In May 2015, The Salvation Army of Milwaukee County and the Milwaukee Police Department entered into a partnership to provide emotional and spiritual care to community members who experience trauma or violence. Since the implementation of the program, over 60 volunteer chaplains, with appropriate CISM training, from over 19 different denominations and representing diversity of age, race, language, and background, have responded to critical incidents at the request of responding officers on scene. Homicides, suicide completions, drug overdoses, fatal accidents, fatal fires, infant deaths, line-of-duty deaths – our chaplains have responded to it all. With each instance, they have provided a listening ear, emotional and spiritual care, and helped connect families to community resources that can help them move forward towards healing.

Join us as we take a look at the development of the program, reflect on the unique police – Salvation Army partnership, and as we discuss the multitude of ways our chaplains are making a difference in the lives of people affected by violence and trauma in the city of Milwaukee.

PRESENTERS: Pastor Alexis Twito & Inspector Jutiki Jackson

PRESENTER: Pastor Alexis Twito
Milwaukee Chaplain Program Coordinator
Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Division

Pastor Alexis Twito, MDiv, is a born-and-raised Milwaukeean. All of her studies, in the USA and abroad, have led her to have a deep desire for serving others, particularly those who are vulnerable or suffering. She has a passion for social justice ministries, especially around areas of poverty, racism, and police-community relations.

Since October 2015, Pastor Twito has served as the Coordinator for The Salvation Army Chaplaincy Program in Milwaukee. Working in partnership with the Milwaukee Police Department, Pastor Alexis directs The Salvation Army Chaplaincy Program, which oversees approximately 59 chaplains citywide providing emotional and spiritual care to those who have experienced traumatic events or violence.

She has completed numerous CISM courses, is a member of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF), and is an Approved Instructor for the ICISF Spiritual and Psychological First Aid course, which is the foundational course for the Milwaukee Chaplaincy Program and The Salvation Army’s EDS program. She is also a member of the Southeastern Wisconsin Grief Network, and has just completed the International Conference of Police Chaplains training with the WI DOJ.

Pastor Twito is also a pastor in the Lutheran Church, ELCA. When she’s not busy with all her work commitments, she’s spending time with her niece and nephews, hanging out with friends, reading, going to movies, or relaxing along the Lake Michigan lakefront.

PRESENTER: Inspector Jutiki Jackson
Milwaukee Police Department

Jutiki Jackson became a Milwaukee Police Officer in 1992, upon graduating from Milwaukee South Division High School. Jackson received his first promotion to sergeant in September of 2002. As a lifelong learner, he enrolled in Marquette University’s College of Professional Studies program where he received a bachelor’s in criminal justice and graduated cum laude (with honors). At Marquette, he was exposed to servant leadership and incorporated the concepts into the daily operation of the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) where he continued to advance. Eventually, he was accepted into the Future Milwaukee Leadership program at Marquette University.

As a Captain, Jackson was assigned to the Seventh District and began volunteering to serve families and young people, and leading men and women on the Milwaukee Police Department.  Here, key working relationships were formed with Safe and Sound, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Sojourner Peace Center and The Salvation Army, as well as, other faith-based organizations

These collaborations resulted in the creation of The Salvation Army Chaplaincy Program, The Trauma Informed Care program, several community adopt-a-block programs and a summer reading program, which allowed police officers to serve the community in a capacity that has never previously been experienced.

In January 2016, Chief Ed Flynn promoted Jackson to his current rank of Inspector of Police.

This workshop will cover 10 critically important rules for social media engagement in the context of The Salvation Army. In an age where facts, opinions and information can be shared with only a few thumb taps on your mobile device, it is good to have a few rules to tweet by.

PRESENTER: Lt. Colonel Dan Jennings

Lt. Colonel Dan Jennings serves as Divisional Commander of the Midland division, which consists of the state of Missouri and Southern Illinois. He has served as an officer of The Salvation Army since 1994 and has found great joy in following God’s calling on his life.

He has a master’s degree in Theology form the Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO. His undergraduate education was at the University of Kansas and Olivet Nazarene University. He also served as a professor for the Olivet SACEP program for many years.

Dan came to the Army through the Scouting program at the Topeka, Kansas corps. Before becoming an officer he was a part of the management program at Tandy Corporation and learned many valuable principals that have translated well to officership.

He appreciates the global and missional aspects of the Army and believes that the same missional approach to ministry can be implemented in the local context of ministry.

This workshop will look at how unity and diversity within the Body of Christ is not just a good idea or a new idea, but a call at the very heart of Jesus’ prayer for a world that would come to know him.  The mandate, the mission, and the model of unity, diversity, and multicultural ministry.

PRESENTER: Ms. Nikki Lerner

Nikki Lerner is a cultural coach and translator and a gifted musician whose primary instrument is voice. Bridging divides between people of different cultures through music and conversation is Nikki’s passion. Nikki has produced three recording projects, Nikki Lerner, Longings, and The Things We Never Say (2016). In addition to being an artist and songwriter, she is a sought-after speaker, worship leader coach, and co-author of the book WORSHIP TOGETHER IN YOUR CHURCH AS IN HEAVEN. You can connect with Nikki at www.nikkilerner.com.

There are many reasons and excuses in which we feel we couldn’t possibly be the right “fit”for intercultural ministry. We falsely believe that we must have the right background, language skill, and talents in order to be successful in ministry. The old adage is right though –God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. And we are all called to share the Gospel and meet human needs. Don’t let false notions of “necessary”skills stop you from moving forward in what God needs you to do.

Presenter: Captain Shannon Martinez

Captain Shannon Martinez, along with her husband David, are corps officers of the Dearborn Heights Corps and the Wayne-Westland Corps. They have had multiple intercultural appointments and currently are growing in their knowledge and understanding of their Muslim neighbors of the Dearborn community which has the second largest Muslim population (the 1^st being New York City) in the United States.

What you need is a culture coach.  When you have no safe place to process, where do you turn?  Join us for this deep, enriching, and safe time together sharing stories of race and ethnicity experiences that have shaped who we are and how we see the world.  Also find ways to move forward in your personal life and professional ministry.

PRESENTER: Ms. Nikki Lerner

Nikki Lerner is a cultural coach and translator and a gifted musician whose primary instrument is voice. Bridging divides between people of different cultures through music and conversation is Nikki’s passion. Nikki has produced three recording projects, Nikki Lerner, Longings, and The Things We Never Say (2016). In addition to being an artist and songwriter, she is a sought-after speaker, worship leader coach, and co-author of the book WORSHIP TOGETHER IN YOUR CHURCH AS IN HEAVEN. You can connect with Nikki at www.nikkilerner.com.

While Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is in its relative infancy, results are already showing that group harmony and desirable congregational outcomes are more likely when disciples have more CQ. The good news is that CQ can be trained, and therefore strengthened. This workshop recognizes CQ for what it is: multi-faceted and a skill that takes repeated practice accompanied by the commitment to continually understanding the greater cultural context from which all of us come.

Participants will learn about the critical scope and processes involved in cross-cultural ministry initiatives, as well as develop an increased awareness about ethnic, racial, gender, and organizational cultures of their ministry context. The task is to promote personal humility, sensitivity and mutual respect that mature, Christ-like relationships across cultures require.

PRESENTER:  Dr. Oliver Phillips

Dr. Oliver R. Phillips, an ordained minister, presently serves as the lead connector at the Connexion Pointe Church in Orlando, Florida, and president of the Connexion Empowerment Center Inc. (CECI), an organization he founded as a resource committed to the empowerment of the immigrant community. CECI is a Recognized Organization and Phillips is the Accredited Representative with the US Department of Justice and Homeland Security.

Rev. Phillips is certified to facilitate Cultural Intelligence Enhancement Seminars and has done so for twenty-one different ethnic people groups in the Church of the Nazarene. He has conducted seminars in many countries around the world including Antigua, Barbados, British Isles, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Holland and France, to name a few.

He has a Master of Divinity degree from Howard University School of Divinity, where he was awarded the Vernon Johns Preaching Award. He received the Doctor of Ministry degree in Social Ministries from the International Bible College and Seminary; He is the recent recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Leadership Award from the Reed Institute for the Advanced Study of Leadership at Olivet Nazarene University.

Phillips has authored numerous publications with the most recent being, “Culture Trumps Religion, Every Time: The Ethno-Cultural Challenge for the Church.”

Seis de cada diez latinos/as en los Estados Unidos son nacidos en este país y nuestras iglesias tienen que desarrollar ministerios que sean fieles a la Palabra de Dios y al mismo tiempo relevantes a la cultura de esta generación que demanda respuestas a sus preguntas que muchas veces tratamos de evadir. En ocasiones, este grupo de jóvenes, una vez que llega a la escuela secundaria y a la universidad, prefiere alejarse de nuestros cuerpos porque estamos siendo indiferentes a sus necesidades y los estamos ignorando. Este taller le dará herramientas para responder a estos desafíos.

PRESENTER: Dr. Rolando Cuellar
Dr. Rolando Cuellar serves as an Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies at Lee University in Cleveland, TN. At Lee, he prepares young men and women for cross-cultural ministry in the US and overseas. Dr. Cuellar has served as a Pastor of Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Chicago for twenty years and holds memberships at the American Society of Missiology, Evangelical Missiology Society and Latin American Theological Fellowship. He is the author of several articles, including “The Contextualization of Christianity” which has been included in the book entitled The Mission of the Church: Essays on Practical Theology for 21^st Century Ministry. Dr. Rolando Cuellar serves as an Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies at Lee University in Cleveland, TN. At Lee, he prepares young men and women for cross-cultural ministry in the US and overseas. Dr. Cuellar has served as a Pastor of Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Chicago for twenty years and holds memberships at the American Society of Missiology, Evangelical Missiology Society and Latin American Theological Fellowship. He is the author of several articles, including “The Contextualization of Christianity” which has been included in the book entitled The Mission of the Church: Essays on Practical Theology for 21^st Century Ministry.

Dr. Cuellar and his wife Ruth have three grown sons, Kenneth (Esmeralda); Hiram (Fabiola); Samuel (Stacey) and four grandchildren, Yamilei, Jayden, Luke and Evan. Dr. Cuellar and his wife Ruth have three grown sons, Kenneth (Esmeralda); Hiram (Fabiola); Samuel (Stacey) and four grandchildren, Yamilei, Jayden, Luke and Evan.

¿Qué retos enfrenta la comunidad inmigrante hispana en Estados Unidos? Como comunidad de fe, ¿cómo podemos ofrecer ayuda práctica a la comunidad inmigrante? En este taller tendremos la oportunidad de escuchar historias sobre las luchas personales que encuentran los inmigrantes en un país extranjero.

Presenter: Rev. Alexia Salvatierra

Rev. Alexia Salvatierra is the author with Dr. Peter Heltzel of “Faith-Rooted Organizing: Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World”(Intervarsity Press) and the founder of the faith rooted Organizing UnNetwork.. She is a Lutheran Pastor with over 35 years of experience in community ministry, including church-based service and community development programs, congregational and community organizing, and legislative advocacy.  In addition to coordinating the Welcoming Congregations/Guardian Angels Network for the Southwest California Synod of the ELCA, she currently serves as a consultant (training, facilitating, organizing and leading strategic planning) for a variety of national/international organizations, including World Vision USA/World Vision International/Women of Vision, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and the Christian Community Development Association. She has been a national leader in the areas of working poverty and immigration for over 20 years, including the co-founding of the national Evangelical Immigration Table (a very broad coalition of evangelical leaders and institutions advocating for immigration reform.).