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Our Story
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Eisenhower Ike Center
A Legacy of Love and Inclusion
In 1991, Eisenhower Center moved to its current location on Woolworth Avenue, a 70,000 sq. ft. building that has allowed the program to provide a full array of services for our people.
Today, the Eisenhower "Ike" Center carries forward the vision of its founders, continually evolving to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities. More than a place for vocational training, it’s a community—a place where love works.
Helping clients secure jobs in inclusive workplaces.
Teaching cooking, technology, financial literacy and life skills
Creating opportunities for social engagment, celebrations and personal growth.
For over four decades, the Ike Center has remained a pillar of support, growth, and transformation. Our mission is clear: to empower individuals with disabilities to lead full, independent, and fulfilling lives.
Deep Roots in Milwaukee
The history of Eisenhower Center in MIlwaukee traces back to the early 1950s. At that time, a concerned group of families, community members and service organizations joined together to develop a training program for people with cerebral palsy. Their mission was to provide a safe and welcoming place in the community that would provide training and skills for the people they served.
As the need for services grew, Eisenhower Center eventually partnered with the Jewish Vocational Services Agency. Under this arrangement, the Center continued to grow and thrive until it became necessary to form an independent agency, operating with the approval of the Milwaukee County Combined Community Services Board. In 1982, Milwaukee County approved the charter and requested that Eisenhower Center broaden its scope to include services for people with significant developmental and intellectual disabilities.
A Place You Can Believe In
In 1984, Barbara Rowland was appointed as the first Executive Director of the newly independent Eisenhower Center, tasked with a vital mission—to serve individuals with the most significant disabilities in Milwaukee.
Barbara and her team envisioned more than just a program. They set out to build a place where people felt safe, secure, and valued—a place where limitations were replaced by possibilities and every individual was encouraged to reach their full potential.
With dedication, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to those they served, they transformed the Eisenhower Center into a beacon of hope, dignity, and meaningful work.
