Kate Venne’s connection to Community Advocates is rooted in a long and meaningful history of service. She began her journey as a board member of the Milwaukee Women’s Center. When it merged with Community Advocates in 2007, Kate joined the board of the Bottomless Closet, a small, one-person operation that provided work-appropriate attire to women entering or re-entering the workforce. Recognizing its value and potential, but also its limitations in sustainability, Kate contacted Community Advocates to explore a merger. That collaboration not only strengthened the organization’s future, but also brought Kate to Community Advocates, where she currently serves as Community Advocates’ Board Secretary, and Co-Chairs with Board Treasurer Sandy Samse the upcoming Milwaukee Women’s Center’s 45th Anniversary Celebration on July 10.
A Thoughtful and Successful Approach
The enthusiasm Kate has for community work has been a driving factor in her personal and professional life. “I’ve always had a passion for social justice and especially for housing,” Kate shared. The Housing First concept, which prioritizes stable housing as a non-negotiable starting point for anyone facing hardship, immediately resonated with her. “It just hit me as such an obvious way to help people. If you don’t have a place to stay, if you don’t have a place to put your medication or to store your food, if you don’t have a kitchen table for your kids to do homework, nothing else really matters,” she says.
Kate credits Community Advocates for implementing this model not only thoughtfully but successfully, especially among our supportive housing programs for people who have experienced homelessness and mental health issues. “Autumn West is an amazing example of one way to address the housing and homelessness challenge in Milwaukee. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, and Autumn West fits such a unique need,” she says.
Praise for the Milwaukee Women’s Center
Reflecting on her journey on the boards of the Bottomless Closet, Milwaukee Women’s Center, and Community Advocates, Kate pinpoints Nevermore Batterers Intervention and Prevention Program as one of the many programs that has kept her engaged with the organization.
The Nevermore Program works with boys and men who exhibit violence in their interpersonal relationships, and aims to stop abuse in any form. The Milwaukee Women’s Center launched the program in 1981 and it has continued to evolve and adapt as our understanding of domestic violence, generational trauma, and masculinity do. In 2024, 142 men participated in Nevermore to break the cycle of intergenerational violence.
“With the Milwaukee Women’s Center, one of the things I’m really proud of is Nevermore,” she says. “We are not just helping the families who are in need, we are trying to stop the problem and that’s one of the things that drew me to the Milwaukee Women’s Center early on.”
The Alignment of Values
Currently serving as Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Social Responsibility at Brady Corporation, Kate praised Community Advocates’ ability to connect with our community members and stakeholders to achieve lasting impact. “They really get things done,” Kate says.
Serving on Community Advocates’ Board of Directors has given Kate the opportunity to expand her appreciation and understanding of the daily challenges and successes of a human services nonprofit, and she encourages emerging professionals to grow and develop through nonprofit board service, volunteering, or donating. “I think being on the board has been a great experience,” she says. “Getting to see the pride that the staff has for their jobs when they come to our board meetings and present is really a treat. We love it when we get to hear from frontline staff about what it’s like working with our clients.”
