Our Staff
Chief Executive Officer
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.
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Development Director
Chris Tischer, Development Director for Safe & Sound, has more than 20 years’ experience in fund raising. Prior to joining Safe & Sound, Chris was principal at Chris Tischer & Associates, LLC. Her fund raising experience also includes serving as development director for Nativity Jesuit Middle School, Children’s Hospital and Health System Foundation, and Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin. Chris began her career as a loaned executive for the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and special event coordinator for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Her background includes experience in all areas of development including major gifts.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Program Associate
Sharon Koziczkowski is the Program Associate for Safe Places. Continuing a career of service, Sharon assists the Program Director in overseeing programs at 29 sites that receive Safe and Sound funding. With a B.S. in Education and an M.S. in Counseling and Guidance, Sharon is constantly inspired by the strength and resilience of people as they meet the challenges that come their way. The spontaneity, honesty, and creativity of youth are a constant source of delight as youth contribute their energy and ideas to reduce crime and violence in their neighborhoods.
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Community Prosecution Unit Coordinator
Kati Tillema is a UW-Milwaukee graduate and received her J.D. from Marquette University in 2009. She has experience providing public interest legal services throughout the state of Wisconsin and is excited to leverage her background in her work at the neighborhood level. She is very excited to be settled in Milwaukee serving the community and is very dedicated to working to make the city a greater and safer place than it already is.
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Community Partner
Nichole has a background in social work, children and youth services, education and community organizing with diverse constituencies. She also comes to us from a national service background, serving in Lesotho with the U.S. Peace Corps as a teacher. She is focused on creating a positive change in Milwaukee through Safe & Sound. 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, Nichole can help.
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Community Partner
Aaron, your Safe & Sound Community Partner is an experienced organizer who grew up in Milwaukee. With an educational background in communications from University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, he is an experienced organizer who has 12 years of involvement in the community focusing on youth development, crime and social justice issues. 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, Aaron can help.
download v cardVISTA Restorative Justice Coordinator
Daanika Gordon graduated from the University of California Berkeley with a Bachelors Degree in International Development and Sociology, with an emphasis on education. She has worked for a number of community development and youth development non-profits, including organizations specializing in restorative justice practices. Although native to San Francisco, Daanika is excited to get to know Milwaukee and dedicated to working with residents to foster a more socially just community.
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Community Partner
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.
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Community Partner
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.
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Community Prosecution Unit Coordinator
Craig Shockley first came to Milwaukee in 2006 to pursue his MA from Marquette University. Since graduating, he has worked with at-risk youth as a substance abuse counselor and as a volunteer in Ghana to combat against child trafficking. Prior to grad school, Craig served in the Peace Corps in Benin working with government agencies and developing health and girls education initiatives. Craig also has experience teaching and coaching at the high school level. He is very pleased to be back in Milwaukee and working to develop effective relationships that are focused on improving the quality of life in high-crime neighborhoods.
download v cardVISTA Community Leadership Coordinator
Dan graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Bachelor Degree in Social Work and a focus on mens issues. His experience includes working with Word of Hope in Milwaukee dealing with re-entry services for formally incarcerated individuals and also filming and editing a documentary about the issues that low income Milwaukee fathers face. Recently returned from Tanzania and work with HIV/AIDS issues, Dan is excited to serve as Community Leadership Coordinator in Milwaukee.
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Community Partner
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.
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Community Partner
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.
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Community Partner
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.
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Community Partner
Annie Weidert is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame as well as a 2008 graduate of the Latino Nonprofit Leadership Program through UW-Milwaukee and Cardinal Stritch. Annie is fluent in Spanish and has several years’ experience in organizing and working to serve and promote the needs of under-resourced communities across the U.S. and internationally. Here in Milwaukee, Annie is energized by working with residents to build community ties and resilience through mobilizing neighborhood resources, developing leadership capacity, and problem-solving together. 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, Annie can help.
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Community Prosecution Unit Coordinator
Erin Perkins is working to build sustainable partnerships that improve the overall quality of life for residents in her hometown of Milwaukee. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a Bachelors Degree in Sociology and Legal Studies and a concentration in Criminal Justice. Erin has previously worked in the areas of diversity, youth development, homelessness, immigration, domestic violence, and offender reintegration.
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Special Announcement
Safe & Sound Prevention Efforts Honored By Drug Czar
Nominated by the Milwaukee HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Traffi...
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Manpower Lends a Hand in Riverwest with Operation Payback
The Riverwest community service session was one of two organized by Safe & Sound to bring the two groups together and learn more about each other while getting some work done at the same time.
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Manpower Joins Operation Payback for Community Service Efforts
The Chief addressed the officers emphasizing the importance of the work of law enforcement in close coordination with the community. It is efforts like Operation Payback that accomplish exactly this; bringing the community and law enforcement together to learn from each other while working together for a positive change in our neighborhoods.
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2010 Anti-Gang Summit: Leveraging the Resources of Community and Law Enforcement to Combat Gangs
No single agency can solve gang crime and violence alone. It’s imperative that all agencies work together and develop partnerships in an effort to improve the quality of life throughout Wisconsin. The 2010 Southeastern Wisconsin Anti- Gang Summit will bring diverse agencies together to learn…
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