By Diane Walder
Northside News
Less than two years ago, Claude Gilmore took over management of the Kennedy Heights Community Center after retiring from decades of public service, first as a community advocate, direct-care social worker. A long management career as hospital administrator, drug czar, bureau manager and youth policy director followed. A formidable presence, Gilmore means business. This presence is accompanied by a large, deep voice and an even larger vision for the facility, which functions as a day care center, 4-year-old kindergarten, after-school setting, as well as a food pantry and an adult job training program — an essential element for residents living in this low-income neighborhood .
Gilmore speaks like a man in a hurry; paragraphs of sentences sprint out of him and you have to listen faster to keep up with him. Probably no one is more qualified to speak about the needs of the Kennedy Heights community than Mr. G., as everyone there calls him.
If you thought you knew something about the Kennedy Heights Community Center, you might be surprised to learn that it runs more than a dozen programs, all for the purpose of raising people up. “It’s all about helping communities that have less so they can be more,” said Mr. G.
“I love public service,” said Gilmore. “It’s all about starting where people are. I learned this in my early career as a social worker doing home visits and helping people on the streets of Milwaukee. These people experienced mental illness, drug abuse issues and encountered delinquency at a very young age. My choice to become a social worker helped to shape me to become a community advocate. I helped start and led a number of minority-based organizations in Milwaukee that were established to improve the health outcomes of African-Americans.
“We’re in the relationship business. The success of the early childhood program and after-school program are all about the success of teachers establishing positive relationships with the kids and their parents. These kids need someone with whom they can relate and connect. For example, the Center has a new boys program titled Young and Gifted. The emphasis is all about planting the seeds of leadership in the kids. They learn how to rise above difficult circumstances and understand that they have those ingredients within them to be successful. They learn how to define themselves instead of having other people define them. Participants in the Girls, Inc. program have similar leadership opportunities, from the intricacies of dance, to learning about science, and careers available through college. Recently, one of our teens was able to visit with lawmakers in the U.S. Capitol, so they actually see what it sounds and looks like to be a leader. They can model that and realize that they can be leaders, too. Our staff helps nurture them and grow.
“I wanted to make a difference after retiring. I believe in community work. I love that this is a place where people are already connected — that the housing complex formed a community center years ago and the center was critical in providing services to help residents. What this place really represents to the residents is that it is a place they can call their own. The Center has a board and is committed to this neighborhood, demonstrated by the fact that many of members are residents from the neighborhood and reflect the neighborhood make up and diversity. I love that there’s tremendous diversity here and I like its authenticity. The challenge is how do we serve well all these distinct cultures and communities?
“When I first came here, I spent my time talking to the residents and the people we serve. The core competencies of Kennedy Heights are the services we provide. We have excellent, quality child care programs. Our preschool operates from 9 am to noon and provides a rich program for children aged 30 months to six years. Our teachers provide a classroom environment that encompasses social and emotional development, academic enrichment, play and all kinds of engagement. We are licensed by the state and certified by the city. The preschool program serves an essential role in the success of this center. Additionally, we have programs geared for kindergarten and beyond, all of which help increase economic development for their parents so they can work and better care for their families. The afterschool program that operates from 3:30 to 5:00 provides further academic and social enrichment and play. Our programs for older kids — Young and Gifted for boys and Girls Inc. — give them the tools they need to help to develop their identities and confidence.
“We have a culturally competent staff person who provides case management services for our large Asian population. It’s a tremendous asset. As Section 8 housing, Kennedy Heights offers a job training program to make the residents develop more self-sufficiency skills, so that one day they can move into their own homes. We also serve the neighborhood adult population with a food pantry, which helps families stretch their budgets.
“My role is to lead, guide and support the staff, and give them the tools they need for success. I’ve established my own way of working and brought in new staff. I make sure that I find people who match the passion and diversity of the people we serve. A key to success with the population we serve is to understand the authenticity of people who live here and the patience required for this type of work. These skills are necessary because these kids require a lot of attention and support, which makes it very challenging.
“I believe you’re tested by what you do, not by what you say. So what I say must match my actions, and I try to model that here. I am here to serve residents and the staff.”
In his short time with the organization, Mr. G has already made a big difference. “I’ve acquired more resources so we can increase and improve the delivery of services. We’ve been able to find quality staff. The people on the front lines matter the most. I’ve been able to help them grow their skills. We have a solid operation, but it’s not quite where we want it to be yet,” said Gilmore.
“I want the kids to have a high quality experience. I want them to enjoy coming here, and having an enriched place where they feel that they’re part of a home and that they can feel comfortable and safe. We provide a place in time where they can feel okay about themselves in the midst of their difficult lives and the challenges they face.
“I grew up poor from an economic sense, but rich in spirit. Being poor doesn’t mean that you have to feel poor. The people here are economically poor as well, but it doesn’t mean they don’t have a lot of skills or assets to rise above their circumstances. It doesn’t mean they don’t have a lot to offer. They are resilient. There’s this notion that because you have economic insecurity you’re somehow down and out. I don’t believe that. Everyone has something rich inside of them and the key for us is to find that and give them some sense of hope and belief that they can make a difference in their lives.”
Ultimately, Mr. G seeks this goal: “I’d like to see somebody someday have their own house, and that when they unlock their door and step inside they say out loud ‘This belongs to me, and I cannot be moved out, because I control my own destiny. I want to control my destiny.’”