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Tour of Lindsay Heights, sustainable infrastructure, bio-swales, renewables, garden and orchards. Experience the best of urban sustainability with the Lindsay Heights EcoTour, a project spearheaded by the City of Milwaukee ECO HOME GR/OWN initiative and Walnut Way Conservation Corp. This exciting tour immerses you in the heart of Lindsay Heights Neighborhood, where you'll delve into topics like solar power, local food production, climate change adaptation, and more. Start your journey at the Walnut Way Center, once a condemned home, now transformed into an epicenter for community revitalization and environmental stewardship. Discover how 14 former vacant lots have bloomed into productive gardens, peach orchards, compost systems, and stormwater management projects. Venture to the Wally Schmidt Redevelopment, a testament to energy efficiency with its green roof and porous pavers. Don't forget to stop by the Innovation and Wellness Commons, boasting a rooftop solar system. For a unique blend of education and exploration, book your tour today!

Welcome to the first floor along North Avenue in IWC Phase I, a versatile and modern meeting venue designed with flexibility and convenience in mind. This expansive space boasts seating for up to 20 individuals, making it an ideal choice for workshops, seminars, or team meetings. The room features eight small group tables that can be effortlessly reconfigured. Join them together for a large communal workspace or arrange them separately for breakout sessions or smaller group discussions. A 65-inch display is equipped with a virtual camera, ensuring seamless video conferencing experiences. A laptop is also available for presentations or digital collaborations. Jot down ideas or map out strategies on our whiteboard, a crucial tool for any brainstorming session. The conference space also includes a compact kitchenette, complete with a small refrigerator for refreshments. Elevator access ensures the space is easily accessible, and multiple bathrooms provide added convenience for attendees. One of the unique features of this room is its ability to be split into two separate sections, each spanning 550 square feet. This allows for simultaneous activities or provides an additional level of privacy if needed. Reliable WiFi connectivity enables real-time collaboration and ensures you stay connected throughout your event or meeting.

The Lindsay Heights Emergency Repair Program offers fast, simple help for urgent home repairs that protect health, safety, and comfort for Lindsay Heights homeowners. The goal is to stabilize homes quickly so small problems do not become major, costly issues or lead to unsafe living conditions.​ The program focuses on minor “paint‑up, fix‑up” projects like small electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, patching, and basic interior repairs—not full renovations. Eligible homeowners can receive up to $TBD per household as reimbursement or direct contractor support for approved work, with priority for seniors and households with the greatest need.​ With a short intake form and quick follow‑up from Walnut Way’s Environmental Justice Housing Coordinator, residents are connected to trusted local contractors so repairs can be completed quickly and with minimal paperwork.

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

"Community-Led Comprehensive Development." This approach aims to empower community members to drive their own change, with Walnut Way serving as a facilitator and supporter. Black residents make up only about 6–7% of Wisconsin’s population, yet in very close statewide elections, their collective votes often provide a decisive share of the margin of victory—enough that, without their support, those races could easily tip the other way. Resident-led Projects Volunteer, Participate, or Donate Blue Skies Landscaping Workforce Training & Development Careers Our Focus & Philosophy Our Approach Community-led Comprehensive Development Governor’s Race 2026 Survey Events Join Us Schedule Neighborhood Eco Tour *Get Ready For Harvest Day 2026* Critical Home Repair Program Home What We Do What we Do What we Do What we Do What we Do Walnut Way Conservation Corps is a non-profit organization based in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Our mission is centered around "Community-Led Comprehensive Development." This approach aims to empower community members to drive their own change, with Walnut Way serving as a facilitator and supporter. Our Community-Led Comprehensive Development approach recognizes the interconnectedness of wellness, work, and wealth. By fostering community wellness, we encourage active engagement. By linking work to environmental stewardship, we promote sustainable practices while providing meaningful employment. And by driving economic development, we enhance community wealth. Together, these elements create a resilient, self-sustaining neighborhood where every resident can thrive. Community Engagement Wellness Wellness Wellness Wellness Wellness is a foundational aspect of our community engagement work. We understand that a healthy community is an engaged community. We foster wellness through various initiatives such as our Wellness Commons space, senior home repair program, and advocacy for fair energy policies. By creating a safe and healthy environment, we empower residents to actively participate in decision-making processes and community activities. Enviornmental Stewardship Work Work Work Work Work, in our context, goes beyond just job creation; it's closely tied to environmental stewardship. Through initiatives like our green infrastructure programs, residential and commercial energy efficiency pilots, and our green jobs initiative, we provide opportunities for meaningful work that also contributes to a more sustainable environment. This approach is embodied in our businesses like Blue Skies Landscaping, where we generate revenue while enhancing our community's green spaces. Economic Development Wealth Wealth Wealth Wealth Wealth, in our view, is not just about individual prosperity, but about collective economic development. We support small businesses, administer a neighborhood improvement district, and rehabilitate residential foreclosures into affordable homeownership opportunities. These initiatives contribute to community wealth by enhancing economic mobility, increasing access to resources, and promoting local entrepreneurship. Join Us at Harvest Day 2026 Powered by Culture By Design @ Clarence & Cleopatra Johnson Park *Sponsorship, Vendor and Community Resource Opportunities: Coming Soon... Environmental Justice at Walnut Way produced by EDF WATCH THE VIDEO Leveraging Data in Our Decision Making Leveraging Data in Our Decision Making Leveraging Data in Our Decision Making Leveraging Data in Our Decision Making 2025 - “Evaluating the impact of remote monitoring devices on chronic health conditions. An index tracks wellbeing of African Americans in Milwaukee and incorporates remote health monitoring devices—like Fitbits and glucose monitors—to guide Walnut Way interventions, target chronic disease management, and measure community health outcomes. 2020 - Lindsay Heights, Northwestern Mutal Data Science Project This plan focuses on leveraging data science to drive social change. Walnut Way can use this resource to inform its decision-making processes, track the impact of its programs, and identify areas where further intervention might be needed. 2010 Lindsay Heights Zilber Quality of Life Plan This plan offers a comprehensive approach to improving quality of life in select Milwaukee neighborhoods, including Lindsay Heights. Walnut Way can leverage the strategies outlined in this plan to address issues like economic disparities, housing inequities, and limited access to resources within the community. 2023 - Data You Can Use - Lindsay Heights Portrait The portrait provides detailed demographic and socioeconomic data about the Lindsay Heights community. Walnut Way can use this data to better understand the needs and challenges of the community, tailor its programs accordingly, and measure progress over time. 2020 - Lindsay Heights Neighborhood Action Plan The action plan provides a roadmap for community improvement efforts in Lindsay Heights, outlining key goals, strategies, and actions to enhance various aspects of community life. Walnut Way can use this plan to guide its initiatives, ensuring that they align with the community's broader goals and priorities. 2020 - Milwaukee: African American Well-bieng Index This index provides critical insights into the wellbeing of African Americans in Milwaukee. It can help Walnut Way identify key areas of concern, develop targeted interventions, and track improvements over time. 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Join Us for Harvest Day 2025 Walnut Way Conservation Corp is excited to host Harvest Day 2025, 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, October 25, 2025 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 Tomiah Jackson Program Assistant 📞 (414) 264-2326 ✉️ tjackson@walnutway.org Document HARVEST DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE Tag

< Back Antonio Butts Executive Director Antonio Butts is the Executive Director of Walnut Way Conservation Corp. and a lifelong resident of Milwaukee's Lindsay Heights neighborhood. For more than two decades, he has dedicated his career to community-led development, environmental justice, and building resilient, self-sustaining neighborhoods where residents lead the decisions that shape their lives. Antonio's roots in community service run deep. In 2000, he began his career as a counselor at the Lavarnway Boys & Girls Club, rising to program director. In 2004, he joined the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare, where he launched several small businesses — including a landscaping company that created jobs for teens. He went on to create the Mobile Market for SHARE of Southeastern Wisconsin, bringing fresh, nutritious groceries directly into Milwaukee's food deserts. Throughout this early work, a pattern emerged: Antonio has consistently been the person who starts initiatives from scratch, lifts programs off the ground, and carries them forward. Antonio joined Walnut Way's Board of Directors, serving as Treasurer and helping establish the financial practices that positioned the organization for growth. In 2017, the Board appointed him Executive Director — a homecoming for a leader who grew up in the very neighborhood Walnut Way serves. Under his leadership, Walnut Way has expanded from a neighborhood-focused nonprofit into a recognized force in community development, environmental justice, and climate resilience at the local, state, and national level. His tenure has been defined by catalytic projects and bold partnerships. Antonio led the completion of Phase II of the Innovations and Wellness Commons, a multi-million dollar commercial development on North 16th and West North Avenue that houses wellness services, small business incubation, and community gathering space. He has overseen the transformation of residential foreclosures into affordable homeownership opportunities, including net-zero energy homes on North 15th Street that demonstrate what equitable, sustainable housing looks like in practice. He grew Blue Skies Landscaping into a social enterprise generating nearly $500,000 in annual revenue while employing neighborhood residents. A defining achievement of Antonio's leadership was spearheading the establishment of the Lindsay Heights Neighborhood Improvement District (LHNID), approved by the Milwaukee Common Council in November 2022. Antonio led the multi-year advocacy effort, facilitating engagement across residents, businesses, nonprofits, and government partners to build consensus for the district designation. The LHNID created a formal, resident-driven governance structure for sustained investment in infrastructure, housing, economic development, job creation, and public safety — giving the neighborhood an institutional mechanism to direct its own revitalization and ensuring that the people most connected to Lindsay Heights have a permanent seat at the table in decisions about its future. In 2018, Antonio brought Walnut Way into the Institute for Sustainable Communities' Partnership for Resilient Communities, a national program that supports leaders of color in advancing climate resilience in their communities. Through this partnership, he gained access to national training, peer exchange with organizations from Baltimore to Oakland, and technical expertise in green stormwater infrastructure, energy justice, and resilience hub development. He applied this training to found the Environmental Justice and Infrastructure Initiative (EJII) Wisconsin — a statewide grassroots coalition that has intervened in Public Service Commission proceedings, organized statewide advocacy on energy affordability, and built a coalition of more than 20 community-based organizations fighting for equitable energy, housing, and infrastructure policy. Antonio has assembled and led a 16-partner coalition for a multi-million dollar EPA Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant proposal, coordinating partners including the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Milwaukee Public Schools, Urban Ecology Center, WE Energies, and grassroots organizations across Lindsay Heights. The initiative integrates community-scale solar, home weatherization, green infrastructure, broadband access, and community governance into a comprehensive resilience framework for the neighborhood. His advocacy work extends across sectors. He has led legal interventions in utility rate cases before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, organized press conferences and public hearings on energy burden, championed Percentage of Income Payment Programs for low-income energy customers, and advocated for Healthy Homes policy at the state level. He has engaged with partners ranging from the Energy Foundation and Beyond Carbon Action Fund to Microsoft, building relationships that connect community-level priorities to statewide and national policy. Antonio has been honored as an African American Environmental Pioneer and nominated for Vote Solar's Energy Justice Award. Walnut Way received the IWC / MADI LISC Cornerstone Award presented by BMO under his leadership. He is a 2024 Energy Justice Award nominee recognized for spearheading renewable energy projects that reduce the community's carbon footprint, enhance energy independence, and create educational opportunities and jobs for local residents. Throughout all of this work, Antonio remains grounded in the same values that drew him to community service more than 20 years ago: civic responsibility, honest relationships, and the belief that the people who live in a community are the ones best equipped to lead its transformation. "Not only is the built environment worth investing in — the people who live in this community are worth investing in too." antonio@walnutway.org (414) 260-2243