1987 Our Space was founded by family members, clergy, mental health providers and consumers of mental health services. In 1987, these Founders formed The Committee for a Milwaukee Drop-In Center. All Saints Cathedral generously donated space and on October 8, 1988, Our Space began serving 35 consumers.
1992 The agency was awarded NAMI's Certificate of Appreciation.
1996 Our Space purchased its current building located at 525 West Lincoln Ave and initiated its second prevocational program, the Blue Dove Gift Shop, located at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex.
2001 In June, Heather Fay, who had been Executive Director for ten years, died after a lengthy illness.
That summer, a new Director, Joan Lawrence, was hired.
The following autumn, the Advisory Committee was established to assist with program development, fund raising and public relations.
2002 Agency hours were expanded from only afternoons to full days and additional weekend and evening activities were added.
2002 A full time licensed Occupational Therapist joined the Our Space team.
2002 A research study was conducted in collaboration with UWM's Department of Human Movement Sciences which evaluated the biopsychosocial effects of exercise on community dwelling individuals diagnosed with severe & persistent mental illness.
2003 A Basic Functional Literacy Program was initiated to assist members in improving math, reading and writing skills which promote increased independence in consumer's daily lives.
2003 Our Space received funding from the Argosy Foundation, purchased a fifteen-seat van and is initiating a Transportation Program.
2004 In September 2004, Our Space and Social Rehabilitation and Residential Resources initiated a Peer Mentor Supported Apartment Program.
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1990 Member Outreach, the first prevocational program, was initiated and services were expanded to five days per week.
1990 Our Space participated in a community coalition to establish the Grand Avenue Club.
1991 Heather Fay was hired as Executive Director and educational opportunities were expanded.
1995 Our Space temporarily relocated to the School Sisters of St Francis Convent on 27th and Layton while it began searching for new space.
1996 Our Space and NAMI also helped establish the Consumer Satisfaction Team, which in 1998 incorporated as a separate entity.
2001 Funding for the Wellness Program was received from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and Faye McBeath Foundation to support future health related programming.
2002 Collaborations with the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, the Native American and the Hispanic community were strengthened which increased ethnic diversity in the membership.
2002 In the spring, Kelly Blaschke, Board President, received NAMI's Anti-Stigma Award. Later that year, Our Space's Executive Director received the NAMI Professional Services Award.
2002 Fundraising efforts were expanded with the development of Rollicking for Recovery parties, the Outsider Art Event & the Campaign for Hope.
2003 Our Space initiated the Parents Without Children Program (PWOC) to address the needs of mental health consumers who have lost custody of their children to the child welfare system due to their mental illness.
2003 A new logo, mission statement & marketing materials were developed to create a unified identity portraying the agency's current mission & environment.
2004 In January 2004, Our Space began operating The Price Is Right Shoppe for Milwaukee County.
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