RIS Receives the UWM School of Nursing Community Partnership Award
Our friends at UW-Milwaukee's Peacebuilding program honored our Refugee & Immigration Services (RIS) program with a Community Partnership Award through UWM School of Nursing.
Pictured is our Refugee Integration Specialist, Claire (left), and Anastassia (right), Academic Program Manager for UW-Milwaukee's Master of Sustainable Peacebuilding. Anastassia was one of the first students placed with Catholic Charities through the MSP program. At the end of her Fellowship, she joined our staff to continue supporting the refugee community. Returning to UWM in her current role, she maintains her commitment through our partnership.
Over the past five years, UWM graduate students in the MSP Fellowship program have been instrumental in assisting our RIS staff develop new program models to help refugees across southeastern Wisconsin, the state and nation. From in-person mentoring to virtual social groups, and multi-language videos, Catholic Charities and UWM have partnered to help refugees help navigate life skills and learn about U.S. culture and citizenship.
Thank you to everyone involved and for the important work you do!
Welcome to Catholic Charities!
Jose joined Catholic Charities in May as the Asylum Project Coordinator at our Refugee & Immigration Services office. Having recently graduated from the UW-Milwaukee with a B.A. in Philosophy, he is very excited to be part of a dedicated team that always has the well-being of the community in mind. Catholic Charities was Jose’s first choice for employment because of its mission to help those in need as well as its welcoming atmosphere.
When not working, Jose likes to spend time outdoors playing tennis or pickleball at the local courts. However, when the weather is bad or it's just a lazy Sunday, he likes to cook up new recipes and invite friends over for a board game or two.
Mary started at our Sheboygan office in July as a Mental Health Therapist and brings over one year of experience. She recently graduated from Mount Mary University with a master's in professional counseling and had previously graduated with her B.A. in Psychology. Mary reflects on her time so far with the Agency, "I appreciate Catholic Charities wholistic approach in the services they provide to clients."
Mary spends her free time in nature, reading and cooking. She enjoys traveling and getting acquainted with new people, places and cultures.
Bringing Families Together
This summer, all of our Child Welfare programs (Adoption Services, Pregnancy & Parenting Support & Supported Parenting) held picnics that brought families together. It was a chance to reconnect and celebrate, share stories make new friends and create memories.
Fun fact! This was the largest group of attendees our Adoption Picnic has seen!
Congratulations!
We are excited to announce that two of our talented team members have received promotions. Please join us in celebrating their new roles!
Rachael Sheets
Promoted to Director of Community Counseling
Rachael joined Catholic Charities in 2021 as an intern at our Racine office while she completed a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. With a diverse professional background of supporting clients throughout southeastern Wisconsin, she often partners with local and county community partners to advance services and support to those in need. In 2023, Rachael returned to Catholic Charities as a Therapist at our Waukesha office. Now she’ll lead the Community Counseling program!
I’m very grateful for this opportunity and look forward to supporting our behavioral health team as well as working side-by-side with each one of you at Catholic Charities. What a gift it is to be a part of this work, this mission, and this team - all working together to care for our community and increase quality of life for those we serve.
I’m excited about finding creative ways to collaborate within our agency and throughout our service area. Feel free to get in touch anytime; I look forward to deepening relationships with all of you!
Rebecca Pyaohn
Promoted to Accounting & Billing Manager
Rebecca joined Catholic Charites in 2020 as Lead Account after completing a Master of Business Management (MBM) degree. She brings more than five years of progressive accounting experience following her last nonprofit role as an Assistant Director of Finance. During her time with Catholic Charities, Rebecca has overseen accounts payable and billing. We are excited to have her as the Accounting & Billing Manager!
I am very grateful for this opportunity and look forward to taking on challenges that arise. With this new role, I'm looking to grow both personally and professionally.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Showing love for their community, St. Camillus recently donated 100 Care Kits to Catholic Charities as part of their Feast Week Service Project. They will be given to individuals and families who are involved with our programs, such as our Adult Day Center members in Milwaukee. Kits contain a variety of everyday essentials and a few fun surprises. From the looks on everyone’s faces, they are really appreciated!
Thanks to the Order of St. Camillus Foundation, residents, staff and volunteers for your time and generosity!
Mark Your Calendars!
Is the All-Staff meeting on your calendar? Join your fellow coworkers all in one place on Friday, October 25th to meet and reconnect with one another. Registration and breakfast is from 8:30-9:00 a.m. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude at 4:00 p.m. Lunch will be served. We can't wait to see you all!
Let's Celebrate!
Below you will see staff that have reached anniversary milestones. Congratulations to all of you on your accomplishments! Please scroll through and enjoy reading reflections and special moments their colleagues provided in order for this to be a surprise to those being recognized.
5 YEARS
Jen Layton
5 years
"I've worked with Jen for 4 years and it's been a beautiful journey with her so far. She's taken the time to help me learn new things and be the very best professional I can be at Catholic Charities. She was the one to encourage me to go back to get my master's degree in social work."
"She provides a safe space for me to express client concerns or even address my honest feelings about something. I love that she allows me to grow and lead in my own creativity. I appreciate her so much. I affectionally call her "boss" all the time. She has definitely made my time at Catholic Charities an experience that has changed parts of my life and has given me fulfillment in so many ways. I truly appreciate her so much."
"Although our time working together has been short, I appreciate her guidance and experience in the field. She is a safe space to go to and a listening ear. She has a genuine interest in how you are doing and will be your biggest cheerleader. We are grateful to have her on our team!"
Colleen Schmidt
5 years
"Colleen is the life of the party! The energy, humor and care she brings to the office is unmatched. She makes time for anyone and everyone all the time. Whenever I have a question or problem, business or personal, she gives the best advice and guidance. Her style, social life, interior decorating skills and attention to detail are things I aspire to have. Thank you, Colleen, for everything you do for the Agency and for being our Chaos Coordinator ;)"
"Time flies when you’re having fun! Colleen knows how to make the workplace fun. With her kindness and sense of humor, she is the first to say hello to everyone in the morning, ask about your weekend, and read your daily horoscope at lunch. Her thoughtful compassion makes a difference for the people who call or stop in at CAO to find help for just about anything. She has guided newcomers to our RIS office. She helped a wayward stranger, and his guide dog find a hotel room for the night and arrange for a train the next day. She is the calm in the storm when someone calls Catholic Charities for help."
"Among her many talents is her flair for design. If you have the opportunity to visit our West Bend office, you will see the care, respect and artistic eye she gave to creating a welcoming environment for clients and staff. From co-worker birthday celebrations to Board meetings, she knows how to make people feel special. I’m grateful to call her both a co-worker and friend!"
10 YEARS
Lucy Angulo De Araujo
10 years
"Lucy is an incredible therapist and a great colleague. Her joy around the office and her passion for serving clients in the counseling setting are invaluable. She is attentive to the needs of clients, and shares her insights with coworkers, too! She always seems to have a smile, and I enjoy hearing her laughter around the office!"
"Lucy is dedicated to her clients and is a joy in our office. She is kind and a great person to work with."
15 YEARS
Laura Martinez
15 years
"Laura is compassionate, dedicated and knowledgeable; for the past 15 years as a Catholic Charities case manager, she has provided valuable services to hundreds of individuals and families that she has served. Laura has been instrumental in helping many clients to achieve their goals and find sustainable success. Many of those served were able to overcome obstacles related to employment, housing, and mental health issues (by coordinating with our therapists).
"She is always willing to help the Outreach Team as needed. Besides her time at the Racine office, Laura provides services weekly in Burlington and Kenosha to meet the needs of those communities."
Annette Jankowski
15 years
"Annette enjoys, loves and lives in an effort dedicated to helping others. Yes, 15-years here at CC, but much longer in a lifelong career providing warm, sincere and supportive help for those experiencing issues with aging, and even a younger population of individuals needing a little help. It’s not just the clients her program serves but family and friends seeking a little more fulfillment for the loved ones entrusted in her care. Sounds like a family and it is. Along with her staff, they provide firsthand genuine care as the norm without asking."
"Her report card can be seen in the eyes of her clients. No more perfect measure of the personal connections Annette and her team create and foster with a loving hand. It is with good reason the Adult Day Center is the first stop for many individuals wishing to get an idea of what Catholic Charities offers and is all about."
20 YEARS
Sue Howland
20 years
"I first want to truthfully say that Sue is one of the best supervisors that I’ve worked with - key words there- worked with! She leads by example which underscores the meaning when CC says case managers are true advocates for their clients; because Sue is not only an advocate for the clients but takes it even further by proving to be a true advocate for her team as well."
"She also lives by words that she wouldn't 'ask anyone to do something she wouldn’t do herself.' I am here to say that Sue has and does get in there with the rest of us to do what needs to be done on behalf of any client."
"Sue sets out to trust her CMs to perform their job roles with their knowledge and skills to the standards she and the Agency expects-- until it is proven otherwise. Nowhere will anyone find a supervisor as kind, respectful, understanding and one that tries to be as flexible as possible--- anywhere. I can honestly say these things by experience, as an older employee who has worked under various forms of management."
"On a more personal level, Sue has proven to be humble, nonjudgmental, and one of the most transparent and REAL people I know. This can be seen through her leadership style and overall professional attitude. As, I believe, most often, adopted leadership styles are a continuant of one’s overall innermost attributes."
"Sue Howland has been a member of the Catholic Charities Team for twenty years. It’s hard to imagine the agency without her as, 'the go to person' for any client need that arises. Collaborating with all agency programs she has developed a sense of the human need which brings individuals to our doorsteps. She doesn’t always speak their language, but through warm visual cues and actions assures clients the sincerity and willingness of delivering real help, in the moment and in the future."
"Sharing her homemade lunch with a stranger, buying a bus pass with her own money, working alongside a client for over a year securing safe housing, making the actual move herself are examples of her day. If there are 13 client calls on her voicemail, she will get to them, all of them. Not the requirements of her job, but rather a commitment on her part to unselfishly help those in need."
"Be it a lifestyle or passion, Sue’s twenty-years of service exemplify the very best Catholic Charities has to offer. Congratulations on your twenty-years and all your past and current clients thank you."
"P.S. No more driving the “Red Truck”. We still need it!"
Staff out and about in the community
Outreach Ministries Food Pantry @ All Saints Catholic Church
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day @ Wilson Park Senior Center
National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in Waukesha
Fr. Matthew Widder, Catholic Charities Board Member, led the procession with a special stop [to pray for the victims and everyone affected by the November 2021 parade tragedy] and even passed our Waukesha office! Catherine and Jessica joined Fr. Matthew and many others on this journey.
COA Youth & Family Centers Safe Summer Kickoff
Senior Health & Wellness Fair @ St. Alphonsus Parish
ADC Volunteer Garden Project
Our friends at Good Shepherd Catholic Church made their annual visit to our Adult Day Center this summer. They helped clean up the garden and patio area for summer and enjoyed playing table games with our members. Thank you all for your time and dedication!
Exciting update - new brochure!
Our Programs & Services brochure has a fresh new look!
If you need any of these or other up to date materials, please reach out to Kaci Eisch (keisch@ccmke.org) or x3413.
Some new features:
Front -
- Minor adjustments to logo, photos & design
Inside -
- Programs listed in slightly different order
- Refreshed program descriptions
- New pictures throughout
- QR codes linked to the RIS website & YouTube channel
Back -
- Up-to-date office locations & phone numbers (Super important!)
- Current Top Workplace logo
- New social media icons
- QR code that goes to our website, ccmke.org (This is the easiest way to see the difference between old and new!
Since this was a thorough and lengthy update, it is important that we are all distributing the same information and using the current format. If you have any old brochures, please recycle them or give them to Kaci. Thank you!