We are excited to share the news that LVC completed its purchase of the Dorothy Day House in Milwaukee and also its capital campaign for this purpose!

Here is a bit more from Sam Collins, president of LVC, on just what this purchase means for LVC & the Milwaukee community.

The purchase of the Dorothy Day House will cut LVC’s program expenses by $5,000 to $10,000 per year which will make LVC more sustainable and allow us to act creatively in Milwaukee in pursuit of our mission as a community of faith uniting people to work for peace with justices.

And speaking of acting creatively in Milwaukee, LVC has already started by establishing its Food Justice House in Milwaukee with its partners – All People’s Church, Cross Lutheran, Spirit of Peace Lutheran/Tricklebee Café, and the Urban Ecology Center. We accomplished this by utilizing some of these savings and donations from others including many members of our founding congregation – Luther Place Memorial Church.

The proceeds of the sale will be used by Spirit of Peace Church to establish an urban retreat center for youth ministries that will help youth explore the justice challenges facing urban communities – and will include visits with LVC Volunteers both at the Dorothy Day House and in their placement organizations. It is hoped that this connection will yield:

• A next generation of faith based social justice leaders with a deeper understanding of the challenges facing us as we try to do God’s work during our time here – Including some future LVC Volunteers!
• Connection between faith communities whose youth participate in the retreat center and the mission activities on which LVC and our Milwaukee partners are pursuing together.
  • Including broader support for these efforts in terms of time, talent, and funding.
  • Fellowship in faith based action in the community as we try to “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.” Micah 6:8

Creating these collaborative efforts, both from a funding and programmatic standpoint, is a core component of the “uniting people” part of LVC’s mission and an example of how we may live simply and sustainably, in intentional community, while working for peace with justice. Your contributions helped us to achieve this step toward our goals. Thank you!