousands of children, preschool through high school, to participate in environmental education. Additional space allows staff to be centrally located and provides much-needed storage. Dedicated Space for Research, Land Stewardship and Volunteers Increase our opportunity to engage local adults and young adults in nature-based learning and the important ecological restoration in our public spaces. The new building will expand our engagement of people with special needs and mobility challenges.
TOTAL NEED: $12,000,000
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Connecting people in cities to nature and each other
ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE EXPANDING IMPACT
As our organization has evolved, we have been good stewards of our finances and have continued to revitalize blighted urban green spaces, connecting people to nature and each other. However, we have not been able to invest in certain growth initiatives as we met rising operational costs. Capacity-building funds will support UEC growth, solidifying our successful education and community renewal model into an equally successful long-term business model - allowing us to continue to improve efficiencies and expand our impact while retaining and developing staff.
WE WILL INVEST THESE FUNDS IN: • Technology Upgrades - Replacement and addition of iPads and mobile devices - Security systems for all buildings - Software upgrades and improvements - Financial Management Software - Build out functionality of HR, donor and program database - Website overhaul
• Vehicle Replacement • Staff Retention and Development
TOTAL NEED: $1,500,000
* In partnership with Milwaukee County
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Connecting people in cities to nature and each other
ENDOWMENT GROWTH FOR A HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Support of the Urban Ecology Center’s endowment today will have a profound impact on our ability to remain relevant, vibrant, financially strong and effective in the future. By strengthening the Endowment Fund, we aim to ensure a healthy organization that can respond to changing community needs well into the future.
Endowment funds are invested and the annual interest on the investment is used to: • Support a sustainability fund for building maintenance and expanded program support • Provide access and financial assistance • Fuel program innovation • Provide a safety net during economic downturns
TOTAL GROWTH: $10,000,000 (cash and expectancies)
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Connecting people in cities to nature and each other
Please join us in making the Milwaukee Vision a reality. Your support means more kids will explore nature and learn hands-on science in the outdoors. You will help build environmentally conscious communities and green spaces for everyone to enjoy. Your gift to the Imagine Campaign will inspire generations to build environmental curiosity, understanding, and respect. Together we can restore hope and heal our urban natural world, neighborhood by neighborhood.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
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MISSION: WE CONNECT PEOPLE IN CITIES TO NATURE AND EACH OTHER.
RIVERSIDE PARK 1500 E. Park Pl. Milwaukee WI. 53211 WASHINGTON PARK 1859 N. 40th St. Milwaukee, WI 53208 MENOMONEE VALLEY 3700 W. Pierce St. Milwaukee, WI 53215 urbanecologycenter.org