VIA CDC’s 30th anniversary!
Connect • Empower • Strengthen
Mark Your Calendars: A 30-Year Celebration!
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Time: Noon to 5:00 PM
Location: Silver City Neighborhood
We couldn’t imagine a better way to celebrate this milestone than with all of you. Join us at this year’s Silver City Fest, where we’ll commemorate 30 years of connection and progress. Enjoy live music, local vendors, interactive art displays, a children’s area, and delicious food as we honor the past and look toward the future. This event is free and open to all, so bring your family and friends—we can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Share Your Memories!
As part of the festivities, we’re creating a special photo display to reflect on the moments that have shaped our shared journey. We invite you to share your favorite neighborhood snapshots or VIA CDC memories. You can send them virtually or visit our office, where we can make a copy of your photo. Together, let’s tell the story of 30 years of community impact.
Support the Next Chapter!
This anniversary is an opportunity to ensure our work continues for the next 30 years. Consider making a special $30 donation to support our mission. Every contribution helps empower families, foster leadership, and build vibrant, thriving neighborhoods for generations to come. This anniversary isn’t just about looking back—it’s about celebrating the future we’re building together. Your dedication, collaboration, and belief in our mission have made all of this possible. Thank you for being an essential part of the VIA CDC family.
Here’s to a remarkable year ahead, filled with connection, celebration, and continued progress!
Building Stronger Neighborhoods Our The Years!
In 2023, VIA reached a historic milestone by purchasing its first-ever office outside the international headquarters of our foundresses, the School Sisters of St. Francis. Located at 3524 W. National Avenue in Silver City, this move, the first since 1995, enhances access for neighbors and the communities VIA serves. The…Read More
In 2023, VIA transitioned from renovation to new construction, focusing on developing entry-level homes on Milwaukee’s vacant lots. This shift aligns with the city’s affordable housing strategic plan, targeting increased Black and Latino homeownership and addressing the shortage of affordable homes. As part of this initiative, VIA is building 21…Read More
The organization that is now known as VIA Community Development Corporation began its journey under the name Vision Ministries and in 2002 it rebranded to Layton Boulevard West Neighbors. In 2020 the organization name changed from Layton Boulevard West Neighbors to VIA Community Development Corporation to better reflect its mission…Read More
The Burnham Park Task Force (BPTF), a neighbor-led group, partnered with VIA to engage the community and work with MKE Rec to advocate for park improvements. Over ten years, BPTF organized meetings, design sessions, and fundraising to support. The park’s enhancements and an equity audit by MKE Rec and strong…Read More
The 3514 W. National Avenue building sat vacant for nearly a decade. In 2017, VIA purchased the building and played a key role in its transformation as part of the Silver City Catalytic Redevelopment Project, an initiative to increase economic vitality and improve National Avenue as a safe and enjoyable…Read More
Phobruary is a community event hosted by VIA that celebrates Southeast Asian culture in the Silver City neighborhood through food. Held each February, it features special deals on pho and other dishes at local restaurants, promoting economic growth, cultural appreciation, and community engagement. This tradition strengthens neighborhood pride and supports…Read More
Silver City Fest is an annual community event hosted by VIA in Milwaukee’s Silver City neighborhood. This vibrant festival celebrates the area’s diverse cultures and community spirit, showcasing the rich blend of traditions that make up the neighborhood. The event features a variety of activities, including live music performances, dance,…Read More
VIA’s Turnkey Renovation Program is designed to revitalize and improve housing within the neighborhoods it serves. The program focuses on acquiring, rehabilitating, and selling homes to make high-quality, affordable housing available to neighbors. By addressing properties that may be vacant, distressed, or in need of significant repairs, the Turnkey Program…Read More
VIA’s first Ice Cream Social was organized by the School Sisters of St. Francis as part of its initial efforts to engage the local community and build trust among neighbors in the Layton Boulevard West neighborhood. This event was created as a welcoming, informal gathering where neighbors could come together,…Read More
VIA, originally known as Layton Boulevard West Neighbors, was founded in 1995 by the School Sisters of St. Francis to promote neighborhood revitalization and strengthen community ties within Milwaukee’s Layton Boulevard West area. The organization began its work in the Burnham Park neighborhood and later expanded its initiatives to include…Read More