About the MJC | AmeriCorps Program: 


​MJC | AmeriCorps Volunteers serve as Courthouse Navigators in the Milwaukee County Courthouse Complex. Courthouse, connecting individuals the information, resources, and support they need to navigate the legal system. Through their service, Courthouse Navigators help make access to justice a reality for our Milwaukee neighbors. 

Each day, people arrive to the courthouse feeling overwhelmed by unfamiliar legal processes and are unsure where to begin. Courthouse Navigators serve as a trusted resource by answering questions, providing directions, making referrals, and helping individuals file their legal forms and understand their next steps. 

Whether helping individuals locate a courtroom, guiding them through the filing process, or connecting them with legal resources through the Civil Legal Helpline, Courthouse Navigators provide critical support and help ensure that community members are not navigating the legal system alone. 
Courthouse Navigators providing directions and legal information to courthouse patrons and visitors at the Courthouse Information Booth.

What Courthouse Navigators Do: 

​As a Courthouse Navigator, each day brings new opportunities to support community members as they navigate the legal system. Members serve throughout the Milwaukee County Courthouse Complex, providing information, guidance, and referrals to individuals who may be unfamiliar with court processes or unsure where to find help.

A typical day may include:
  • Assisting clients at Milwaukee Justice Center clinics with forms and with the multi-step, multi-building filing processes
  • Welcoming visitors and answering questions at courthouse information booths
  • Providing directions and helping individuals locate courtrooms, offices, and services
  • Answering calls and providing legal information to callers on the Civil Legal Helpline
  • Connecting community members with legal resources and referrals
  • Supporting individuals as they take the next steps in their legal matters

The Courthouse Navigator role combines direct client support, problem-solving, and community service. They gain firsthand experience working with diverse populations, learning about the legal system, and contributing to a more accessible and equitable legal system in Milwaukee County.

Program Impact: 

  • 2023-2024 Program Year
    • 690 MJC clients were navigated through the filing process
    • 86% of clients reported an increase in confidence concerning the filing process after working with a Courthouse Navigator 
    • 24,000 individuals were assisted with directions and legal information

  • 2024-2025 Program Year 
    • 786 MJC clients were navigated through the filing process from September 2024 - April 2025
    • Due to cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in April 2025, the MJC | AmeriCorps program was defunded and Courthouse Navigators had to be let go. 
    • However, an injunction from a federal court ruled that AmeriCorps programs would get their funding back and our Courthouse Navigators returned in January 2026!

  • 2025-2026 Program Year 
    • January 2026 - May 2026: 357 MJC clients were navigated through the filing process 
    • 66% of clients reported an increase in confidence concerning the filing process after working with a Courthouse Navigator 
    • 5,455 individuals were assisted with directions and legal information
    • April - May 2026: 496 callers were provided with legal information and referrals on the Civil Legal Helpline

Voices from the Community

At MJC | AmeriCorps, we believe service is a shared experience. Everyone has something to give and teach. Everyone has something to receive and learn. The impact of the Courthouse Navigator program is best understood through the voices of the community members, clients, and AmeriCorps Volunteers who experience it firsthand.

What We Hear From Clients and Community Members: 
  • "I was overwhelmed before the start of this, the people here have made my experience less overwhelming and I'm excited for the outcome. The people here are awesome and the experience was great. My navigator was great." - MJC Client
  • "Their help was very necessary when navigating the courthouse, the assistance and guidance I received was very concise, informative, and extremely helpful in my time of need. Very thankful for the assistance I received." - MJC Client 
  • "I really appreciate all your help, really made my day a lot easier. Thank you!!" - MJC Client
  • "Very professional and helpful without him I probably wouldn't be able to provide documents correctly "​ - MJC Client 
  • "This was such a beautiful experience working with Sophia from AmeriCorps, she was so kind patience thoughtful and knowledgeable. I am so grateful for her help and this program helps navigate clients throughout the court system ." - MJC Client
  • "Excellent help. Best help I've had at the courthouse, couldn't ask for anything better." - MJC Client 
  • "Very informative, nice, understanding, and patient with me" - MJC Client 
  • "Fue genial, verdaderamente necesario. El navegador fue amable, resolvio y me apoyo en lo necesario." (It was great—truly necessary. The navigator was friendly, resolved the issue, and provided the support I needed.") - MJC Client​
  • "We had a pro se litigant that was being helped by a volunteer named Tholia and I am just blown away how ABSOLUTELY AWESOME Tholia was.  Typically the volunteers come up to the Court and seem to give off a deer in headlights look, which is often times very unhelpful.  However, Tholia tremendously helped the elderly litigant and both myself and the Judge was absolutely impressed." - Court Clerk 
  • "I can always tell when your volunteers are part of the process. It is always done perfectly" - Judge 

What Navigators Say About Their Experience:
  • "My favorite part of the job is the feeling I get after a shift that made a difference and helped someone through their complicated legal process"
  • "This job is honestly extremely fun, enjoyable, and rewarding. It is one of those positions where you actually enjoy coming to work." 
  • "There are many things I love about this job. One of them is helping bilingual people, to me it’s truly a blessing to be able to be there and support them, and for them to have someone who simply understands them, I think is important."
  • "I learned you never know what is going on in someone’s life. Always treat the clients with compassion, sometimes they just need someone to listen. Some people are here on one of their worst days and others are happy to be here. Listening to your client will get you far!"
  • "You are supported by an amazing staff of supervisors who are eager to help you become well acquainted with our
    service at your own pace."
  • "Serving with AmeriCorps will no doubt be an invaluable and easily approachable learning experience for you, as it has been for me, while at the same time providing an important service to our Milwaukee community." 
  • "It is a great feeling to know that even small actions on your part can make someone's day less stressful and help them feel supported. Overall, this job is really enjoyable and beneficial for all walks of life. You will meet wonderful people, learn so much from others' personal experience, and even learn a lot about yourself along the way." 

Service Beyond the Courthouse 

​Beyond these achievements, the program has extended its reach through collaborative initiatives to create a better community. This past Martin Luther King Jr. Day, on the heels of a subzero blizzard, MJC | AmeriCorps Volunteers partnered with City Year Milwaukee and braved the elements to paint and renovate the Lloyd Barbee Montessori School in alignment with AmeriCorps’ Day of National Service.

​The MJC | AmeriCorps team also proudly participated in the "September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance" by hosting a Diaper Drive, collecting 1,171 donated diapers and packing 5,019 additional diapers for the United Way Diaper Bank. These endeavors broaden the program's scope and reinforce its commitment to community engagement and service.
MJC | AmeriCorps Courthouse Navigator cohort (2023-2024 & 2024-2025)MJC | AmeriCorps Courthouse Navigator cohort (2023-2024 & 2024-2025)
MJC | AmeriCorps team packing diapers at the United Way Diaper Bank during September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.
MJC | AmeriCorps members painting at Lloyd Barbee Montessori School during AmeriCorps' MLK Day of National Service.