COA Youth & Family Centers
Camp Helen Brachman, 909 E North Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53212
About
COA Youth & Family Centers offers homework help, field trips, and active outdoor play through its youth programs. The Youth Development Program for youth ages 5 to 12 includes homework help, a healthy dinner, field trips, and active outdoor play. The program also offers daily school pick-up within a 1.5-mile radius to the Riverwest Center for a modest $10 monthly fee.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Price: COA offers daily school pick-up within a 1.5-mile radius, with a modest $10 monthly fee to our Riverwest Center.
Since 1906, COA Youth & Family Centers has had a positive impact on over 8,000 Milwaukee children and families. COA Youth & Family Centers nurtures children, supports families, and builds strong and resilient communities - one child, one family, one community at a time. The program provides early childhood education for kids ages 0–5, youth programs for ages 6–18, and resources for families at two family resource centers. Its five-star, NAEYC-accredited Early Education Center offers high-quality early learning and is licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. COA offers Early Head Start and Head Start in collaboration with Next Door, a Teen Impact Program located at COA's Goldin Center on Burleigh, and Samson Family Resource Center drop-in programs for parents and children ages birth–7. The Gill Family Resource Center offers a food pantry and healthcare support, and the program operates a diaper bank distributing diapers to children. COA also runs a Summer Meals Program providing meals for youth and adults, along with the Goldin Center's Food Pantry serving community members.
Through collaboration with other community-based organizations, corporations, and foundations, COA fulfills its mission to build strong and resilient communities. COA’s programs are designed to meet the needs of Amani and Riverwest families and engage the community through outreach that responds to the voiced needs of residents in the neighborhoods it serves—Riverwest and Amani. In 2025, COA's Summer Meals Program partnered with Hunger Task Force & CFI, and in 2025, 9,666 individuals were served in COA's Goldin Center's Food Pantry. Candid has awarded COA with a Platinum Seal of Transparency because of its financial fitness and transparency.
The organization’s leadership includes Executive Director Dr. Amy J. Rowell, Finance & Operations Director Christine Flores, Goldin Center Director Jenissee Volpintesta, Riverwest Center Director Lisa Wojczak, and Camp Helen Brachman Director Andrew Gappa. Additional leaders include Riverwest EEC Senior Manager Dorothy Bass, Food & Nutrition Services Manager Demetria Batton, Executive Assistant Laurie Busch, HIPPY Program Coordinator Elena Burke, Teen Impact Program Manager LaResha Love, Samson Family Resource Center Manager Leti Martinez, Youth Development Program Manager Jenna Smith, Facilities Manager David White, IT Manager Diablo Williams, and Riverwest Enrollment & Billing Specialist Debbie Wright. Board leadership and members include President Dina Abercrombie (Northwestern Mutual), 1st Vice President & Treasurer Jason Eggert (Old National Bank), Immediate Past President Amanda Boynes (U.S. Bank), 2nd Vice President Nancy Farino (Community Volunteer), Secretary David Feiss (Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Retired), and members Maggie Atkinson (Marcus Hotels & Resorts), Robert Barnard (Black Maple Capital), Timothy F. Busalacchi (Morgan Stanley), Michael Gilbert (Gap Inc.), Andrew Komisar (Community Volunteer), Jack Jacobson (Newmark), Kellen Kasper (SC Johnson), Mindy Kramer (Alverno College), Vanessa Morgan (Community Volunteer), Diana Pathammavong (Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago), Chanell Royston Župac (Mahler Sotheby's International Realty), Iesha Sanders (Community Volunteer), Jeff Schaefer (Associated Bank), Sean Scullen (Quarles & Brady LLP), and Angela Stenklyft (Baird).
Last updated July 27, 2026.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Price: COA offers daily school pick-up within a 1.5-mile radius, with a modest $10 monthly fee to our Riverwest Center.
Since 1906, COA Youth & Family Centers has had a positive impact on over 8,000 Milwaukee children and families. COA Youth & Family Centers nurtures children, supports families, and builds strong and resilient communities - one child, one family, one community at a time. The program provides early childhood education for kids ages 0–5, youth programs for ages 6–18, and resources for families at two family resource centers. Its five-star, NAEYC-accredited Early Education Center offers high-quality early learning and is licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. COA offers Early Head Start and Head Start in collaboration with Next Door, a Teen Impact Program located at COA's Goldin Center on Burleigh, and Samson Family Resource Center drop-in programs for parents and children ages birth–7. The Gill Family Resource Center offers a food pantry and healthcare support, and the program operates a diaper bank distributing diapers to children. COA also runs a Summer Meals Program providing meals for youth and adults, along with the Goldin Center's Food Pantry serving community members.
Through collaboration with other community-based organizations, corporations, and foundations, COA fulfills its mission to build strong and resilient communities. COA’s programs are designed to meet the needs of Amani and Riverwest families and engage the community through outreach that responds to the voiced needs of residents in the neighborhoods it serves—Riverwest and Amani. In 2025, COA's Summer Meals Program partnered with Hunger Task Force & CFI, and in 2025, 9,666 individuals were served in COA's Goldin Center's Food Pantry. Candid has awarded COA with a Platinum Seal of Transparency because of its financial fitness and transparency.
The organization’s leadership includes Executive Director Dr. Amy J. Rowell, Finance & Operations Director Christine Flores, Goldin Center Director Jenissee Volpintesta, Riverwest Center Director Lisa Wojczak, and Camp Helen Brachman Director Andrew Gappa. Additional leaders include Riverwest EEC Senior Manager Dorothy Bass, Food & Nutrition Services Manager Demetria Batton, Executive Assistant Laurie Busch, HIPPY Program Coordinator Elena Burke, Teen Impact Program Manager LaResha Love, Samson Family Resource Center Manager Leti Martinez, Youth Development Program Manager Jenna Smith, Facilities Manager David White, IT Manager Diablo Williams, and Riverwest Enrollment & Billing Specialist Debbie Wright. Board leadership and members include President Dina Abercrombie (Northwestern Mutual), 1st Vice President & Treasurer Jason Eggert (Old National Bank), Immediate Past President Amanda Boynes (U.S. Bank), 2nd Vice President Nancy Farino (Community Volunteer), Secretary David Feiss (Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Retired), and members Maggie Atkinson (Marcus Hotels & Resorts), Robert Barnard (Black Maple Capital), Timothy F. Busalacchi (Morgan Stanley), Michael Gilbert (Gap Inc.), Andrew Komisar (Community Volunteer), Jack Jacobson (Newmark), Kellen Kasper (SC Johnson), Mindy Kramer (Alverno College), Vanessa Morgan (Community Volunteer), Diana Pathammavong (Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago), Chanell Royston Župac (Mahler Sotheby's International Realty), Iesha Sanders (Community Volunteer), Jeff Schaefer (Associated Bank), Sean Scullen (Quarles & Brady LLP), and Angela Stenklyft (Baird).
Last updated July 27, 2026.
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