💌 Love letter recap from our JOURNEY event!
What better way to warm up from the cold (and celebrate the end of the world’s longest month) than with hugs and high-fives from our CM/Milwaukee friends?
On January 31st, we did just that within the historic walls of Villa Arco. Amongst the 118 of us was WUWM Wisconsin’s NPR journalist Maria Peralta-Arellano, who covered Ck’s latest project.
Historic south side home brings new life to neighborhood under new ownership
WUWM 89.7 FM | By Maria Peralta-ArellanoFor Ledesma, everything is an endeavor, and one of their latest is the restoration of their new home and business, Villa Arco, located at 804 W. Greenfield Ave. on Milwaukee’s south side.
Built in 1890, the building has served many purposes—as housing, a daycare, offices for community organizations, and, for a large part of its history, a funeral home. It sat vacant for four years until Ledesma bought it in 2024 and transformed it into a space to support and promote the arts.
Ledesma is an artist in Milwaukee and has held fellowships and residencies across the city, including at the Cesar Chavez Drive Business Improvement District and the Mitchell Street branch of the Milwaukee Public Library.
As an artist, Ledesma wanted to create a space for artists and community organizations to gather, launch galleries and experiment with their creativity.
“I understand that the biggest hurdle to being able to develop anything you have in the process of an idea or concept—the biggest hurdle is space, usually. And if we have the space, why not have it accessible for folks to use as a jumping point or an experimental space? We really want it to cater to folks who have gone through similar experiences to us,“ Ledesma says.
Villa Arco will include two areas, the main floor, where events and gatherings can be held, and a downstairs space that will be a hub for artists and their galleries.
Ledesma wants to use proceeds from events at Villa Arco to give back to the community.
Thanks for spending your Friday morning with us, Maria!
Luckily for us, there’s a way to support Ellie’s first full-length collection of music: Stay Soft. From March 5-12th Ellie and her crew are heading to a recording studio and they are raising money to bring the project to life.
In her words:
I believe strongly in the value of art and artists and with the help of your donations, we will be able to compensate that incredible team of creatives making this project possible!
Portrait by Linda Smallpage
“We have that little voice within us that is speaking. Let that be a little bit louder, let that guide you, and listen to it.”
—Ck Ledesma—
Sipping Discourse Coffee and taking in the huge presence that is Ck Ledesma was such a treat. Thank youCk for inspiring us to be more giving to ourselves, our neighbors, and our siblings around the world. Thank you for inviting us into your home, your salve for artists and activists alike: Villa Arco. Who knew that a pipecleaner could teach us so much!
Want to re-visit Ck’s words? Were you not able to attend? No worries, we’ve got you covered! 👇
Filmed & edited by Precious “Jae” Burrell from Epic Media
CreativeMornings is about shining the light on our communities. One way we do this is via 30 Second Pitches. This is where we invite a few people to the stage and share a pitch. Our 30 Second Pitch Nomination Form is always open! Feel free to self-nominate :)
Kate Pociask & María Petrella invited us to embrace the cold weather at the second annual Winter Break MKE. Hosted at Bradford Beach and Havenwoods State Forest Park the last two Saturdays, Winter Break MKE brought ~300 Milwaukeeans outside for dog sled demos, Nordic walks, community singalongs, and so many more winter activities.
Sign up for their newsletter and follow along on IG to stay tuned for next year’s festival details.
Rebecca Jankowski & Theresa Kopac, a women’s health acupuncturist and a postpartum doula/motherhood practitioner, told us about their joint creation: INTERWOVXN. Through story and conversation, INTERWOVXN celebrates, supports, and embraces the transitions that mark our path. They believe we have the right to understand our bodies and that we can change the narrative.
Listen to their podcast and subscribe to their newsletter to learn more about menstrual health, fertility, motherhood, peri/menopause, breast health, identity, and beyond.
We had a last minute opening and were able to open the invite to the audience. Sarah D Karnes took to the stage and led us through a grounding breath exercise and meditation. Sarah is a guide, a mentor, a navigator, an enthusiastic supporter of women in the midst of life changes.
Event day photos by Holly Schisler. Lots more love in our Flickr gallery.
Big thanks to our local partners:
