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Lindsay Heights & Milwaukee residents can now request affordable Wi‑Fi service for single‑family homes and multi‑unit buildings through Walnut Way’s neighborhood network. This project delivers free and low‑cost internet so households can learn, work, and access healthcare from home.​ Affordable Home Wi‑Fi Reliable Wi‑Fi service for eligible single‑family homes using a secure router installed inside the residence. Baseline plans support email, homework, and streaming, with higher‑speed options for remote work and heavier use.​ No long‑term contracts and pricing designed for affordability, including a free baseline option for qualifying households.​ Multi‑Unit & Building Partners Multi‑unit apartment and mixed‑use buildings can join by hosting small rooftop or façade antennas that extend coverage to residents and common areas without major construction.​ Building owners can receive dedicated connectivity for the property and offer tenants affordable in‑unit or common‑area Wi‑Fi, strengthening digital access across the site.​ Easy, Low‑Impact Installation Typical install‑to‑service timeline is about two weeks after a brief site assessment, using non‑penetrating mounts and low‑power connections to existing electrical access.​ The decentralized design makes the network resilient and allows future expansion to more blocks and buildings as demand grows.​ How to Use This Booking Page Complete the short form to tell us if you are a homeowner, tenant, or building owner/manager and whether you are interested in home service, building service, or both.​ Choose a time for a site visit or follow‑up call so staff can review your options, building fit, and the best connection type for your address.

The Lindsay Heights Home Repair Program is coming soon! Walnut Way is currently conducting assessments and preparing for the next phase of the program. During this time, our team is reviewing homeowner needs, prioritizing senior households, and coordinating assessments to ensure a smooth rollout. When the program launches, eligible Lindsay Heights homeowners will be able to receive up to $TBD as reimbursement for minor “paint-up, fix-up” projects, including electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, ceiling patching, and painting to improve basic health, safety, and appearance—not full renovations. Our Environmental Justice Housing Coordinator will contact you to schedule a visit or phone call to discuss your project and next steps. We appreciate your patience and look forward to supporting Lindsay Heights homeowners as we finalize program details and prepare to begin repairs.

Landscaping quote and brief project discussion

Black families in Milwaukee spend up to 43% more of their income on energy than white families. That means less money for food, medicine, and rent — every single month. 85,000 Milwaukee residents live in neighborhoods where families spend over 6% of their income just on energy. The national average is about 3%. Our communities pay nearly double. As of today April 1, 2026, We Energies just filed to raise your electric bill — again . Here's what they're asking for: 4.7% increase in 2027 4.5% increase in 2028 That's 9.4% more than what you're paying right now If you're a typical household in Milwaukee, your electric bill is about $144 a month today. Under this proposal, it goes to $157 next year and $166 the year after . That's an extra $22 a month — a 15% jump from where you are right now. That's $264 more a year out of your household. For families already choosing between groceries and keeping the lights on, this is not a small number. And here's the part that should make you angry. We Energies is asking for a 9.9% return on equity — meaning they want guaranteed profits on top of what they're already making off your bill. They pulled back slightly from last time, but make no mistake: they are still asking Wisconsin families to fund some of the highest guaranteed profits in the country while wages in our neighborhoods haven't kept up. This is exactly why Walnut Way and WEBB do this work. We've been at the table at the Public Service Commission fighting rate increases, pushing for programs like LIFT that actually lower bills for working families, and demanding that the clean energy transition doesn't leave Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities behind. We've done it before and we're doing it again. But we need your voice in this fight. Every time a rate case gets filed, the PSC needs to hear from real people — not just utility lobbyists. Your experience matters. Your bill matters. Your vote matters. Right now, Wisconsin utilities are asking state regulators to approve over $16 billion in new power plants and data centers. Less than $500 million of that would go toward making energy more affordable for families who need it most. That is $16 billion for We Energies corporate infrastructure versus pennies for your neighborhood. Walnut Way and the WEBB have stepped into the state Public Service Commission rate cases to fight for the lower rates, and the LIFT program — the only bill assistance program that keeps low-income families connected to heat and electricity. We need the next governor to stand with us. Introducing The WEBB formerly EJII Wisconsin , a new initiative that expands our work in environmental justice, broadband, and clean energy across Wisconsin. Learn more and watch the conversation here

Standing up to a powerful utility like We Energies—the only major electric utility in the region—and Wisconsin’s largest philanthropic institution is an especially bold and risky move for Walnut Way. These entities hold considerable influence over public investments, policy decisions, and the flow of resources in Milwaukee and across the state.​ Challenging such dominant organizations can be dangerous for a community-based group. It risks future funding, stakeholder relationships, and the organization’s ability to participate in critical decision-making. Yet, Walnut Way’s willingness to challenge these giants reflects a commitment to genuine accountability and real community representation—actions that are rarely taken in a landscape as segregated and unequal as Wisconsin’s. Their stance is a necessary, courageous step to ensure that community voices are heard and that new projects truly serve local residents, even when facing serious institutional pressure. What’s happening: Major utilities are proposing new tariffs—complex energy pricing rules that could shape who pays for Wisconsin’s data center boom, how much, and what our communities get in return. Yet, without strong voices for equity at the table, these decisions risk leaving neighborhoods like ours behind. See Clean Economy Coalition A “tariff” is simply the set of rules that utilities use to decide how much everyone—families, businesses, and big companies—have to pay for electricity. Right now, utility companies and new data centers want the state to approve a plan to spend more than $16 billion building power plants and infrastructure just to supply these data centers, which could use more energy than all the homes in Wisconsin combined.​ Take a survey The problem? We energies wants regular people and small businesses to help foot the bill—by raising everyone’s rates—while the data centers and utilities profit. All this while making energy truly affordable for everyone in Wisconsin would cost less than $500 million. That means the resources exist to help families struggling with their bills, but the current plan puts corporate profits ahead of affordability and community needs. Why it matters: Tariffs have a direct impact on every household’s electric bill, the affordability of keeping the lights and heat on, and whether new money from tech giants will help or hurt frontline neighborhoods. Decisions made now will shape utility rates, infrastructure, and fairness for decades. Why Walnut Way intervened: Walnut Way is stepping up as an “intervenor” in the Public Service Commission (PSC) tariff docket—joining legal proceedings, submitting testimony, and fighting for our seat at the table. Intervenors have the power to cross-examine utility proposals, demand community benefits, and require utility transparency. If we don’t speak up, policies may be set that overlook equity, workforce development, local hiring, and bill assistance for those most in need. Across Wisconsin and the country, community benefits agreements (CBAs) are increasingly being implemented by tech companies, institutions, and utilities to ensure that major projects deliver tangible benefits for local residents—like workforce development, affordable access, and community investments. In Wisconsin, tech sector projects and utilities are beginning to include CBAs as part of new data centers and broadband infrastructure, promising collaboration with local organizations and direct investment in education, workforce, and housing.​ Elsewhere, tech giants such as Google and Microsoft have pioneered major CBAs tied to data centers and renewable energy projects. For example, Microsoft’s solar and data center agreements have included commitments for workforce training, supplier diversity, local hiring, educational partnerships, and millions in community funding. Google has also made similar investments in community infrastructure and broadband where it operates large technology campuses and data centers. These models are being adapted to Wisconsin’s landscape, offering new opportunities for local communities to shape the future benefits of tech and infrastructure development. What we’re fighting for: Community Benefits Agreements: Ensuring large energy users, like data centers, pay into funds that will support local renewable energy, weatherization, and job training. Ratepayer Protection: Making sure new utility infrastructure isn’t just a blank check that sticks residents with higher bills or stranded costs if data centers leave. Equity and Affordability: Advocating for targeted bill credits and affordability programs so low- and moderate-income families share in the benefits—not just the burdens—of these big energy deals. Transparency: Demanding that decisions about customer costs and utility profits are made in the open—not behind closed doors or via confidential deals with tech giants. How we do it: We join forces in coalitions with partners, attorneys, and advocates who share our commitment to justice and fairness. We submit direct testimony, participate in hearings, and file public comments. We push for settlement agreements that guarantee lasting benefits and system-wide improvements for all Milwaukeeans. The bottom line: By intervening, Walnut Way is ensuring that community voices are not only heard, but matter, in shaping Wisconsin’s clean energy transition and making sure the economic benefits reach those who need them most. Order Now

In Lindsay Heights, faith and innovation have come together to spark a new era of health and digital opportunity. Driven by a partnership between Walnut Way Conservation Corp, Marquette University, neighborhood residents, and leaders from local churches—including the active engagement of Pastor Teresa Thomas-Boyd organizing congregations—this study reveals how deep-rooted community trust can unlock lasting change.​ Study Findings Through wearable health monitoring devices and technology-centered health education, African American residents saw improved chronic disease management and better mental health outcomes. The effort was grounded in trusted faith spaces, with churches hosting learning sessions and empowering residents to track their health, ask questions, and receive culturally responsive support from leaders they know.​ The Team and Their Commitment Pastor Teresa Thomas-Boyd’s leadership, alongside Cassandra Flagg, Dr. Nilanjan Lodh, Dr. Aleksandra Snowden, Dr. Praveen Madiraju, Mr. Antonio Butts, Walnut Way staff, and dedicated church volunteers, was critical. Their patient, sustained involvement built bridges across faith, health, and technology—ensuring that digital tools served real neighborhood needs, not just abstract goals.​ Outgrowth: Digital Literacy and Affordable WiFi The faith community’s involvement illuminated a new need: digital literacy and access. By teaching residents to use technology for self-care in familiar, supportive church and neighborhood environments, and launching affordable WiFi, Walnut Way and its partners have begun closing the digital divide. Church events and trusted gatherings made learning accessible, while new connectivity now enables ongoing virtual support and broader opportunities for families.​ Emerging Initiatives With digital literacy growing and affordable WiFi reaching more homes, Lindsay Heights stands ready for the next generation of community health, education, and faith-based empowerment. This collaboration demonstrates that, when faith leaders, trusted nonprofits, academic partners, and residents unite, they not only solve today’s problems—they set a trajectory for future generations to thrive. See more on affordable wifi here: Resilient Resident Affordable WIFI Open Monday - Friday 10am - 2pm

Walnut Way Conservation Corp Nonprofit 501 (c)3 Established Year 2000 info@walnutway.org 2240 N 17th Street Milwaukee, WI 53205 Annual Report 2025 Annual Report Annual Audit 990 Tax Filing Annual Audit 990 Tax Filing Annual Audit 990 Tax Filing Annual Audit 990 Tax Filing Annual Audit 990 Tax Filing Annual Audit 990 Tax Filing Annual Audit 990 Tax Filing Thank You! As the Executive Director of Walnut Way, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our supporters, volunteers, and contributors. Your unwavering dedication and commitment are the bedrock of our organization. The success stories we share, the transformations we witness in our community, and the progress we make towards our goals are all made possible because of you. Our financial audits, annual reports, and form 990s reflect more than just numbers. They embody the collective efforts of a community united by a shared vision. They represent countless hours of hard work, collaboration, and an unwavering belief in the potential of our neighborhood. But beyond these tangible outcomes, they also symbolize something much deeper - our shared passion for creating a resilient, self-sustaining community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. This passion fuels our work, drives our strategies, and inspires us to push boundaries. As we navigate the path of development and progress, your support not only strengthens our resolve but also renews our commitment to driving change from within the community. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we are making a difference, and together, we will continue to transform lives and uplift our community. Antonio Butts, Executive Director, Walnut Way

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Join Us for Harvest Day 2026 Walnut Way Conservation Corp is excited to host Harvest Day 2026, a community celebration that brings together residents of Lindsay Heights and the greater Milwaukee area. This annual festival showcases community spirit, sustainability, and local abundance. Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026 Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Clarence and Cleopatra Johnson Park 1919 W Fond du Lac Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53205 Harvest Day 2025 - Sponsor Packet Cultivating Wellness, Work, and Wealth—Together. Become a Sponsor Why Attend? Harvest Day is more than a festival—it’s a celebration of the resilience, creativity, and unity that define Lindsay Heights. As Executive Director Antonio Butts shares, “Harvest Day is a celebration of the Lindsay Heights neighborhood and lifts up the remarkable talents, gifts and culture of our community”. What to Expect Live Entertainment: Enjoy performances from local artists, including music, dance, and a Youth Talent Show. Children’s Activities: Dedicated children’s station with games, crafts, and fun for all ages. Local Vendors: Shop for fresh produce, artisan goods, and delicious food from neighborhood businesses. Health & Wellness Resources: Access wellness activities and community resources for all ages. Community Engagement: Connect with neighbors, learn about Walnut Way’s initiatives, and discover ways to get involved. Get Involved Reserve Your Spot: RSVP or register now as a guest, vendor, or sponsor. Volunteer: Help make Harvest Day possible—volunteer opportunities are available for individuals and groups. Support: Your donations and sponsorships help keep this event free and accessible to all. Come celebrate the harvest, support local talent, and be part of the movement for wellness, work, and wealth in Lindsay Heights! Chandra Ellis Grants Manager 📞 (414) 375-4224 ✉️ cellis@walnutway.org Gwendolyn Hodges Program Assistant 📞 (414) 264-2326 ✉️ ghodges@walnutway.org Document HARVEST DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE Tag