The Cathedral Center

Friendship House - Open Door Event
2025-06-25 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Friendship House, 1029 N Marshall St, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Come see what Friendship House is all about!
Join us for our Open Door Community Event and get an inside look at the programs, resources, and opportunities we offer to individuals and families across Milwaukee. Whether you’re a neighbor, a potential partner, or just curious about what we do—we welcome you!
What to Expect:

Guided tours of our space

Meet-and-greet with staff and volunteers

Info stations on our programs (flexible housing model, clinical case management, job readiness, and more)

Light refreshments

Family-friendly environment

Opportunities to get involved or ask questions

This is a great chance to connect with your community, learn about local support services, and find out how we can support one another.
Who Should Attend?

Milwaukee residents

Families and youth

Community leaders & local organizations

Anyone interested in volunteering, donating, or partnering with us

We’re excited to meet you and show you how Friendship House is working to build a stronger, more compassionate Milwaukee—together.
Download the Event Flyer

Pathway Home - A Celebration of Ending Homelessness
2025-07-30 17:00 - 20:00 | Italian Community Center, 631 E Chicago St, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
What is Pathway Home?
Each year, Cathedral Center celebrates all women and families who come to us seeking housing stability by honoring two individuals: one of our former guests and one woman in the community who supports our mission and whose actions match her words. Pathway Home – a Celebration of Ending Homelessness is our signature fundraising event. We know that ending homelessness is a mission we must pursue each day, and we are grateful that you have joined us on this journey. We are excited to celebrate in person this year on Wednesday, July 30th.
Click here to buy tickets now!
Join us at Pathway Home for an evening of:
– Silent Auctions
– Wine Pull
– 50/50 Raffle
– Live Music by The Jazz Corporation
– A Special Program
Please purchase your tickets and join us in celebrating the pursuit of ending homelessness by enjoying a lovely evening with friends and fellow supporters. Proceeds from the event support The Cathedral Center’s services that clients and guests utilize to heal and achieve their goals.
2025 Pathway Home Honorees:
Joann Steidinger | 2025 Woman of the Word Honoree
We are thrilled to honor Joann Steidinger as Cathedral Center’s 2025 Woman of the Word. Joann is a true servant leader whose extraordinary generosity and unwavering commitment to others make a lasting impact on our community. From leading mission initiatives at Crossroads church and supporting Afghan refugee families, to organizing hurricane relief efforts and volunteering and working at local shelters like Cathedral Center, Joann exemplifies the power of mission-driven action.
Her hands-on care and tireless advocacy inspire others to join her in making a difference. Joann’s selflessness and leadership shine through in every endeavor, and we are proud to celebrate a woman who embodies the very spirit of love, compassion, and service.
Join us as we honor Joann’s incredible legacy and the profound impact she continues to make in the lives of others.
TBD | 2025 Inspire Honoree
We are excited to share a story of personal strength during our event! Please join us to be inspired by a client who has grown through our services.

Bridge the Gap Communal Meal: Stories of Empowerment
2026-01-18 13:00 - 16:00 | Urban Ecology Center, 1500 E Park Pl, Milwaukee, WI, 53211, United States
About the event

An event to ignite empowerment in Wisconsin
Bridge the Gap Communal Meal: Stories of Empowerment is a community empowerment event in Wisconsin designed to uplift the human spirit through shared stories, cultural expression, and the universal joy of coming together. This kickoff gathering for Flavors of Africa + Diaspora Wisconsin invites community members to connect, reflect, and celebrate the experiences that shape who we are.
This year, we deepen our commitment to community connection with a shared meal designed to spark meaningful dialogue. When we sit down to eat together, conversation flows – and with it, understanding, unity, and the feeling of being part of something bigger.
We are celebrating stories of empowerment: moments of resilience, creativity, cultural pride, and the human journey that connects us all. No matter our backgrounds, we each carry experiences that shape who we are. Whether we’ve overcome challenges or are creating new paths that uplift others, sharing our stories reminds us of our strength and our shared humanity.
The afternoon will include:
COMMUNAL MEAL
Traditional cultural dishes from Antigua Latin Cuisine, Lola’s Empanadas & Frankie’s
CULTURAL MUSIC & PERFORMANCES
Music from T’challa
Performances from Panadanza Dance Company and Odenigbo Group
INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKERS
Moderated by Yollande Tchouapi & Yomarie Castellano

Citlali Mendieta-Ramos, Owner, Antigua Restaurant Group

Kristyn O’Laughlin Eitel, Owner, Toro Toro Toro

Martha Bianchini, Owner, Cubanitas

Griselda Aldrete, Founder, Aldrete Law & Consulting

Dr. Oby Nwabuzor, Owner, Envision Growth

Dr. Sheila Lambi-Oben, Reclaim Her

Expect an atmosphere filled with warmth, positive energy, and the kind of conversation that lingers long after the day ends.
PLUS! SILENT AUCTION To help boost our efforts in raising funds for local organizations, our silent auction will open from January 18, 2026 and close at the conclusion of the Gala + Chef Showcase on February 22, 2026. Together we can create meaningful impact in our community.
Proceeds from this community empowerment event Wisconsin residents can support benefit organizations that uplift and empower our community: The Cathedral Center, FoodRight and Walker’s Point Center for the Arts

2026 Empowerment Challenge
2026-03-01 - 2026-03-08 | The Cathedral Center, 845 N. Van Buren Street, Milwaukee, WI, United States
JOIN IN ON THE 11th ANNUAL EMPOWERMENT CHALLENGE!
The Cathedral Center’s Empowerment Challenge will begin on March 1st and conclude on March 8th, International Women’s Day! Hundreds of individuals and businesses will come together this week-long event helps us kick off our fundraising efforts, supporting The Cathedral Center’s work that empowers women to set and achieve goals that move them out of homelessness and housing crises. Together, we can help tip the scales of gender inequity while ending homelessness, one life at a time!
You can accept the challenge by donating to The Cathedral Center and asking others to do the same. The Peter Geisert Giving Fund & The William N. and Janice V. Godfrey Family Foundation Trust are challenging you all to match their contributions of $20,000, to grow closer to our goal of raising $50,000. All proceeds directly impact the women and families we serve, supporting expenses such as rent, security deposits, transportation, and items needed to return to their own homes.
What is the best way that YOU and WE can EMPOWER women and families facing housing insecurities and crises? Help them to secure and stabilize safe housing of their own.
For more ways to get involved or if you have questions, please e-mail Evan Barbian at ebarbian@cathedral-center.org.
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2026 BluTender
2026-05-05 17:30 - 19:30 | Blu at the Pfister, 424 E Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, 53202, United States
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo and an early Mother’s Day at our first ever BluTender event as we gather to raise funds for a cause that truly matters. Enjoy a delicious grazing station and refreshing beverages while mingling with friends and community members, all in support of the Cathedral Center’s mission to empower women and families experiencing homelessness and housing crises. Your contribution will directly impact lives by providing essential services, resources, and support to those in need.

Join us at The Pfister Hotel’s Blu Bar & Lounge for light appetizers, featured cocktails, and local guest bartenders. We’re thrilled to welcome two duos of bartenders that will make this a night you don’t want to miss! Our first duo features Liz Sellars, Cathedral Center’s board president, paired with Joyce Garbaciak, former WISN news anchor. Our second duo brings together Julie Larrivee, a Cathedral Center hospitality coordinator, alongside her husband, Wayne Larrivee, the Radio Play-by-Play Voice of the Green Bay Packers — both dedicated Cathedral Center volunteers.
Cathedral Center will be receiving 10% of all bar and food sales as well as 100% of the tips collected. Every sip and bite brings us closer to our goal, so come out, have fun, and make a difference! Together, we can create a brighter future for our community. Don’t miss this chance to indulge while making a meaningful contribution—let’s raise a glass for change!

Pathway Home: A Celebration of Ending Homelessness
2026-07-29 17:00 - 20:00 | Italian Community Center, 631 E Chicago St, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Pathway Home Tickets
