Our Mission
Since 1976, we have been a safe place for young people and their families to resolve conflicts and overcome challenges by providing free and confidential counseling, emergency shelter, and housing.
Experts estimate that 1 in 30 children and 1 in 10 young adults experience homelessness over the course of a year. Each young person comes to us for unique reasons. We work with them to identify and resolve problems, decide on safe next steps, and ensure housing stability.
History
Outcome Reports
At Time of Discharge
“I’ve learned how to live independently, and am confident I have the ability to get back on my feet.”
Resident Teens
“The Center is a great program … and I am really grateful that it was here when I had nowhere to go.”
Parent Participants
“I look at things differently, understand more, listen better.”
Meet the Leaders
Executive Director
Audra O'Connell, M.S. - Executive Director
As Executive Director of Walker’s Point Youth & Family Center, Audra O’Connell (she/her) empowers her team to help youth and families in crisis overcome challenges they face and when done right, prevents them from ever happening. With her holistic perspective of homelessness, and her innovation-mindedness, O’Connell is a recognized expert in systematic ways to end homelessness, with national speaking credits to her name. She has been outspoken about the need for quality, consumer based service; as well as cross-systems collaboration.
Her career has focused on ending homelessness in Milwaukee with a unique perspective given her direct-service, system creation, and now Executive Director view, helping to ensure each lens is looked at when examining the broader issue. As Coordinated Entry Program Director at IMPACT, Inc., she created and implemented a system in which to enter Milwaukee’s emergency shelter which did away with decades-old “first come, first serve” mentality and based entrance on serving the most vulnerable first. She launched her career at The Guest House of Milwaukee as a housing case manager, eventually becoming a manager of that department.
O’Connell was named one of the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Alumni Association’s Graduates of the Last Decade, 2016; Nonprofit Center of Greater Milwaukee & Young Nonprofit Professionals of Milwaukee’s Emerging Leader, 2016; and a 2017 Milwaukee Business Journal 40 under 40 recipient. She serves on numerous boards that look at addressing needs of the homeless in our community. She is currently a member of the Milwaukee Continuum of Care, the Shelter and Transitional Housing Task Force and the Wisconsin Association of Runaway and Homeless Youth. She was formerly in the State of Wisconsin Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness; State of Wisconsin Homeless Management Information Services Advisory Board; Milwaukee Emergency Food & Shelter Program Board; and COPE Workgroup of the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division Mental Health Redesign. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee with a B.A. in Comparative Religion and an M.S. in Cultural Foundations of Community Engagement and Education. Audra is also a mother to five feisty girls and in her spare time operates an organic farm with her husband.
Administrative Team
Mary Pickering- Executive Assistant
Mary Pickering (she/her) has been with the agency for 43 dedicated years and oversees the financial operations of the agency. Mary is meticulous and prides herself in attention to detail.
She is a Milwaukee native and has been married for 40 years to her husband Duane; and together they have raised two accomplished sons in their careers. Mary enjoys camping and hiking and has done so in many parks throughout the United States and Canada. International travel is important to her and finds it challenging for her physical, mental, and emotional health. Mary has visited these countries: Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, New Zealand, Croatia, Germany, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and the UK.
Megan O'Halloran - Director of Communications & Fund Development
Megan (she/her) is all in on helping to build a thriving Milwaukee. She has twenty years of leadership experience in financial compliance, nonprofit, and education spaces. In her current role with Walker’s Point, Megan is working to increase visibility of the organization in the community, strengthen fundraising strategies, and advocate for the youth we serve with elected and community leaders. Megan serves on the Milwaukee Board of School Directors and volunteers on the Street Angels Board of Directors. Megan is the product of a proud union family that valued community service. She first heard Pope Paul VI's maxim "if you want peace, work for justice" at St. Ben’s Community Meal Program when she was growing up. That guiding principle continues to inform her work today. Megan is a proud UWM Panther, part-time soccer mom, and full-time mother of geeks.
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Shelter Leadership
Tonya Lyons, MSCJ - Certified Youth Advocate, Director of Housing & Crisis Services
Tonya Lyons is the Director of Housing and Crisis Services at Walker’s Point Youth and Family Center who oversees direct service operations for Insights, our transitional housing program and our Teen Crisis and Runaway Program.
Tonya joined our organization in 2017 as a community volunteer, continued her involvement as a graduate intern, and served as the Director of AmeriCorps and Volunteer Programs at our teen shelter. In addition to managing housing and crisis programs at Walker’s Point Youth and Family Center, she also serves as a member of the board of directors for the Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services. Tonya holds a master’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Graduate Certificate in Child Advocacy Studies from the University of Wisconsin Platteville. In her spare time she enjoys Esports and knitting.
Rija Rehan - Director of Volunteers & AmeriCorp Programs
Rija Rehan (they/she) is Director of Volunteers and Americorps Programs. They originally joined the organization in 2021 as an Americorps Youth and Family Specialist after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Bachelor's in Political Science. She is passionate about community organizing, civil rights, and youth advocacy.
Elizabeth Kurt - Youth and Family Therapist
Elizabeth Kurt (she/her) is a licensed professional counselor in training and is a therapist for the Teen Crisis & Runaway program. Elizabeth has a passion for serving youth and families in the Milwaukee area. She graduated in 2019 with her Bachelor's Degree in psychology from Iowa State University and graduated with her Master's Degree in clinical mental health counseling from Marquette University in 2022. Elizabeth has been serving in residential non-profit roles for over 5 years and is so excited to be serving the youth and families within the Walkers Point community. In her free time Elizabeth enjoys traveling, concerts, reading, and spending time with her friends, family, and cat, Leo.
Joanna Geisler, MSW, CAPSW - Youth and Family Therapist
Joanna (she/her) is a certified advanced practice social worker and is a therapist for the Teen Crisis & Runaway Program. Joanna has served youth and families as a licensed school social worker for the last 4 years. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities in 2016 with a Bachelor's degree in sociology, and earned her Master's in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 2019. Joanna has enjoyed working with adolescents in a variety of settings since 2016 including violence prevention, sexual health education, and day and overnight camps. She is passionate about social justice and increasing youth voice and agency within systems that serve youth. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and pets, as well as reading, seeing live music and being out in nature.
INSIGHTS Leadership
Niema Perkins B.S., CSW, MA - Insights Housing Case Manager
Passionate about empowering and supporting youth, Niema strives to bring stability to the homeless young adults entering our doors. She enjoys going into the community to meet the clients where they’re at, providing direct services, and providing tangible resources that meet clients’ immediate needs. Furthermore, she appreciates the opportunity to build strong connections with the youth we serve and to personally empower and motivate them. With over twenty years of experience working in the social services field, she has held various case management positions at many social service organizations throughout Milwaukee such as The Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare, Professional Services Group, New Concept Self Development Center, The Parenting Network, Servant Manor, and the Guest House of Milwaukee. She started employment with Walker’s Point Youth & Family Center in October 2009, and is one of three dedicated Housing Case Managers working in the Insights Supportive Housing Program to end homelessness.
Niema has attained an Associate’s Degree in Human Services from
Milwaukee Area Technical College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Services from Upper Iowa University, a Social Work Certification-Wisconsin, and a Master of the Arts Degree in Professional and Creative Writing from Mount Mary University. The other passion dear and near to Niema’s heart is her love for writing which includes (unpublished works) three screenplays, a novel, and a book of poetry. She wrote and produced a short film in 2018 titled, Twenty-One Flowers, and is currently working on an inspirational journal that she plans to self-publish within the next year.
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Niema enjoys getting away, traveling to different states and countries, but also enjoys frequenting different restaurants, social events, and entertainment venues throughout the city. In addition to helping the youth and working on her writing, she enjoys spends quality time with her daughter and hanging with family. Striving to fulfill her life’s purposes, she’ll continue on a journey of helping to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
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Melinda Castro, MS - Insights Housing Case Manager
Melinda (she/her) was born and raised in MKE and has a strong passion and dedication to giving back to my community. She's very proud of her Latino heritage and can provide Spanish language support. She's worked with families and the homeless population for 14 plus years. Most of her experience has been in Insights program as a Housing Case Manager, a title that includes many hats at one time, connecting and supporting program participants towards self-sufficiency, authenticity, and self-love. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology with an emphasis in sociology and Spanish received from University of Wisconsin La Crosse. Master’s degree in science of management received from Cardinal Stritch University. Avid nature and animal lover. Always ready for the next adventure.
Shanesha Weddle - Insights Housing Case Manager
Shanesha Weddle (she/her) is dedicated to helping people better their living skills. Giving insight on resources in the community to establish a smoother journey is a passion of hers. Being transparent people and helping navigate through barriers allows them to know there is a brighter light at the end of the tunnel. With hard work and dedication dreams do come true. Everyone needs support along the way and the future you want is in your hands.
While working at Northcott Neighborhood House as the Employment Specialist for 10 years she has hands on experience of working with the community at all ages
and on all levels. While working at Job Corps for 1 year as the Admissions Counselor she learned how helping one person may not change the world, but it could change the world for one person.
Shanesha has worked diligently in earning her Bachelor’s in Sociology and a Master’s Degree in Business Management. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, thrifting, and traveling a few times a year. Staying humble and giving back is the key to living your best life. Being born in Milwaukee, WI has made her the woman she is today.
Executive Committee
Meg Pasternak - President
Artisan Partners
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David Moldavsky
Vice President
Amy Boerst - Treasurer
Resource Manager - RSM
Todd Witt - Secretary
Military Sexual Trauma Coordinator - Zablocki VA Medical Center
Directors at Large
Liz Bickley
Senior VP of Healthcare Client Services - Cielo
Justin Bielinski -
Political Consultant
Chrissy Ficks
Director of Business Automation - MGIC
Will Ward
Adjudicator, State of Wisconsin, DWD
Maria Bozmoski
Atlantic Council
Lauren Frank
Field Recruitment Leader Officer -Help at Home
Advisory Council
Ryan Anderson - Northwestern Mutual
John Barnes – Marcus Center for the Performing Arts
Alan Blaskowski – OneAmerica
Craig Counsell – Milwaukee Brewers
Gail Hanson – Aurora Health Care
Benjamin Levin – Foley & Lardner, LLP
Mary Lux – U.S. Bank
Carole Meekins – Today’s TMJ4
Brett Meili – U.S. Bancorp Fund Services
Gene Mueller – 620 WTMJ Radio
Chris Nashban
Jim Neubauer – OneAmerica Retirement Services
David Ryan – Foley & Lardner, LLP