About Conversations to Creating a Healthy Community
Conversations to Creating a Healthy Community is a podcast from Milwaukee County’s Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) designed to spark honest, thoughtful dialogue around community health, family well-being, and the systems that shape everyday life in Milwaukee County.
The podcast positions DHHS not only as a service provider, but as a thought leader, listener, and collaborator, bringing together voices from across the community to explore challenges, highlight innovation, and share ideas that support healthier outcomes for all.
Each episode focuses on real people, real experiences, and real solutions, with an emphasis on learning, connection, and action.
Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: Chantell Jewell, Superintendent of the Community Reintegration Center; Ruben Gaona, Executive Director of My Way Out; Monique Malone, CRC Community Intervention Specialist with DHHS Housing Services DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Chantell Jewell, Superintendent of the Community Reintegration Center, Ruben Gaona, Executive Director of My Way Out, and Monique Malone of DHHS Housing Services for a conversation about the importan...
30 Sept 2026
Episode 11: Reentry Housing
Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: Chantell Jewell, Superintendent of the Community Reintegration Center; Ruben Gaona, Executive Director of My Way Out; Monique Malone, CRC Community Intervention Specialist with DHHS Housing Services DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Chantell Jewell, Superintendent of the Community Reintegration Center, Ruben Gaona, Executive Director of My Way Out, and Monique Malone of DHHS Housing Services for a conversation about the im...
10 Sept 2026
Episode 10: Suicide Prevention Awareness
Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: Clare Martell, DHHS Suicide Prevention Coordinator; Vaynesia Kendrick, Co-Chair of Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Clare Martell, DHHS Suicide Prevention Coordinator, and Vaynesia Kendrick, Co-Chair of Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee, for a conversation about suicide prevention efforts across Milwaukee County. Together, they discuss emerging trends, community partnerships, and the impo...
27 Aug 2026
Episode 9: Addressing Food Insecurity
Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: Marcelia Nicholson-Bovell, Chairwoman of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors; Emily Kenney, DHHS Strategic Initiatives and Transformation Director DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson-Bovell and Emily Kenney, DHHS Strategic Initiatives and Transformation Director for a conversation about how Milwaukee County and community partners are working to address food insecurit...
6 Aug 2026
Episode 8: Meet the New DHHS Administrators
Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain, DHHS Executive Director Guests: Amy Lorenz, Administrator, Behavioral Health Services; David Comer, Administrator, Child Support Services DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Amy Lorenz, Administrator of Behavioral Health Services, and David Comer, Administrator of Child Support Services, for an introduction of two of Milwaukee County DHHS’s newest leaders. Together, they discuss their visions for their respective service areas, the...
18 Jun 2026
Episode 7: Connecting Individuals and Children and Families to Disabilities Services
Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: Desilynn Smith, Executive Director of Uniting Garden Homes, Inc. and Chair of DHHS Combined Community Services Board; Toto Chanthavixay, Director of DHHS Children’s Disabilities Programs DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Desilynn Smith of Uniting Garden Homes and Toto Chanthavixay of Milwaukee County DHHS Children’s Disabilities Programs for a conversation about how grassroots connection and communitywide collaboration is streng...
28 May 2026
Episode 6: Becoming an Age-Friendly Community
Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: Denise Callaway, Host of “Connect MKE” on MY24/CW18 and Chair of the Commission on Aging; Emily Peterson, DHHS Aging Services Project Manager and Policy Advocate DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Denise Callaway of the Commission on Aging and Emily Peterson of Milwaukee County Aging Services for a conversation about programs and partnerships supporting older adults across Milwaukee County. They discuss how services like the Agin...
13 May 2026
Episode 5 - Part 2: Community-Based Access to Behavioral Health Care
Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: Ken Ginlack, CEO of Serenity Inns and Milwaukee County Mental Health Board Member; Jennifer Wittwer, Director of Community Access to Recovery Services (CARS); Brian McBride, Director of Wraparound Milwaukee-Children’s Community Mental Health Services DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Ken Ginlack of Serenity Inns, Jennifer Wittwer of Community Access to Recovery Services (CARS), and Brian McBride of Wraparound Milwaukee for a con...
13 May 2026
Episode 5 – Part 1: Community-Based Access to Behavioral Health Care
Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: Ken Ginlack, CEO of Serenity Inns and Milwaukee County Mental Health Board Member; Jennifer Wittwer, Director of Community Access to Recovery Services (CARS); Brian McBride, Director of Wraparound Milwaukee-Children’s Community Mental Health Services DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Ken Ginlack of Serenity Inns, Jennifer Wittwer of Community Access to Recovery Services (CARS), and Brian McBride of Wraparound Milwaukee for a con...
13 Mar 2026
Episode 4: Strengthening Community Safety Through Violence Intervention
Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: David Muhammad, DHHS Deputy Director; Reggie Moore, Medical College of Wisconsin Director of Community Safety Policy and Engagement DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Reggie Moore of the Medical College of Wisconsin and DHHS Deputy Director David Muhammad for a conversation about Milwaukee County’s collaborative approach to community violence intervention. Together, they discuss how public health strategies, credible messengers, ...
5 Mar 2026
Episode 3: Honoring the Legacy of Marcia P. Coggs in Milwaukee County
Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: Priscilla Coggs-Jones, Milwaukee County Board Supervisor; Elizabeth Coggs, Former Milwaukee County Board Supervisor and Wisconsin State Representative DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Milwaukee County Board Supervisor Priscilla Coggs-Jones and Elizabeth Coggs for a conversation about the legacy of their mother and grandmother, trailblazing public servant Marcia P. Coggs, and her lasting impact on human services in Milwaukee Cou...
10 Feb 2026
Episode 2: Expanding Access to Affordable Housing in Milwaukee County
Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain Guests: David Crowley, Milwaukee County Executive; Jim Mathy, Housing Services Administrator DHHS Executive Director Shakita LaGrant-McClain is joined by Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Housing Services Administrator Jim Mathy for a conversation about housing, homelessness, and the role affordable housing plays in community health. Together, they discuss Milwaukee County’s Housing First approach, efforts to expand affordable housing across the county...
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
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