Six west side families concerned about the future of their community began the Sherman Park
Community Association in the autumn of 1970. Three primary concerns at this time were a wave
of real estate blockbusting, solicitation, and racial steering; a plan to extend a freeway
through the residential and commercial areas; and an increasingly segregated school
system.
Some early accomplishments were to help stop the Park West Freeway and to contribute to
redevelopment plans; to audit racial steering and discriminatory real estate practices
resulting in a lawsuit against four real estate companies; to prepare the groundwork for the
formation of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council; to help form more than 125
block clubs; and to publish the monthly Sherman Park News to
inform the neighborhood of important issues.
The SPCA developed a comprehensive affirmative marketing plan for neighborhood houses. It
surveys homes every spring to identify properties that have deteriorated and are in serious
need of maintenance. The Education Committee expanded its work to advocate metropolitan
school redistricting for school desegregation. The Business and Economic Development
Committee oversaw a market feasibility study for the Sherman Theater. SPCA organizes and
provides assistance to area business associations, serves as a site for the Milwaukee County
Summer Youth Employment Program and administers a project serving at-risk youth in an area
middle school. The Sherman Park Yacht Club was created by the SPCA to keep the neighborhood
"shipshape."
The mission of the SPCA is to identify and publicize the advantages of the geographical
area in which the association operates; to educate the Milwaukee community to these
advantages; to seek to improve communication within and outside of the community concerning
schools, housing, public safety, businesses, and innovative projects which will initiate
action designed to promote integrated living.
The committees and projects involved in carrying out this mission include block clubs,
bingo, business and education, fund raising, housing, mass transit, membership, newspaper,
promotions, volunteer services, and special projects. These are all volunteer committees,
though some of the projects include paid staff members.
The board of directors is composed of fifteen directors; ten are elected and the remaining
five are appointed by the president and subject to confirmation by the board. The elected
directors serve a two year term with five directors being elected each year, and the
appointed directors serve a one year term. The board provides leadership to the
organization, manages the general affairs of the SPCA, and provides direction to and
receives recommendations from the committees.
The executive committee consists of the officers of the SPCA which are the president, 1st
vice president, 2nd vice president, secretary, and treasurer who are elected to a one year
term by the directors. The function of the executive committee is to conduct business on
behalf of the SPCA between scheduled board meetings.
The executive director reports to the board of directors and is responsible for the overall
administration of the SPCA including fiscal, personnel, and reporting functions. The
executive director provides technical assistance and advice to the board of directors and
committees in setting goals for the SPCA and developing and implementing short and
long-range strategies for meeting the SPCA's stated purposes. The executive director serves
as a representative of the association and acts as its spokesperson on behalf of the board
of directors.
Executive Directors
| 1982 |
William Malone
|
| 1983 |
Joan Stanford
|
| 1984-1985 |
Carole Malone
|
| 1985-1986 |
Robert Nicols
|
| 1987-1989 |
Corinne Cahill
|
| 1989-1990 |
James Freeman, acting director
|
| 1990-1991 |
James Freeman
|
| 1991-1992 |
Bill Adams, acting director
|
| 1992-1993 |
Bill Adams
|
| 1994- |
Greta Hansen
|
