Faith and Community - City on a Hill

City on Hill is a faith-based nonprofit, on Milwaukee’s near west side residing in a hospital they have repurposed to serve the neighborhood. Diane De La Santos, the executive director of this nonprofit, has used traditional and non-traditional methods to address the factors that contribute to poverty, family distress, and children's failure to thrive in the city. She will share insights on her work in the community on Thursday afternoon at the Avenues West luncheon.

The organization was incorporated after a successful outreach by its predecessor, a national relief agency, and a large group of churches from within and outside Milwaukee in the year 2000. Aurora Health Care, owner of the Good Samaritan hospital, connected with the local coordinating agency, and four months later transferred the property to the newly formed City on a Hill.

After completing a needs assessment of the immediate neighborhood, City on a Hill chose to focus on gaps in services and areas of greatest need, resulting in a free clinic, and youth and family services. After school services include a Youth Center, children’s programming and the Pulse Youth Group.

Now, seventeen years later, The Historic Lofts on Kilbourn, a 99-unit housing complex opened in the former hospital, the 51-unit William A Passavant senior housing was completed, and there is a vision to continue to develop housing for the Near West Side. One unique program offered by the team at City on Hill is called, Removing Racial Residue, and helps to break down barriers, biases, and misunderstanding between people of different races. Visit their website at http://www.cityonahillmilwaukee.org/compassion_training_events/ to learn about the other compassion programs.