The stories

Melissa Nelson spends her work days advocating for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault (DV/SA) as well as providing them with tools to advocate for themselves. Her exposure to effective advocacy began at a young age. In 1995-1996, she was a student attending Head Start program in Eau Claire, WI. She had some speech issues, and her mom wasn’t sure what to do. Through the encouragement of the Head Start staff, her mom was able to get the services Melissa needed to be successful at school as well as learning to advocate for her children. In 2015, Melissa received her undergraduate degree in Women’s Studies from UW Eau Claire. While studying in Eau Claire, she was able to intern at a domestic violence shelter in Eau Claire and gain experience working with DV/ SA survivors.

Shortly following her college graduation, Melissa moved to Ladysmith and accepted a position as a Family Resource Provider for Indianhead Community Action Agency’s Head Start program. In 2017, a new opportunity opened up, and she transitioned out of Head Start to the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) program at ICAA which has assisted over 1,000 survivors since 2011. Through her work in LAV, Melissa is able to draw on her education, experience, and past advocacy examples to build a rapport with her clients. She is excited for the opportunity to make a difference in her hometown and the surrounding counties. She said, “ICAA is a good vessel to help provide this service to the communities. Many DV/SA shelters lack resources that would enable them to house a legal assistance program.” Through LAV, Melissa has begun partnering with local DV/SA shelters in seven counties in northwestern Wisconsin and is looking forward to the positive changes this will provide for those served by the program.

To learn more about LAV, visit www.indianheadcaa.org/lav.html.

In 2017, volunteers donated over one million hours of their time to ICAA! That time was given to provide support to Head Start families, clients who visit our Food Pantries, learners in our Literacy program and more. Two of our volunteers include Lavon and Delores who have been volunteering for ICAA for nine and ten years respectively. Nine years ago, Lavon stopped in at Burnett County Connections Store & More to shop and ended up offering

her services as a volunteer. Delores was recruited as a volunteer over ten years ago. She stated that volunteering gets her out and about and that she likes helping the community. People like Lavon and Delores add so much value to their communities and to organizations like ICAA. Their selfless donation of their time and skills help to enhance the lives of those around them daily. Thank you, volunteers!

In 1980, “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” was the highest grossing film of the year, the world mourned the death of John Lennon, and President Carter called for a U.S. boycott of the Olympics. Then, you could buy a gallon of gasoline for $.90 - 1.25. Now, it costs an average of $2.55. Then, personal cell phones were a relatively new technology that only a few people used. Now, it’s rare to meet someone who doesn’t own one.

Then, in August of 1980, Larry LaPorte started as a new employee in ICAA’s Weatherization department. Over the years, he has filled a number of positions, but for the last twenty-two years, he has worked as an Auditor who visits clients’ homes to perform inspections, helps clients be at ease about the work that will be done, and writes up work orders for the Weatherization crew.

Now, Larry is retiring. When asked what has kept him at Indianhead Community Action Agency for nearly thirty-eight years, he said, “It’s the people. We’re like a big family out here.” During our conversation, he mentioned more than once how he enjoys his day-to-day interaction with clients as well. He stated that one of the greatest gifts at a job is making a difference in people’s lives. Larry said that there has been a lot of change over the years; and, although change is difficult, it can be good when it helps

improve the way we interact with and serve our clients. He has met a variety of fascinating people over the years and made a lot of friends on the job. Over the years, two things that Larry required from himself and those under his supervision were to make clients feel at ease and to treat them with respect. He said, “treat them the way you want to be treated, and it will always work out.” His advice for navigating changes and interacting with those he met each day is simple: “You’ve got to keep a sense of humor no matter what. It’s so important; you’ve got to laugh.”

George Voldberg, Weatherization Director said, “Larry is always the first one to work in the morning. And, when Weatherization’s headquarters moved, considerably lengthening Larry’s commute, he never complained.” Larry said he won’t miss the ninety-minute drive, but he doesn’t regret spending these years working in the Weatherization department at ICAA. He takes every chance to brag up the crews and considers it amazing that there are still people who don’t know about ICAA. Will he miss it? “Yes. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Management & General $532,915 Jobs & Business Development $119,861

Health Services $426,550

Other Low-Income Programs $976,709

In-Kind $1,605,640

Education $5,937,308

Energy & Housing $4,056,791

We are proud of our impact which goes beyond the dollar amount listed above. The dollars invested into our communities through ICAA programs are multiplied by seven times their face value in worth to the communities. That means in 2017, our economic imprint was $95.59 million in the areas we serve! In addition, we employed 258 individuals and partnered with 285 external organizations for referrals and services.

10 years of employment Aaron Livingston – Weatherization Ronald Buckholtz – Head Start 20 years of employment Paul Copas – Corporate Maintenance 40 years of employment Sharilyn Stevenson – Head Start

AARP ABATE Abby Bank Ag Country Farm Credit Service AgStar Financial Services Aina Vilumsons American Academy of Pediatrics American Asphalt American Auxiliary--Stetsonville Audrey Nolte Bader Philanthropies, Inc. Bank of the West Barbara Stellner Betty Block Chaudy Family Chequamegan Wildlife Rec. Assoc. Cheryl Pangerl Christian Bible Fellowship Christine Mayou Chuck Gelhaus Citizens State Bank of Loyal Clam River Tuesday Club Clark County Electric Co. Clearwater Paper Corporation Community Action Partnership Community Bank Foundation Community Gardens Concor Tool & Machine, Inc. Corner Stone Community County Market Dairyland Insurance Agency Enbridge First Church of Christ – Harvest of Talents Forward Community Investments Gordy’s Market Grace Lutheran Church Gwen & Steve Wold Haack Orthodontics Haywards Lions Club Helen Sheffield Holiday Holy Rosary Catholic Church IOOF Lodge Jan Klaussen Jane Darnell Jerry Sapinski Jim and Carol Kasparek Jim and Deb Cee Joanne Spooner John Gustafson Jump River Electric Jump River Electric Cooperative K & B Refrigeration Kathleen Hnath Kathy Brunner Kenneth Ormsby KMA Knights of Columbus Krist Oil Kwik Trip Ladysmith Federal Savings & Loan Ladysmith Lions Club Larry Gilmer LLR Inc. Lori Floyd Lorinne Gengler Lou Schneider M. Lee Eklund Margie Nelson Marilyn & Timothy Young Mark & Mary Heintz Marla Hemke Marlo Eilefson Marshfield Clinic Health System Mary Heser Medford Cooperative Medical College of Wisconsin Michell Grim Mindy Kopelka Nancy & Michael Reis Nancy Kraft National Center on Early Childhood Health & Wellness Nicolet Bank Office of Head Start Otto Bremer Foundation Pam Guthman Patty Paulson Pauline Lundgren Pauline’s Beauty Saloon Peterson Construction Co. Polk Burnett Electric Cooperative Rands Trucking, Inc. Realtors Association of Northwest Wisconsin Foundation Red Cross Pharmacy Red Higgins Riverside Ladies League Robert and Margie Nelson Ron Breth Ron Shiffler Ronald and Muriel Isaacson Ruby’s Pantry Sacred Heart Catholic Church Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church Sally Sawyer Scott Shaver Security Health Seeley Lions Club Servants of Mary Shopko Foundation Source Energy Services Sr. Cecilia Fandel St. Croix Casino St. Luke’s Episcopal Church St. Alban’s St. Joseph’s Catholic Church

Stephen Stoll Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration Spooner- Trego Lions Club The Star News Thomas Mehring Time Federal Savings & Loan Trego/Springbrook VFW Trinity Lutheran Unicorn Rtique LLC United Health Care United Methodist Church United Way of Taylor County US Department of Agriculture – Rural Development US Department of Agriculture – The Emergency Food Assistance Program US Department of Health & Human Services – Department of Children and Families US Department of Health & Human Services – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration US Department of Justice US Department of Veterans Affairs USDA Services Wadah Plastics Walmart Washburn Christian Outreach Association WE Energies Foundation Weather Shield Employee Lite Foundation WI Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Board WI Community Action Program WI Comprehensive Cancer Control Program WI Department of Administration – Division of Energy, Housing, and Community Resources WI Department of Children & Families WI Department of Public Instruction WI Economic Development Corporation WI Technical College System WI Trust Account Foundation WIGM Radio Station William Altmann Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation Wisconsin Literacy, Inc. Wisconsin Lottery, Inc. Xcel Energy Foundation Zion Lutheran Church

ICAA’s Vision:

ICAA is the recognized leader for ending poverty and creating sustainable communities through self-sufficiency in Wisconsin’s rural areas.

To assist individuals in achieving self-sufficiency by providing the resources, education and services necessary to devleop healthy famililes, sustainable communities and strong local businesses.

ICAA Corporate Office 1000 College Avenue W • PO Box 40 • Ladysmith, WI 54848 p: 715.532.4222 • f: 715.532.7808 www.indianheadcaa.org