Walkin in My Shoes Inc
There's Still Life In This SOUL
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
One, is our stabilization plan, to continue to provide immediate housing for our youth living on the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin. This secures a future for homeless high school students trying to stay in school and graduate high school, so they can move on to college. We hope to eliminate any worries young teens may have of where they would live while remaining in school. 2.) Provide permanent housing for chronically street homeless [youth, veterans, and older adults] who have been living a life on the streets of Kenosha for more than 10 years.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
IDA'S HOUSE Youth Program
The purpose of IDA'S HOUSE Youth program is to provide immediate temporary housing for street homeless youth and homeless high school students until they graduate high school, and move on to college. We hope to eliminate any worries young teens may have of where they would live while going to school.
Where we work
Awards
Humanitarian Award 2013
Gateway Technical College
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of homeless participants engaged in housing services
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents
Related Program
IDA'S HOUSE Youth Program
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Decreasing
Context Notes
The numbers were based on the homeless we came in contact with, who were living a life on the streets of Kenosha, WI.
Number of youth receiving services (e.g., groups, skills and job training, etc.) with youths living in their community
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents
Related Program
IDA'S HOUSE Youth Program
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Decreasing
Context Notes
All 32 youth obtained part time and full time employment in Kenosha, in part of our soft skill training program.
Number of youth who demonstrate that they have developed/maintained healthy eating habits
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents
Related Program
IDA'S HOUSE Youth Program
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Decreasing
Context Notes
Youth developed good eating habits by participating in our Health Livin' Preventive Program. Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, less sugars and budgeting to keep food on the table.
Average hourly wage of clients who became employed after job skills training
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Young adults
Related Program
IDA'S HOUSE Youth Program
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Decreasing
Context Notes
Teens and young adults 18-24 years old obtained wages above minimum wages up to $12.00 an hour, in part of our soft skill training program.
Number of youth who plan to attend post-secondary education
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Social and economic status
Related Program
IDA'S HOUSE Youth Program
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Decreasing
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our aim is to expand program services with a combine programs like “Caden' Kitchen Cooking Class” and “Aftercare Outreach Re-Entry Program.” We aim to provide job skill training for juvenile ex-offenders and teach individuals how to cook.
Caden’ Kitchen Cooking Class will teach both the parent and child; how to cook homemade nutritional meals grown locally from our Seed to Harvest Community Garden. With the focus of keeping a hot meal on the dinner table 7 days a week. We want to end childhood hunger, childhood obesity, food allergy, food waste, juvenile diabetes, food allergy, food budgeting and so much more. This effort would benefit homeless and low to modern low-income individuals and families in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Aftercare Outreach Re-Entry Program would expand to provide more space, life skills and employment training through cooking. Which would help incarcerated young adult and women transition back into mainstream society.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We would fundraise by using our social media platform, host local community events, and foundation grants. Walkin’ In My Shoes understand that funding is our main source for financial assistance from our donors.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
In 2013, the city of Kenosha donated 1.3-acre land to Walkin' In My Shoes. With the purpose of developing a community shared garden for the homeless, low income families, older adults, people with disabilities, and community residents, at no cost to them. We have had team volunteers from the Kenosha County UW Extension Horticulture Center and Gateway Technical College Horticulture.
In 2014, After receiving an overwhelming response, our organization added more garden beds for families to grow their own vegetables.
In 2015, we added service learning programs for community youth groups, Girls Scouts of Southeastern Wisconsin, Boys Scouts of America and the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha. They have participated in the garden and distributed locally grown vegetables to local shelters and food pantries.In 2016, we provided cooking lessons to teach after school children and their families how to cook.
In 2018, in our 5th garden season, we collaborated with the Veterans Administration Medica
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Walkin In My Shoes Accomplishments and Recognition:
In January 2018, Walkin' In My shoes signed its third contract with the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department to provide aftercare and outreach services to both the women and men inmates at the Kenosha County Detention Center and Kenosha County Jail. Individuals who were identified homeless, prior to their incarceration receive service.
In January 2016, Speaker of The House Paul Ryan invited Jo Wynn to be his guest at Ryan’s swearing-in ceremony at former President Barack Obama last State of The Union Address in Washington, DC. Wynn was recognized by him, and his office as a "Poverty Fighter" representing Kenosha, Wisconsin.
In October 2016, Walkin' In My Shoes was awarded its second accreditation for two consistent years with the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau Charity of Accreditation and Seal.
In December 2016, Walkin' In My Shoes signed its third contract with the Kenosha County Sheriff's Dept, to provide aftercare to inmates.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
Being able to submit client signature authorization onsite outdoors via laptop computer with internet to easily identify veterans and scan signature authorization form from client to refer them to the VA for immediate housing assistance.
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Walkin in My Shoes Inc
Board of directorsas of 10/20/2021
Ms. Vermetrias Warner
DO YOU, Inc.
Term: 2006 - 2025
Mr. Ronald Smith
Retired Auto Worker
Term: 2014 - 2025
Davenia S. Nelson
Outreach Community Church of God
Martha R. Vasquez
St. Margaret Mercy Hospital
Stanley Washington
Washington's Accounting & Tax Service, LLC
Tracy Ngewaki
Gordon Food Services
Deloris Walton
Aurora Medical Center
Cynthia Reed
Arvato Digital Services
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data