Week 40 - Milwaukee Transformation

One of the hardest parts of the Lost Bus experience is being absent from home, away from the people you've been building relationships with for years. Many times this year, in our commitment to our Mission, we've agreed to stay rooted in living on the road together, knowing that we would miss out on many experiences for the sacrifice of one grand one. This past weekend, however, for the first time since leaving last October, we returned home to our great state of South Carolina to celebrate and stand next to our dear friends getting married, Zachary and Emily. We laughed with friends, spent time with family, and witnessed the tying of knots. Seeing so many of our people, it was a marathon of catching up on time that has been unable to be spent in the past nine months.

Congratulations Zach and Emily!

Just some college buddies still living it up

Before this break, we continued our time in the great state of Wisconsin, by Lending Our Services in the vibrant metropolitan area of Milwaukee. With a shortened workweek, having only Monday through Wednesday to work, we were eager to start. In a typically fortunate manner, we were connected with a group that had ample work ready for us at the snap of a finger.

On Monday, we met with a man named Kurt Owens, a local pastor on the outskirts of Milwaukee. He welcomed us into his sanctuary and told us about a community organization he runs called Bridge Builders, which operates independently from his church. As Cain, Josh, and I sat across from him, we listened intently to the origin story of his organization, absorbing every detail of the foundation and strategy they've laid out.

The Bridge Builders Crew!

Kurt's initial plan was to plant a church in the rough neighborhood he had grown up in, with the intention of eventually leaving himself to live in the suburbs and commute to his church. However, a stranger saw through his intentions, warning him that he was going to falter on his promises, just like others before him. This struck a chord with Kurt, and he realized that he had to stay committed to representing the people fully and bringing about change in his community, meaning that his plan to move out was turned upside down.

Kurt desired change on his block, so he started small, focusing on improving his neighborhood by tackling the little things. He began by serving his neighbors better and knowing them on a personal level. He noticed that simple gestures like picking up trash, fixing fences, repainting houses, and replacing rotten decks were well-received, despite the neighborhood's bad reputation.

Kurt acknowledged that while some rougher elements, such as the most unruly tenants, contributed to the negative reputation, not everyone in the area was problematic. He understood that the loudest noises set the tone for the environment, so he set out to transform the neighborhood into a true community by encouraging servant-hood between neighbors.

Observant of the concept that one troubled house can negatively impact an entire block, Kurt came up with the idea of "light houses." These light houses would be acquired houses within each block, housing a missionary who would work alongside the neighbors and organize Bridge Builders' efforts. In the same fashion of causing a negative tone, these "light houses" would create a positive tone for the block. Additionally, "hub houses" are established every 4-6 blocks to act as centers for organizing volunteering, block parties, and providing a safe haven for the neighborhood.

Kurt shared with us their ambitious goal of taking over 170 blocks, which would encompass 6,120 houses. It seemed like an immense undertaking, but Kurt's systematic approach and clear plan made the possibility feel tangible. By taking small steps in each block, he aimed to extend his efforts even further into the harshest neighborhoods.

To see their full detailed plan via their website HERE.

After Kurt finished speaking, I remember telling him that I felt like I could run through a wall. His matter-of-fact speech and well-structured game plan left us feeling ready to take on the challenge alongside him.

Following our meeting with Kurt, they had projects lined up immediately because of their line of work. They had recently acquired a new house on one of their blocks and started the process to rebuild it to become their new hub house. As a work in progress project, there were several gaps we got to fill in our three days.

Josh making sure that his staircase would be safe.

Stain builds character, on the fence and on your clothes

He described to us there was a 40’ by 60’ deck they had that would need finishing. Truthfully, when he had first shared that, I thought he had misspoke, but oh, I was wrong. It took us one and a half full days to get the whole thing decked, but they finally have, in our opinion, an epic dance floor to utilize. Along with several new gates around the property, and a fancy, user-friendly, well-constructed handrail that Josh put together.

The Mega Deck

One board at a time

All the way to the end

Weight testing our project

Giving the deck some new color

The neighborhood noticed our big blue bus parked on their street this past week. We found joy in the constant flow of neighbors walking through the property we were working on. The excitement grew for the whole block to eventually have a house that they could share in community together. Neighbors shared ideas of community gardens that could fit on the property, and their enthusiasm was contagious, especially for the large dance floor that was being established.

Lets boogie

This mission in Milwaukee is extremely genuine, and the block we were working on, although surrounded by a troubled neighborhood, felt different than the rest. The organization running this initiative is no joke and has many key strategies that offer legitimate solutions to restoring lost neighborhoods and motivating neighboring blocks to regain control of their own communities.

The positive impact of this organization's work is evident, and the genuine sense of community they foster is remarkable. Being a part of it for those few days left a lasting impression on us. We witnessed firsthand how this project is transforming lives and neighborhoods, giving hope and inspiration to those who may have felt forgotten or neglected. It's incredible to see the power of community-driven initiatives and the potential for positive change they bring to even the most challenging areas. We left Milwaukee with a sense of fulfillment, knowing that we played a small part in a much larger movement to revitalize and uplift communities.

Lakisha and the family, friends of the Haddad family and a great connection for us in Milwaukee

Juan, Josh’s old supervisor at Ernst & Young hosted us for dinner in Chicago