Bring Back The Village Partnership

Bringing Back the Village: Four Powerhouse Partners Kick Off a Summer of Healing, Joy, and Community at Tiefenthaler Park!

MILWAUKEE, WI, May 20, 2025 — The Kellogg PEAK Initiative (PEAK), in collaboration with the Midtown Neighborhood Alliance, Love on Black Women, Milwaukee Parks Foundation, and Friends of Tiefenthaler Park, proudly announce the launch of Bring Back the Village—a community-led initiative set to activate Tiefenthaler Park throughout the summer of 2025. 

Bring Back The Village is a dynamic new partnership that brings together local organizations committed to celebrating the spirit of community by reimagining Tiefenthaler Park as a thriving center of connection, creativity, and culture. Designed to bring neighbors together in one of Milwaukee’s most treasured neighborhood parks, this program offers a variety of enriching experiences—from hands-on workshops and shared meals to open conversations that inspire collaboration and understanding. 

Rooted in the Milwaukee Parks Foundation’s priorities of Healing & Health, Community Care, and Collective Joy, Bring Back The Village empowers local residents to lead and participate in programs that enhance the park’s role as an inclusive gathering space.

"Milwaukee Parks Foundation is proud to support resident-led creativity, care, and community through the Sprouts and Microgreens Fund,” said Tristen Shorter, Milwaukee Parks Foundation Director of Communications. “Milwaukeeans know what their neighborhoods need, and this initiative helps bring their ideas to life in our parks—creating more vibrant, inclusive, and joyful public spaces for everyone." 

This Summer, Midtown Neighborhood Alliance, Love on Black Women, and PEAK Initiative will come together to host a robust schedule of weekly activities. Community Cooking Classes, Art & Yoga and Water Yoga, Coffee Hour and Dominoes, Paint & Sip, and GirlTrek will be open to the public for free. Also new this year is The Joy Shed, a space for mutual aid and resource sharing. Other drop-in activities hosted by PEAK’s Community Camp will include Breakdancing, a Roller Skating Van, Walking Club, Camping 101, and Community Dinners. 

Regular programming begins June 16th-July 31st, Monday through Friday from 10am-5:30pm. For a full list of events, details, and times visit our website’s event page HERE. *Some dates and times may vary. All activities are free and open to the public. No registration required.

“What’s so special about Bring Back The Village is that it brings together people who really care about Tiefenthaler Park and want to celebrate its beauty. At PEAK, we’re all about creating spaces where residents can lead, share their talents, and build something meaningful together. This is about more than events—it’s about community, connection, and Tiefenthaler Park being a reflection of the people who love it.” said Erin Fischer, Executive Director of the Kellogg PEAK Initiative.

Bring Back The Village celebrates the spirit of Midtown by transforming Tiefenthaler Park into a vibrant community hub—where neighbors come together to learn, create, and connect. The program is meant to spark joy by encouraging meaningful interactions and collective experiences. By uplifting local talent and nurturing a deep sense of belonging, “Bring Back The Village” strengthens the bonds that make a neighborhood feel like home. 

“We’re thrilled about this partnership. It’s a powerful example of what’s possible when grassroots leadership and community-based organizations work together. Each partner brings something unique to the table: deep neighborhood trust, proven youth programming, wellness expertise, and a shared commitment to collective care,” said Megan Shepard Smith, Midtown Neighborhood Alliance’s Lead Community Strategist. “This is what community looks like; neighbors leading neighbors, sharing their skills, and reclaiming public space for joy and healing. We’re proud to be a part of something that centers local leadership and builds on the beauty already present in Midtown.”

Bring Back The Village is supported by the Milwaukee Parks Foundation Sprouts Grant. For more information on PEAK’s year-long programs or how to get involved visit peakinitiative.org. Since 2023, Milwaukee Parks Foundation has granted over $150,000 to resident-led park projects through the Sprouts and Microgreens Fund. In 2025, Milwaukee Parks Foundation announced nine new grant partners with grassroots park activation projects connecting to focus areas of Health and Healing, Community Care, and Collective Joy. Grant awards ranged from $3,500 to $8,000. 

“We are honored to partner with our fellow SPROUT grant recipients to launch a Chapter of GirlTrek right here in Milwaukee,” said Shavonda Sisson, Love on Black Women’s Founder and Lead Organizer. “This initiative goes beyond walking—it represents a deep investment in the long-term health and wellness of Black women and families in Milwaukee and across the country.”

ABOUT LOVE ON BLACK WOMEN

Love on Black Women began as a mutual aid organization led by Black Women, Femmes, and MaGes. Since our founding in 2019, we’ve worked tirelessly to improve the physical conditions of Black Women in Milwaukee. Now, we’re expanding our work to focus on connecting Black women across the city with tools to support both their physical and mental health. Through our new walking initiative, we're also helping folks build deeper connections within their communities—one step at a time. Learn more at loveonblackwomen.com. 

ABOUT MIDTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE

Midtown Neighborhood Alliance is a resident-led organization dedicated to advancing the well-being, unity, and development of Milwaukee’s Midtown neighborhood. We are grounded in values of community-building, mutual support, strong relationships, and self-determination, with a focus on uplifting and investing in our Black and Brown communities. Through community events, educational sessions, advocacy, and efforts to attract resources and opportunities, we work to strengthen connections, celebrate our neighborhood, and ensure Midtown residents lead the way in shaping a vibrant and equitable future. Learn more at midtownmke.org or follow us on Facebook @midtownmke.

ABOUT MILWAUKEE PARKS FOUNDATION

Milwaukee Parks Foundation (MPF) was established in 2019 with the mission of engaging our community in supporting Milwaukee County Parks to collectively steward a thriving park system. The Foundation fosters dynamic connections through our land and community, expanding what is possible in our neighborhoods, and engaging residents in supporting a safe and vibrant parks system that benefits all. Milwaukee Parks Foundation provides support where it’s most needed, complementing Parks operations and expanding Milwaukee County Parks' engagement capacity while cultivating philanthropic support and community involvement. For additional information, visit mkeparksfoundation.org.