Courage MKE is on a mission to provide a supportive and safe community for LGBTQ+ youth in Milwaukee and Wisconsin. The organization provides resources and connections for young people who often lack family support.
“We live in a world of ‘don’t say gay’ and ‘hide the rainbow,’ but who’s going to protect these kids?” says Brad Schlaikowski, who co-founded Courage MKE with Nick Schlaikowski in 2014. Courage MKE began with a licensed group home for displaced LGBTQ+ youth, who often have nowhere else to go.
Courage MKE’s latest initiative, the C2 Apartments, is a new housing program for young adults aging out of foster care or the juvenile system. The facility, opened in April, is staffed around the clock, offering life-skills training and therapeutic support that guides young adults into a successful, safe and healthy adulthood.
The program provides 36 months of housing at no charge. Additionally, there are tools, resources and skills to help participants thrive on their own and lead a happy, independent life.
The organization operates without any federal or state funding, relying on community donations to keep its programs afloat. Every dollar raised goes directly toward the youth they serve, helping to create happy memories, develop life skills and provide essential mental health support.
“There are so many children out there that have no one,” says Schlaikowski. “Our goal is to one day not have to exist, meaning that we can get the state and our communities to step up and take care of these kids that need our support.”
What We Do
- Courage MKE gives LGBTQ+ youth a feeling of hope and love. The organization offers housing, scholarships, personal care kits and other resources – in addition to ongoing advocacy.
Where Your Money Goes
- Donor funds are used to provide LGBTQ+ youth and young adults housing and access to safe spaces and resources across the state of Wisconsin.
Courage MKE
1322 S. 10th St. | 414-240-2882
couragemke.org
