Community

At EMPATHY Mental Health we take responsibility for our actions and their impact on the communities that we live in throughout Wisconsin. We strive to be involved in community activities that aim to solve social problems not only with respect to mental illnesses, but also with respect to discrimination, poverty and other social ills. We seek to promote economic and social justice. We provide financial and material support to community organizations whose values we share. Examples of organizations, events and activities we participate in include:
- Empathy Mental Health’s Generous Contribution Brings Holiday Joy to Upper Room Bible Church
- Empathy Mental Health Supports Gateway Organization Milwaukee’s (GoMKE) Music Scholarship Drive
- Thanksgiving 2024 Gift Cards
- Empathy Mental Health Supports Dashiki Bike Ride to Promote Community and Health
- Upper Room Bible Church's 16th Annual Banquet Supported by EMPATHY Mental Health
- Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway at The Upper Room Bible Church
Upper Room Bible Church extended a heartfelt thank you to Empathy Mental Health for their financial contribution. Empathy’s kindness brought joy, hope, and a sense of belonging to many families this holiday season. Over 60 children got toys they might not have had otherwise, and the families were happy to pick out gifts for their kids. The event was full of love, with snack bags of candy canes, fruit, and cookies for everyone. The younger girls’ singing and dancing made the day even more special, bringing smiles to all.
As Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Empathy Mental Health has made so many people feel loved and cared for.
Upper Room Bible Church thanked Empathy Mental Health’s thoughtful support and appreciates all the ways they uplift both the ministry and the community.
Gateway Organization Milwaukee (GoMKE), a nonprofit that brings music lessons to students in the Milwaukee area, asked Empathy Mental Health for support. For over 17 years, GoMKE had been helping young musicians by providing lessons, instruments, and opportunities to grow in confidence and leadership. Their Thanksgiving Scholarship Drive aimed to raise $25,000 to fund scholarships for 50 students, ensuring every child could experience the joy of music, regardless of their financial circumstances.
Empathy Mental Health made a financial contribution to support the cause. This donation covered a full year of music lessons, an instrument, and a learning book for one student. By supporting GoMKE, Empathy Mental Health helped make a difference in a child’s life, showing how working together can bring hope and opportunity to the community.
Empathy Mental Health knows that the holidays can be a stressful time for many people. Many low-income persons lack the financial resources to enjoy the holidays. Upon request from Emma Harrell, Block Captain for the area around 32nd and Locust in Milwaukee, we distributed gift cards for her neighborhood residents to buy food for Thanksgiving. We wanted to help families who are struggling to afford a holiday meal, so they can come together and enjoy the day. For Empathy Mental Health, it’s a way to show that we care about our community and want to make a positive impact. This effort creates a sense of connection and gratitude, helping bring people together when they need it most.
Empathy Mental Health recently read about the Dashiki Bike Ride, an event hosted by Red Bike and Green Milwaukee that brings people together—especially Black residents—to celebrate cycling, Black culture, and community. To support this, we donated two new bicycles to help African-Americans who want to bike but can’t afford one.
The Dashiki Bike Ride is part of the Soul Roll MKE calendar and aims to:
- Celebrate Black pride and unity
- Highlight Black history, local businesses, and community spaces
- Create a safe and welcoming space for Black cyclists
While the rides are open to everyone, the focus is on making sure Black participants feel comfortable and included. The event also provides resources like bike repairs and giveaways to make it easier for people to join in. The goal is to improve physical, mental, and social well-being while bringing people together.
For Empathy Mental Health, this initiative helps them better support the community, encourage healthy living, and create an inclusive environment. By providing bikes for events like the Dashiki Bike Ride, we help more people participate and stay healthy, while building stronger connections in the community.
In the photos below, Monica is riding one of the donated bikes during August’s Critical Mass 2024 event
Also, both donated bikes were also used during our Gordon Parks Ride on Saturday, September 7th, 2024
The Upper Room Bible Church held its 16th Annual Fall Church Celebration Banquet. EMPATHY Mental Health donated the use of its annex space for the event. EMPATHY Mental Health works to improve Wisconsin communities by addressing issues such as poverty, discrimination, and other challenges people face. They actively participate in community efforts to promote fairness, equality and support other organizations with similar goals through financial assistance and resources.
Over 100 people attended the banquet, including members from local churches and businesses. Special guests included Michell Pitts and her husband from Pitts Mortuary, as well as the Bells from Grace Music School. The event had a fashion show, great food, live entertainment, a comedian, a raffle, and an icebreaker activity.
By providing their annex space, EMPATHY helped bring together local churches, businesses, and residents to support one another. The event allowed people to connect, have fun, and discuss ways to improve the community. It also highlighted the importance of giving back and how everyone’s contributions—whether time, space, or resources—can create a positive impact.
The Upper Room Bible Church is committed to helping the community, especially during the holidays. In 2024, they focused on supporting families in need by providing assistance during the holiday season. As part of their outreach, the Church set a goal to give out at least 100 turkeys to families struggling with food insecurity this Thanksgiving. They believe everyone deserves to enjoy a warm holiday meal. On November 16, 2024, the Church held a turkey giveaway. We donated 40 turkeys towards the Church’s goal of 100. Along with the Church, we were pleased to help bring joy and comfort to families in need, making their holiday season brighter, offering hope and smiles during a time that can often feel difficult for many.