Neighborhood House

The foundation of Neighborhood House is exceptional programs.  We invite you to come visit us. See our programs in action. Then join us—as a program participant, donor or volunteer—in strengthening Milwaukee’s city core by strengthening its children, its families, and its neighborhoods.

Neighborhood residents and program participants can become a part of the Neighborhood House family before they take their first steps.  Our Early Childhood Services, for children from 6 weeks through 6 years of age, is one of the best in the city and has one of Milwaukee's longest legacies of excellence. In 1989, we became the first community-based program in Milwaukee to be nationally accredited by NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

When the school-age years arrive, our Youth Programs provide education and adventure for children ages 7-12. Our Youth Programs emphasize academic enrichment and character-building while offering computer education, arts and crafts, organized sports, field trips, science and outdoor environmental education. During the formative teen years, Neighborhood House's Teen Programs provide a safe place to grow and learn about life's lessons. Our Teen Programs serve youth ages 13-19 and offer a wide range of activities ranging from academic support and career development, to community involvement and leadership, to interactive computer lab sessions and organized sports.

Neighborhood House isn't just for youth. Our Adult and Family Programs provide unique, customized programs for people of all ages, including our Older Adults group which has met at Neighborhood House for nearly half a century. Neighborhood House's Adult and Family Programs offer opportunities for families to spend quality time together as well as life skills development opportunities, including money management, family outings, socialization opportunities, and nutrition. There are also weekly educational and recreational activities for older adults.

Outdoor and Environmental Education (OEE), a Neighborhood House cornerstone, is integrated into all of the organization’s programs, providing educational and enrichment activities for early-childhood, elementary, middle, and high school students. The OEE curriculum, Nature Time, effectively integrates field experiences with classroom curriculum for a comprehensive understanding of the environment and science for program participants. Activities take place at NH’s Certified School Yard Habitat, Science Lab, and 90-acre Nature Center in Dodge County, as well as at the Lynden Hill urban green space and Milwaukee Public Schools.

Neighborhood House's International Learning Center has provided English as a Second Language instruction to over 5,000 African and Southeast Asian adult refugees in the Milwaukee area since 1981. The International Learning Center specializes in literacy and communication skills for refugees who have had little or no prior education in their own country. Please visit the International Learning Center's website for more information about programming, news, and opportunities: http://ilcmilwaukee.wordpress.com/

Another NH division is the Community Learning Center (CLC) located four blocks away in the Milwaukee High School for the Arts (MHSA). The CLC serves 800 students annually and provides a safe haven, academic support system and fun place for students before and after school, evenings, weekends and in summer. The CLC offers educational, social and recreational activities for youth and has proven to be extremely effective in increasing student achievement and providing a safe haven.

The Community Health Improvement Project in Metcalfe Park and Concordia (CHIMC) is a 5-year collaboration between Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, the Next Door Foundation, and the Medical College of Wisconsin. The project seeks to investigate health disparities in underserved areas and to raise immunization rates of children up to 14 years old in Milwaukee’s most impoverished neighborhoods.

Yes.  Neighborhood House is an exciting place these days.  While our programs adapt to meet the challenges and opportunities of the area we serve, our mission remains focused on building strong families in a strong community.  We thank our participants, committed staff, loyal volunteers, generous donors and many friends for continuing to make Neighborhood Hood the great place that it is.