Who We Are

Make a Donation

Join the Movement

Our Story

WISCAP is Wisconsin’s official, and only, statewide network of poverty fighting agencies. Alongside our members, our network is responsible for operating food banks and pantries, homeless and domestic violence shelters, Headstart and early childhood programs, and many, many more. With over six decades of documented impact, our members do it all to make Wisconsin a better place to live.

What We Do

Training & Events

WISCAP provides an annual menu of trainings to help member agencies and our community partners build capacity to carry our their mission.

Programs

WISCAP works with public & private funders to take effective poverty alleviation programs to scale across Wisconsin.

Advocacy

WISCAP helps advocate for community resiliency, solutions to address poverty, and enhance financial stability.

Research

WISCAP works to deepen the networks’ ability to drive new research, enhance public communications and author publications on Poverty.

Our Board

Executive Committee

Cheryl Detrick, President
Chief Executive Officer
Newcap, Inc.

Anna Cardarella, Vice President
Chief Executive Officer
Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council

Millie Rounsville, Treasurer
Chief Executive Officer
Northwest CSA

Nicole Harrison, Secretary
Chief Executive Officer
CAP Services, Inc.

Jenny Fasula , Member-At-Large
Executive Director
Foundation for Rural Housing

Marc Perry, Member-At-Large
Executive Director
Community Action Inc. of Rock & Walworth Counties

George Hinton, Past President
Chief Executive Officer
Social Development Commission

Essie Allen
Chief Executive Officer
Racine / Kenosha Community Action

Hetti Brown
Executive Director
Couleecap, Inc.

Collen Homb
Executive Director
Lakeshore CAP, Inc.

Kaye Hartmann
Vice President of Planning & Resource Development
United Migrant Opportunity Services 

Fred Hebert
Executive Director
Central Wisconsin Community Action Council 

Peter Kilde
Executive Director
West Central Community Action Agency, Inc. 

Tanya Marcoe
Executive Director
ADVOCAP, Inc.

Meghan Mietchen
Executive Director
Community Action Coalition of SCWI

Diane Sennholz
Executive Director
North Central Community Action Program 

Jennifer Shearer
Chief Executive Officer
Indianhead Community Action Agency, Inc. 

Brett White
Executive Director
Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program

Our Staff

Kassidy Farrey

Deputy Director

Kassidy Farrey

As Deputy Director, Kassidy serves as a core member of the WISCAP Leadership team and is responsible for integrating strategic objectives within all WISCAP initiatives, programs and workflows. Her work involves strategic planning, administrative oversight, and working closely with the executive director on the day-to-day operations of the association. Kassidy oversees WISCAP’s program management, directs WISCAP’s training and technical assistance portfolio, and is involved in promotional efforts and resource development in pursuit of the Association’s stated purposes and its Annual Plan. Kassidy holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Strategic Communication and a certificate in digital studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Tom Behnke

Operations & Outreach Manager

Tom Behnke

Tom joins the WISCAP team as their Operations and Outreach Manager. In this role, Tom will work closely with WISCAP leadership and program management, in providing support through communications, accounting and bookkeeping operations to various programs that reinforce WISCAP’s mission and those of the sixteen local Community Action Agencies and two single-purpose agencies to address the grinding poverty that exists in our rural, urban and suburban communities in Wisconsin. Tom comes to WISCAP after working in many different capacities at Forward Community Investments, a statewide Community Development Financial Institution. Most recently he held the role of Manager of Grant Programs and Communications. While at Forward Community Investments, Tom served on WISCAP’s Poverty Matters Conference Committee and participated and assisted WISCAP in their Annual Awards and Grants. Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point with a Major in Communication Studies with a dual emphasis in Media and Technology Studies and Interpersonal Communication. While not working, Tom enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, camping, and exploring with his wife and puppy. In addition to being outdoors, Tom loves seeing live music and attending Forward Madison FC matches.

Accountant with Novii Victoria Thayer, CPA

Victoria Thayer, CPA, is the President of Novii CPA, a relationship-focused CPA firm located in Madison, WI. With 10 years of experience, she serves small to medium-sized business owners across the United States in the biotechnology, professional services, and manufacturing industries. Victoria’s expertise includes financial statement preparation, budgeting, forecasting, tax planning, and tax preparation. In recognition of her accomplishments and dedication, Victoria was honored with the 2023 WICPA Excellence Award – Young Professional. Victoria is also a member of the WWBIC Advisory Committee, the WICPA Federal Taxation Committee, and the AICPA Emerging Leaders Committee. Prior to Novii CPA, Victoria grew up in a world vastly different from her current reality. Raised by a single mother, her family’s financial circumstances seemed destined to follow a familiar path. Refusing to let circumstances define her, she recognized that education offered boundless possibilities. Victoria graduated from the University of Rochester with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and business administration. She later earned her master’s in accounting from Edgewood College and obtained her CPA license.

Jonathan Bader

Food Security Policy & Programs Director

Jonathan Bader

Jonathan Bader is the Policy & Programs Director at WISCAP where he has worked since 1998. He provides logistical support to The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) that distributes 25-35 million pounds of USDA commodities annually to 350 emergency food providers serving food insecure families statewide. He has managed several economic security initiatives for WISCAP, including the Job & Business Development Program that helps low-income entrepreneurs start small businesses and create jobs, and the Skills Enhancement Program that provides training to low-wage workers to secure better paying jobs and benefits. He has advocated on health, nutrition, and poverty policy for 30 years, including lead poisoning prevention legislation, expansion of FoodShare benefits, and development of the ACCESS website. He is Board President of Reach Dane, the Head Start agency for Dane & Green counties providing early childhood education and services to 1,000 area children and their families. He lives in DeForest with his wife Ann in a 1935 craftsman home they are endlessly restoring. They are blessed with 3 daughters and 6 grandchildren.

Jorey Dvorak

Food Security Program Specialist

Jorey Dvorak

Jorey joins WISCAP as the Food Security Program Specialist. In this role, Jorey will work closely with Jonathan Bader, WISCAP’s Policy and Program Director, in executing the logistics of The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Jorey comes to WISCAP with a background in non-profit programming, volunteer management and technical support. Jorey plans to utilize her experience in streamlining programming and wrap-around services to find the best avenues to advocate for Wisconsin families.

Jorey holds a Bachelor of Arts from DePaul University in Chicago with a Major in American Studies and a concentration in Politics, Institutions and Values. She also holds three minors in Women and Gender Studies, LGBT Studies, and Sociology. Outside of work she enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee and playing board games.

Johanna Jimenez

Take Root Wisconsin Program Manager

Johanna Jimenez

Homeownership inspired Johanna to be involved in her community with organizations whose mission include strengthening families and communities. Johanna became active in her neighborhood by serving on the Board of Directors for the Washington Park Neighborhood Improvement District for the past 8 years as their Chair. There they have successfully reinvested over $1.2 million to support homeowners, community partners, and businesses within the district. Johanna’s non-profit experience started in 2019 as the Program Manager for Take Root Milwaukee, a consortium program under the Urban Economic Development Association of Wisconsin that is dedicated to promoting and supporting sustainable homeownership in Milwaukee. This work opened more opportunities to work with various professionals, nonprofit and neighborhood organizations, municipal and state agencies, as well as philanthropic organizations. Johanna is now the Program Manager for Take Root Wisconsin.

Marlo Fields

Housing Specialist

Marlo Fields

As WISCAP’s Housing Specialist Marlo brings with him a history of passionate advocacy for working class values and anti-poverty initiatives. Growing up in a single parent working class household, Marlo knows the firsthand the necessity of stable housing for the wellbeing of families and children.  He is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, having served as an English teacher in rural southwest China. Prior to WISCAP Marlo worked for US Congressmen Ron Kind and Mark Pocan; for the latter he managed housing and HUD related constituent casework.

A native of Northwest Wisconsin, Marlo is most comfortable surrounded by nature. When not getting lost on hike or biking around the state, he can be found wherever live music is playing, rooting for various sporting teams, or preparing exotic food for his friends and family.

WHH Call Center Representative

Mechaela Dixon

Mechaela joined the Housing Stability team at the beginning of the WHH program. She provides direct customer support for clients applying to the Wisconsin Help for Homeowners program.  Mechaela helps clients access information, understand how to apply for assistance, and check on the status of their application.  Mechaela also works with vendors and mortgage lenders to better understand the WHH application process and provide answers and clarity. When she is not in the office, Mechaela enjoys cooking for her family and listening to music.

Amy Loeffelholz

Nursing Workforce Program Manager

Amy Loeffelholz

As the Workforce Innovation Specialist, Amy’s primary responsibility is managing the Workforce Innovation Grant to increase Wisconsin’s nursing workforce along with future workforce projects. Prior to this position she worked as an administrative specialist for WISCAP serving the organization in many different capacities from general administrative assistance to working with the housing programs. She is excited to continue to support WISCAP and their mission to alleviate poverty in Wisconsin and promote economic security for low-income families through workforce development.

Prior to working at WISCAP, Amy was a non-profit business administrator and a school counselor. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville. When Amy is not working, she enjoys reading, trying out new recipes, and spending time with her family.

Samantha Kozlowski

Health Program Manager

Samantha Kozlowski

Samantha Kozlowski is the Health Programs Manager at WISCAP, though she previously worked as a Food Security Specialist for the TEFAP program. She is excited to continue her efforts with WISCAP in this new dynamic role. In May 2021, Sam graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison with her Masters in Public Health. Public health had always been a passion for Sam since it allows her to be an advocate for others’ health successes and really focus on prevention work. Her goal in this role is to address multiple health sectors to further improve health equity efforts in Wisconsin through various health-centered projects to ensure that everyone has a fair chance at living a wholesome life regardless of their financial standing.

Most of Sam’s professional endeavors have been centered in recovery awareness and advocacy work, as that is something that she has a personal connection with. In the future, she hopes to continue to grow and expand recovery and addiction efforts throughout the community action agencies. Outside of work, Sam enjoys trying out new, local restaurants and spending time with her partner and corgi.

Our Members

Give Today

$5

$10

$50

$250

$500

Other