On March 16, 2016, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) hosted its annual Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (or the MANDIs). The annual event was held at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino and more than 850 people were in attendance. As part of the Milwaukee banquet and award ceremony, Mayor Tom Barrett and LISC Milwaukee Local Advisory Board Chair Susan Hatch personally presented an individual Vision Award to the late Welford Sanders, executive director of the Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation, who died on May 23, 2015. His award was accepted by his daughter Dawn Sanders Cavilla and Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors Chairman Ben Johnson(top right photo). Other awards given out included the PNC Bank Trailblazer Award to ACTS Housing for their foreclosure reclamation work in Milwaukee; the State Farm Building Blocks Award went to St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care – Bucyrus Campus and was accepted by COO Diane Beckley (top left photo); the BMO Harris Bank Cornerstone Award went to COA Youth & Family Centers for their work in the Amani Neighborhood; the Northern Trust Navigator Award was given to Operation Dream Founder and Executive Director Rodney Bourrage, Sr.; and the Brewers Community Foundation Public Space Award went to Milwaukee County and community partners for the revitalization of Moody Park. The event was emceed by WISN-TV 12 News anchor Joyce Garbaciak.
