Executive Director

Barbara Notestein has served as Executive Director of Safe & Sound since 2002 and has more than 13 years of non-profit management experience. Prior to that she was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the position of Regional Administrator of the US Small Business Administration. Notestein was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1984 and served seven terms, during which she was selected by her colleagues as the Assistant Majority Leader. From 1976 to 1983 Notestein managed various programs for the Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee, serving its Executive Director of the final four years of that period.

Development Director

Neil Albrecht is the Development Director and is primarily responsible for Safe & Sound’s private foundation, corporate and individual donor fundraising efforts. As a lifelong resident of Milwaukee, Albrecht has been professionally and personally dedicated to innovative projects and initiatives that address difficult social justice issues and improve the quality of life for all Milwaukee residents. Albrecht’s professional career has included 20 years of executive management positions within the non-profit and city government sectors. Past positions include serving as the Deputy Director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, the founding Executive Director of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, and Deputy Director at the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW). Albrecht is currently a board member of the Bay View Neighborhood Association and the Social Development Foundation, and is a Big Brother in the Big Brother/Big Sister program.

Director, Safe Places

Norma J. Balentine, Director for Safe Places, supervises the Safe & Sound-funded work of Safe Places. She has been with Safe & Sound since 2006. Developing strategies for Safe Place youth and staff to utilize in addressing Safe & Sound’s mission of crime reduction, Balentine also works with sites to help build organizational capacity through specialized training and individual consultation. Balentine has more than 20 years’ experience in the non-profit arena. Prior to her work at Safe & Sound, she served as Project Manager for Making Connections Milwaukee, as well as Program Manager at Milwaukee Graphic Arts Institute, connecting hard-to-employ populations with work in the printing and graphic arts industry. Balentine was also NSPP Coordinator for the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee.

Director, Community Partners

Joseph Kubisiak is Director of the Safe & Sound Community Partners Program, overseeing the community organizing, AmeriCorps and administrative staff. He has been with Community Partners since 2003.  He completed his MA in International Affairs from Marquette University in 2008 and received his Bachelors Degree in Anthropology from UW-Milwaukee in 2005. He also holds degrees in Visual Communications (1992) and Graphic Design (1990). Prior to his work with Community Partners, Joe served as a Family Advocate for low-income families with the Head Start Program and as an organizer for the U.S. Peace Corps in Tanzania from 1997 to 2000.  He has a long history of volunteer service to disadvantaged families in the areas of housing, refugee resettlement; and basic needs services.

Supervisor, Community Partners

Tim Schermetzler has worked in the community for the past three years operating after-school Community Learning Centers and developing non-profit collaborations. Tim is a graduate of UW-Milwaukee with a bachelors degree in Economics concentrating on employment and the economic effects of poverty and discrimination. Tim has a strong commitment to a safe and vibrant Milwaukee community and is eager to advance the mission of Safe and Sound.

Community Partner Organizer

Equal parts historian and neighborhood advocate, Erin encourages residents to connect with, visualize and participate in the creation of the city around them. As the former Program Director of Historic Milwaukee, Inc., Erin developed panel discussions, place-based documentaries, and in-depth neighborhood tours that invited people to investigate the neighborhood of Riverwest. Erin also served a year-and-a-half-long term as a LISC AmeriCorps member with the Michigan State Housing Development Authority where she worked on various blight elimination, economic development and neighborhood revitalization initiatives, including championing a Safe Routes to School program. She looks forward to assisting Milwaukee residents in reaching their neighborhoods’ fullest potential.

Community Prosecution Unit Coordinator

Michael Totoraitis, a Milwaukee native, has a passion for collaboration and the City of Milwaukee. He brings his experience to the team from the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission and Duke University’s evaluation of the Milwaukee Safe Streets Prisoner Reentry Initiative. Whether working with one homeowner or an entire neighborhood, his approach is simply to make the most of all the potential Milwaukee has to offer.

Community Prosecution Unit Coordinator

Community Prosecution Unit Coordinator

Mandy Potapenko serves as the Community Prosecution Unit Coordinator for District 3. As a resident of Milwaukee since 2002, Mandy has a vested interest and desire to reduce crime and enhance the quality of life for Milwaukee residents. Mandy is a 2007 graduate of UW-Milwaukee, receiving a bachelor’s degree in women’s studies and psychology, with emphasis on non-profit organizing. Prior to her work with Safe & Sound, Mandy served as a Pretrial Case Manager with Justice 2000 for almost four years, a domestic violence/restraining order advocate intern in 2006-2007, and most recently in the private sector, specializing in nonprofit risk management. Mandy is excited to be working directly with community members again. She is looking forward to being the catalyst for collaboration and creating long-term, impactful changes to Milwaukee neighborhoods.

Drug Free Communities Manager

Claire Woodall is excited to rejoin Safe & Sound as the 27th Street West Drug Free Coalition’s Manager. A graduate of UW-Milwaukee, Claire began her career at Safe & Sound as Executive Assistant where she participated in the recruitment, development and planning of the Coalition, amongst other administrative and development responsibilities. She returns to Milwaukee after working at a humane society in Alabama as their Adoption & Outreach Coordinator, responsible for managing all shelter volunteers, off-site adoptions, and humane education within the community. Despite being an Alabama native, Claire feels a special kinship to Milwaukee and is happy to be serving the 27th Street West neighborhood.

Accountant

Brad Glaunert graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2000 with a Bachelors Degree in Accounting. He has worked in the non-profit sector for 10 years: six at the Social Development Commission and the remainder at Safe & Sound. Brad handles all financial duties which include preparing annual budgets, monthly financial statements for the Board of Directors, cost reimbursement reports to various funding sources, and he works closely with Safe & Sound’s external auditors to ensure compliance in all financial matters.

Executive Assistant

Administrative Assistant

Julie Kritzeck was born in South Korea and has lived in the United States since 1983. With a history of employment in the global corporate environment, Julie brings broad expertise in accounting and office management to the Administrative Assistant position. Currently, she is working towards degrees in accounting and business which she hopes will increase her capacity in the programmatic and service need areas of Safe & Sound.

Community Partner Organizer

Diane comes to Safe & Sound as a community activist serving Milwaukee for many years. She founded several local organizations including a southside neighborhood association. Diane was even awarded a “Piece of City Hall” by Alderman Terry Witkowski for being an outstanding leader and a rock in the foundation of this city. She has also served in governing roles in numerous groups working with children and their families. Earning a Bachelor’s degree from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Diane uses her artistic vision to enhance the lives of others. She was appointed by Mayor Tom Barrett to serve as a member on the Milwaukee Arts Board. Drawing on her creative background, Diane develops innovative solutions in partnership with community stakeholders to make Milwaukee a beautiful and safe place to live.

Community Partner Organizer

Al Hegwood is a Safe & Sound Community Partner and has over 30 years experience in social work, 14 of which have been in community organizing. With a prior career in the military, Al has gone on obtain bachelors and masters degrees in social work from Northwestern and University of Chicago and is nationally certified. If you are a resident, parent, school or church group, part of a neighborhood block watch, or just interested in developing ways to keep your neighborhood safer, Al can help.

VISTA Restorative Justice Coordinator

Lauren Thrift is Safe & Sound’s AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer, coordinating the Restorative Justice Program. She is a graduate of Centenary College of Louisiana with a BA in Music and a Minor in Sociology (2005). She has completed her MA coursework (2011) at SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, VT in “Intercultural Service, Leadership, and Management”, and is currently serving her MA internship through AmeriCorps at Safe & Sound. Lauren has a passion for working in peacebuilding efforts, most recently Program Associate with the CONTACT (Conflict Transformation Across Cultures) Program at SIT Graduate Institute and as a Youth Facilitator for the Bridge Builders’ Leadership Institute with BRIDGES in Memphis. Lauren’s career goals include working with youth and their communities to bridge the social barriers of injustice through experiential music & arts dialogue to action programs and restorative justice. Lauren is excited to be working with Safe & Sound and is looking forward to her year in Milwaukee.

Community Partner Organizer

Talibah Mateen-Hooper firmly believes people can create their own clean, safe and healthy neighborhoods through their willingness to get involved. She graduated from Concordia University with a degree in Business Management & Communications and in 1989 Mateen served as a VISTA Volunteer at a local Montessori School as a parent involvement coordinator. If you are a resident, parent, school or church group, part of a neighborhood block watch or just interested in developing ways to keep your neighborhood safer, Mateen can help.

Youth Programs Manager

Isaiah Rembert moved to Milwaukee in 2007, after being awarded a graduate fellowship with the UWM Center for Economic Development (CED). During his tenure with the CED, Isaiah worked with a number of organizations through his placement at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation. While a graduate student at UWM, he also worked at the Institute for Service Learning (ISL) where he first met many of the organizations, who he would later know as Safe Places. Before moving to Milwaukee, Isaiah spent two years with City Year Cleveland, where he supervised 14 corps members, managed after school programs at two schools, and directed the local Heroes initiative – a premiere civic engagement program for Middle School and High School age youth. Prior to his current position with Safe & Sound, Isaiah was Teen Coordinator at the Mary Ryan Boys and Girls Club (which is one of our Safe Places!). An alumnus of City Year Detroit and ardent supporter of the National Service Movement, Isaiah continues to serve as a member of City Year Milwaukee’s founding board, and is co-chair of the local alumni association & board (MAAB).

Community Partner Organizer

Roosevelt Pritchett has been a community organizer with Safe & Sound for over ten years and takes pride in his ability to mentor young men and communicate with residents. He has facilitated countless community Peace Circles with at-risk youth, gang members, offenders and law enforcement, creating a forum for honest communication and building understanding among participants. Prior to Safe & Sound Rose attended Mississippi Valley State University majoring in physical education and played professional basketball in Europe and South America during the late 1980’s and 1990’s. He also coaches basketball for Cardinal Stritch University and the YMCA with Milwaukee youth. If you are a resident, parent, school or church group, part of a neighborhood block watch, or just interested in developing ways to keep your neighborhood safer, Rose can help.

Community Partner Organizer

Maria has a Bachelors degree in Community Leadership & Development from Alverno College and is fluent in Spanish. She has over 15 years of combined experience working in the non-profit and government sectors with a strong background in the areas of community outreach, advocacy and casework. Maria has cultivated and maintained effective working relationship with various community based organizations and is knowledgeable about community resources and issues affecting our neighborhoods. If you are a resident, parent, school or church group, part of a neighborhood block watch, or just interested in developing ways to keep your neighborhood safer, Maria can help.