LISC Milwaukee has announced the finalists for this year's MANDI awards, which recognize individuals, organizations, and projects that are improving conditions in Milwaukee’s neighborhoods.
An independent 40-member, cross-sector volunteer committee picks the finalists from the public nominees and then the public votes on the finalists to select the winners.
Winners will be announced at a live online event on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m.
The finalists are:
The "Brewers Community Foundation Public Space Award" for public space that helps build the community:
- Kilbourn-Kadish Park
- The Kinnickinnic River Plaza
The "BMO Harris Cornerstone Award" for commitment and effectiveness over time:
- Dominican Center
- Neighborhood House of Milwaukee
The "Chase Economic Development Award" for economic and business development:
- RISE MKE Entrepreneurial Training Program
- Riverworks Week
The "PNC Bank Navigator Award" for individual leadership:
- William Krugler, Milwaukee JobsWork
- Sharon Jordan, Direct Supply, Inc.
The "Associated Bank Trailblazer Award" for an innovative approach to a community problem:
- The Farm Project-El Proyecto Campesino
- Wisconsin’s First Ever Deaf StorySlam
The "State Farm Building Blocks Award" for a real estate project that advances the community:
- Seven04 Place Apartments
- Sherman Phoenix
The "Wells Fargo People’s Choice Award" will be given to the finalists who receive the most public votes in August, and the "Northwestern Mutual Collaboration Award" will go to a note-worthy nonprofit collaborative.
OnMilwaukee is a sponsor of the MANDIs.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
