The Central Wisconsin Center for Non Profits is a charitable 501 (c) (3) corporation serving other nonprofits by providing permanent and temporary space and education and fostering collaboration and synergy.
On May 22, 2014 the 2617 Club and Justiceworks incorporated the Nonprofit Center of Central Wisconsin to serve as a focal point for nonprofit meetings and headquarters for multiple nonprofit organizations in Central Wisconsin. About 2 years ago Shifting Gears (an offender reentry program of Justiceworks which repairs and resells donated bicycles) and the 2617 Club met. The 2617 Club which had received free rent at its facility at 2617 Main Street knew it would have to move at some point when Ministry Healthcare needed its space. We agreed to look for space together. When Ministry indicated it required the space in March of this year, the 2617 Club and Justiceworks decided to partner on a new location since we had similar client populations and allied missions. We located a space at 1578 Strongs Avenue (the former Masonic Lodge) and completed the purchase on July 31, 2014. As we worked on all the details of the acquisition and organization we saw synergies available to benefit the community in new ways. For example, seventy five percent of County Jail inmates are there due to drugs and alcohol. Right now prisoners from the County Jail are released at midnight. Only the taverns are open downtown at that time and many of those released are back in jail quickly. By combining our efforts the Club and Justiceworks can open its new building as an alternative and offer a place for these individuals to relax until transportation is available in the morning. We will expose them to the opportunities to reenter the community in a positive way and to become free of alcohol and drug addiction. Currently, the 2617 Club and Justiceworks and their subsidiary, the Nonprofit Center are conducting a Capital Campaign to renovate and improve the facility to make it a cost effective home for nonprofits in Central Wisconsin,
2617 CLUB
The 2617 Club is a 501(C) (3) organization. It is both a center for recovery and a service provider for the Stevens Point area recovering community. It provides rich dividends to the Stevens Point area by assisting individuals in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, eating disorders, and support for their friends and families. The 2617 Club has been the focal point for 12 Step Meetings and Social Events free of alcohol & drugs since 2004. It is the result of a collaborative effort between PRISM (a community Justice organization), Ministry Behavioral Health and the recovering community. The mission of the 2617 Club is to provide a safe and social environment for persons in recovery with a place for recovery meetings, relaxation, education and a social atmosphere. The 12 Step programs are anonymous so individuals cannot be tracked but the number of visits is recorded. The 2617 Club has over 6500 visits annually (over 50,000 since inception). 500 one-on-one sponsor/sponsee meetings per year, and provides social activities for hundreds. It is open to all recovering people as a safe haven from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm 365 days a year. Currently the Club hosts twelve 12 Step Meetings per week. Justiceworks
Justiceworks is a recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization that has been serving the Stevens Point, WI and Portage County, WI communities for nearly a decade. The mission of Justiceworks, Ltd. is to foster forms of justice that strengthen and heal the communities of Central Wisconsin. Current programs include:
Volunteers in Probation Program: Community mentoring services for misdemeanor offenders
Family Law Information Center: Family law resource information for community members
The Community and Residential Program: Provides professional mentoring services to this new model program run by Portage County. DPA Program: Compliance monitoring for individuals who qualify for deferred prosecution. Make it Right, Restitution Mediation Program: Facilitates restitution agreements between victims and offenders in ordinance violations
Community Education and Outreach: Community forums on justice issues
Shifting Gears, LLC: An offender reentry program and community bicycle shop that provides safe and inexpensive transportation, bicycle safety and maintenance education, and training and employment opportunities to disadvantaged persons.
