Conversations to Creating a Healthy Community
Conversations to Creating a Healthy Community is a podcast from Milwaukee County's Department of Health and 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.
Each episode focuses on real people, real experiences, and real solutions, with an emphasis on learning, connection, and action.
About The Host: Shakita LaGrant-McClain
Compassionate and committed community leader who leads by example drawing from personal experience. A highly effective executive with the ability to bring energy and enthusiasm to monumental tasks, motivating a large team of professionals to reach lofty goals. Focused on delivering human services with high quality customer service. Demonstrated success with organizational performance, fiscal health, training and development, team building, coaching and facilitiation, and pubilc speaking. Having served as an adjunct instructor at multiple schools, is a natural teacher who believes in coaching and investing in human capital.
Latest Episode
Episode Six: 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 Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC), senior dining programs, and housing initiatives are helping residents stay healthy, connected, and independent.
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Episode Five - 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 conversation about how residents can access behavioral health services for children and adults at community-based locations across Milwaukee County. Together, they discuss the redesign of the behavioral healthcare system from institutional to community-based care and how access points, partnerships, and prevention efforts are making it easier for residents to get the mental health and substance use disorder support they need.
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Episode Five - Part 2: Community-Based Access to Behavioral Health Care
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Episode Four: 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, and evidence-based programs are working to prevent violence and support healing. From hospital-based intervention to community-led mentoring, this episode highlights how partnership and prevention can help build safer, healthier communities.
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Episode Three: 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 County. Together, they reflect on her groundbreaking career, the family tradition of public service she helped inspire, and how the Marcia P. Coggs Health and Human Services Center carries her mission forward today. From the “No Wrong Door” approach to improving access to services, this episode highlights how Coggs’ legacy and the new facility it inspired continue to contribute to healthier communities in Milwaukee.
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Episode Two: 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, and the importance of meeting people where they are with supportive services. From housing navigators to new developments for families and individuals, this episode highlights how stable housing creates a foundation for healthier communities.
Watch: YouTube Listen: Apple Podcasts Spotify