Casa Guadalupe to move into former St. Mary’s building

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: Jan. 22, 2019

Casa Guadalupe to move into former St. Mary’s building

Target date is mid-July

By Nicholas Dettmann

ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043

WEST BEND — Continued growth of offerings and staff at Casa Guadalupe forced an important milestone for the nonprofit agency in Washington County.

By July, Casa Guadalupe will have a new home inside the former convent building of Saint Mary’s Immaculate Conception Parish, 419 Roosevelt Drive, West Bend.

Casa Guadalupe Executive Director Noelle Braun said she and her staff are excited about the move and what it means for the organization in the future.

“We’re so excited,” Braun said in a phone interview Monday.

Founded in 2006, Casa Guadalupe Education Center is the only bilingual and bicultural nonprofit organization in Washington County with the mission to be the bridge of integration to Hispanics and the communities in which they live through education and community access. Casa offers several educational and social services, and work with Spanish-speaking Hispanic families to live independent, successful lives and to build strong families and establish meaningful connections within the community.

“We are immensely grateful to our current building owner for their continued generosity and support over the years,” Braun said in a news release. “It is a space that has served us well and holds many fond memories.”

Casa was founded by the Rev. Rafael Rodriguez, a bilingual priest in charge of Hispanic Ministry Outreach at the time. Local parishioner and educator Mary Lynn Bennett also helped with the organization’s founding.

An important milestone was reached in 2010 when the organization achieved 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.

Now, nine years later, Braun said it’s been the work over the last two years to re-imagine the organization’s future. It didn’t have to look far.

For the last several years, Casa had been using some of the vacant facilities at St. Mary’s since the former school closed. Casa’s annual fundraiser, which was Sunday, is held at St. Mary’s.

About two years ago, the Rev. Nathan Reesman talked to Braun and others at Casa about the organization moving into St. Mary’s on a more permanent basis. “At the time, it wasn’t the right time,” Braun said. “There wasn’t a need to consider it.”

That changed quickly.

“If you would’ve asked me two years ago if we were going to move, it wasn’t on my radar,” Braun said.

About two years ago, staff size started to grow, including about 80 new volunteers each year, as did programming and offerings. Among the programming changes was through the receipt of a grant that allowed Casa to start health offerings, such as physical activity classes, family wellness, diabetes prevention classes, etc.

Because of those enhancements, parking also became an issue.

Now faced with a need, Reesman and Braun spoke again and took another look at what the space at St. Mary’s could offer the growing nonprofit. She and a staff member walked through St. Mary’s with Reesman and discovered they found the expanded space they were now needing.

The shared facilities, coupled with the organization’s faith foundation, made the collaboration a no brainer.

Braun said some remodeling needs to be done. But, she liked what the space has and how it could benefit Casa’s staff, volunteers and participants.

“Saint Mary’s Immaculate Conception Parish is thrilled to welcome Casa Guadalupe to our grounds for the new location of their center,” said Reesman in the release. “This is a great fit — Casa’s mission is a natural extension of the Gospel call to the promotion of human dignity, education and justice. We are grateful for their partnership, and we are grateful to all who have made this move possible.”

In addition to more parking, the extra space will allow Casa the opportunity to offer more classes. One of those desired classes is Spanish for adults. Braun said adults can take some Spanish classes for whatever reason they want, such as a vacation to a Spanish-speaking country. Cooking classes are also thought of as an option to offer with the added space.

Braun said the organization wants to continue with its health initiative, as well as the Dream to Succeed program.

“This decision was all about timing, and we feel this is the right time to start a new chapter for our growing organization,” Braun said in the release.

Braun also wanted to applaud West Bend Mutual Insurance Co.’s assistance as well. The company will provide the financial support for the moving costs.