Nia Imani Family, Inc., a transitional living facility located in the heart of Milwaukee\u2019s inner-city, serves African American women in the 53205 and 53206 poverty-stricken zip codes. The name is derived from the seven principles of Kwanza, two of which guide the non-profit: Nia meaning \u201cpurpose\u201d and Imani meaning \u201cfaith.\u201d The word Family was added to the name as the facility was not only bringing many families back together through repaired relationships and reunification but also by providing a community that functions as a family to one another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Nia Imani Family remains Milwaukee\u2019s only long-term transitional living facility where women can stay with their children for up to two years. They offer a variety of programs to help women learn to succeed on their own including job skills training, parenting classes, financial literacy classes, and they connect women with community resources such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Most importantly, however, Nia Imani Family, Inc., offers women unconditional emotional and social support and acceptance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ms. Pittman shared, \u201cI became a partner of UW Extension and UW-Milwaukee early on and was able to come up with an approach that worked to teach young adults. Mentors worked with me to create a process, test it, and prove the format we were using was indeed a successful form of education. This is how I learned to research materials and create methods.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The community Ms. Pittman has formed through Nia Imani Family, Inc., has had a lasting impact on the women and families of Milwaukee, as well as the students of 51ÁÔÆæ. Ms. Pittman has served as a mentor and teacher for 51ÁÔÆæ nursing students for several years. 51ÁÔÆæ undergraduate nursing students have participated in population health practicum experiences at Nia Imani Family, Inc. 51ÁÔÆæ graduate students work hand in hand with Ms. Pittman on Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) projects, such as data analysis and manuscript development to assess the impacts of Nia Imani\u2019s programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ms. Pittman shares, \u201cThis Honorary Doctorate of Community Health has brought respect to something I have spent my life dedicated to. I\u2019m committed to the nursing students because Nia Imani Family can help teach students about the population of women we serve. This doctorate says that what I have done all these years is appreciated, useful and possible. These years have been worth it. I made lots of sacrifices. Many times, I wasn\u2019t at the dinner table with my own children because I was teaching myself what I needed to learn while my family watched. The doctorate also represents generations that came before us and the family I have influenced. This is a message of not giving up and following your beliefs from family, participants, mothers and University partners, this is for all of us.\u201d Ms. Pittman continued to share that there were many situations through the years of partnerships, meetings and networking she was hesitant to participate, however, shared the advice her daughter gave her, \u201cMom, don\u2019t ever be afraid to take your seat at the table.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From that advice and the years of dedication and service to women and participants at Nia Imani Family, Ms. Pitmann has been recognized both locally and nationally. As an author on a research article to various media, highlights include features in Milwaukee Magazine, The Milwaukee Times, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Neighborhood News Service, Shepherd Express, The Milwaukee Catholic Herald and many others. She has been a speaker at the 4th Street Forum, the State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Alverno College, Mount Mary University, the Wisconsin Association for Adult and Continuing Education, 51ÁÔÆæ College of Nursing, and has appeared on a \u201c60 Minutes\u201d episode on childhood trauma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n