On Sunday, April 14, 2024, long-time community activist Nellie Weddle, founder of Nellie’s Outreach Resource Initiative (NORI), celebrated her 88th birthday at the Washington Park Senior Center, 4420 W. Vliet Street.
The party was not only a way for family, friends and community partners to recognize Nellie’s work and birthday, but the event was also a fundraiser for NORI, so that they can continue their neighborhood youth projects.
Having previously worked with the Neighborhood Family Initiative (NFI), and inspired by the work they did, Nellie founded NORI in 1994 and considered it a spin-off of NFI. Over the years, NORI created a youth employment opportunity program model (YEOP) for the quick service food industry by partnering with McDonald’s. Later they would develop a youth sports careers program with North Division Community Center, and a journalism/computer career program with the Milwaukee Times Weekly Newspaper and Publishing Co.
Pictured at Nellie’s birthday are (above photo, from left) her son LaMont Weddle, Nellie Weddle and son Steven Weddle.