In the News

 

 

By Georgia Pabst

 

 

A new nonprofit that will be called the MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary Inc. is being organized by MacCanon Brown and her supporters to provide a day shelter for the homeless.

 

The new effort was announced Saturday night at an invitation-only "Celebration of Hope" buffet at the Italian Community Center that was organized to honor Brown, the co-founder and former executive director of Repairers of the Breach day center, 1335 W. Vliet St.

 

Milwaukee Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, Mayor Tom Barrett and civil rights pioneer Vel Phillips, who just turned 90, praised Brown for her service to the poor and the homeless.

 

Moore called Brown "a transformational leader" who made a personal connection with the homeless and empowered them.

 

Over the course of two decades, Brown's name had become synonymous with the Repairers center. But last year she was fired by the board of directors in a bitter dispute that led to a court battle.

 

The case was settled in December, but the settlement is confidential.

 

All she will say now is that it was "a dispute over the mission and control of the board."

 

Since then, Brown said she has been "healing" and formulating a vision for the future.

 

The new day center will provide food and nutrition, clothing, hygiene, safety and a refuge at night when the weather turns very cold, she said.

 

"I don't think of it as starting over," said Brown, who is 68. "I think of it as continuing the journey in a new context."

 

The audience of about 100 homeless advocates and supporters burst into applause Saturday night when she said, "I'm not done yet."

 

In an interview, Brown said she had resisted having the center named after her. "A small group that continued to stand with me chose the name," she said.

 

The application for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status has been applied for and a fundraising effort is underway, she said. Because application for nonprofit status has been applied for, tax-deductible donations can be made, she said.

 

"We have assurances of donors and some funds," she said.

 

Like Repairers, the new center will not take government money, she said.

 

A site for the new center, possibly the closed St. Leo school at 2458 W. Locust St., is being explored with the archdiocese, Brown said.

 

Representatives of the archdiocese could not be reached for comment.

 

Dorothy Jackson, part of the group that was involved in the legal battle with Brown, said she thought Brown deserved to be recognized for 20 years of work with the homeless. "We didn't think her work and sacrifices should be unsung."