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UEDA Emerging Topics Series

Thank you for joining us for our 2023 Emerging Topics Series! 

This year we featured a wide range of interests that included community-based journalism, new research on disparities in wealth-building and homeownership, technology tools to help streamline our daily work, and the upcoming update of Southeast Wisconsin’s Regional & Land Use Plan, VISION 2050.

A huge thank you to the 85+ people who attended this year’s series, our Partners & Presenters, and Sponsors for their support!

Session 4 Recap: VISION 2050: Weigh in on the Region’s Future

Thank you to the 25+ people who participated in our last session for 2023, which featured an overview of the process for the upcoming review and update of Southeastern Wisconsin’s VISION 2050 Regional Land Use & Transportation Plan. We learned from Regional Planning Commission staff about the Plan and the process to update financial and equity analyses, meet federal requirements, and gather public input over the next 6 months. View the slides here>>

UEDA is proud to be a Community Partner of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC), learn more about them here.

VISION 2050 logo - regional land use plan

 

Session 3 Recap: Making Tech Work for You – Leveraging Technology for Small Organization

On October 11th, we celebrated WI Tech Month at this hands-on workshop with presenter Tim Syth, Contexture, who discussed how to effectively and efficiently use existing technology tools such as Google Workspace and the Cloud. Thank you to the small group who joined us for some interactive learning on how to leverage automation and streamline tasks, save resources and time, and increase our ability to achieve mission. We also learned how small organizations can unleash the power of ChatGPT and explore other AI alternatives while gaining insights into how they can improve organizational operations. See the slides here>>.

Special thank you to Milky Way Tech Hub and Latinos in Tech for their support of this month-long series of events.

Logo for Wisconsin Tech Month

 

Session 2 Recap: Bridging the Racial Disparity in Wealth Creation in Milwaukee

On September 12, nearly 40 people attended our second session of the 2023 series to learn about new research on household wealth and homeownership from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, supported by the Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation (MGIC). The project included a multi-disciplinary team and looks to create a foundational approach to identifying and measuring how effective homeownership can be as a generator of wealth, and inform policy and social investments that help address racial disparities in homeownership and wealth-building.

Attendees shared feedback on the initial research findings and ideas on intentional ways we could support residents in neighborhoods with lower homeownership rates, strengthen efforts to prevent foreclosure, and how other factors could impact wealth generation across different areas. As our learning from these findings continues, we look forward to future research that could guide policy and investment.

View the press release and the presentation slides. Thank you to our presenters and partners!

MGIC and UW-Milwaukee logos

 

Session 1 Recap: Neighborhood News Connect

Thanks to all who joined us for our first Emerging Topics Series for 2023 on June 27, held in partnership with Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service (NNS). NNS is a nonprofit news organization that covers Milwaukee’s diverse neighborhood stories that are important to the people who live, work, and serve in the city. The NNS staff members who presented were: Ron Smith, Executive Director, Deborah Heffner, Director of Development and Partnerships, Princess Safiya Byers, Report for America Staff Reporter and Bevin Christie, News 414 Project Manager.

Photo collage from UEDA's June 2023 Emerging Topics Series on June 27

They talked about the changes they’re seeing in community-based journalism, and the power it holds to empower and uplift communities. NNS covers topics such as education, public safety, economic development, health and wellness, environment, recreation, employment, youth development and housing. One of their most read articles last year focused on what Milwaukee Mayors actually do, a part of their efforts to promote civic education. Look for more pieces like that in the coming year.

NNS also shared how they leverage storytelling to create impactful narratives, and the tools available to the community to engage with them:

  • Their Community Voices section allows community members to submit opinions on topics of interest.
  • Posts from Community is where groups can submit news releases and articles about their issues and events.
  • And News414 is their service journalism project in partnership with Wisconsin Watch.

Learn more about NNS at https://milwaukeenns.org, we thank them for partnering with us on this session. We hope to collaborate with them more in the future. And a very special thank you to Bader Philanthropies for hosting our first session of the 2023 series!

 

2023 UEDA Emerging Topics Series Sponsors logos

Thank you to the 40+ people from the Bank On Greater Milwaukee coalition and Milwaukee Alliance for Economic Alliance (AEI) who joined us to celebrate our 4th anniversary on Tuesday, September 19. Our partner, the AEI, shared an overview of findings from the FDIC’s most recent Unbanked and Underbanked Survey and changes we’ve seen in the consumer landscape as a result of the public health pandemic.

Additionally, Lisa Locke from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis presented on the Bank On National Data (BOND) Hub, an interactive dataset tracking Bank On certified account activity across the country and partnerships that promote economic inclusion.

Our celebration of Bank On Consumer Success included a report from Constance Alberts, Program Director, on the accomplishments of the coalition. We unveiled our new Bank On Greater Milwaukee (BOGM) Impact Report, featuring data from coalition members and partners on our impact in 2022 and shared a preview of the forthcoming update of the BOGM website.

Lastly, we recognized our volunteers and key projects that have been in progress over the past year, which include:

  • Banking Flier for Teens
  • BOGM Advocacy Map 2.0
  • How to Open a Bank Account Video
  • “What’s In Your Wallet” educational flier
  • Banking Access: Prior To Release

All of these efforts emphasize strong, collaborative partnerships with financial institutions, community-based organizations, and local government. We thank our coalition members and volunteers for their support!

View the presentation slides and the BOGM 2022 Impact Report.

Keep an eye out for the updated BOGM website to go live by the end of this year!

Collage of photos from Bank On Greater Milwaukee's 4th anniversary event, held on September 19, 2023

As National Small Business Week approaches, it’s important to highlight the significant role that small businesses play in Wisconsin’s economy. Small businesses create jobs, contribute to the tax base, and drive innovation and economic growth in our communities.

There are more than 445,000 small businesses in Wisconsin, which employ 1.2 million people.

Small businesses account for 99.4% of all businesses in the state.

Here are 5 ways to celebrate our small businesses this week and throughout the year:

  1. Shop local: Make an effort to support small businesses in your community by shopping locally. Buy from local stores, eat at local restaurants, and use local services whenever possible.
  2. Share on social media: Use social media to highlight small businesses in your area. Share photos and positive reviews of your favorite small businesses to help promote them to your followers.
  3. Write a review: Leave a positive review for a small business on Yelp, Google, or another review site. Positive reviews can help small businesses attract more customers.
  4. Say thank you: Take the time to say thank you to the small businesses in your community. Let them know that you appreciate their hard work and the contributions they make to your community.
  5. Buy gift cards: Purchase gift cards from local small businesses to give as gifts or use for yourself later on.

The U.S. Small Business Administration, state and local small business resource providers all host events and highlight resources to help our small business community. For example:

  • The SBA is hosting a virtual summit May 2-3, which will include educational presentations by experts, an exhibit hall, networking, and a mentoring lounge. The event is free to attend for both established and aspiring business owners. View details & register here>>
  • Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) is hosting the Small Business Academy in partnership with the Lt. Governor. It takes place May 2-5, with virtual sessions Tuesday-Thursday and in-person events throughout the state on Friday May 5. Topics include funding, scaling strategies, workforce retention, cash flow, storytelling and more. View details & register here>>
  • UEDA Member SBA Wisconsin’s website lists local resources and upcoming learning opportunities throughout the year: www.sba.gov/district/wisconsin

Thank you to our small business members:

Bright Horizons Real Estate
Center of Care LLC
Center for Public Skills Training
Columbia Savings & Loan Association
Community Charge PGH
Community Development Management Partnerships
Community Insurance Information Center
Contexture
Diverse Dining
GoodFlow Enterprises
Goyke & Associates
HomeWorks Bronzeville
Jobs That Help
Lloyd Consulting, Inc.
Midwest Executive Realty
P3 Development Group

 

And thank you to these UEDA members who provide resources & services to our small business community!

AARP Wisconsin
Burleigh Street CDC
City of Milwaukee DCD
Gateway to Milwaukee
Greater Milwaukee Committee
Groundwork Milwaukee
Guest House of Milwaukee
Harbor District
Historic King Drive BID
Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce
Latino Chamber of Commerce of SE WI
LISC Milwaukee
Menomonee Valley Partners
Milwaukee Development Corp.
Milwaukee Economic Development Corp. (MEDC)
Milwaukee Public Library
PRISM Economic Development Corp.
Riverworks Development Corp.
SBA Wisconsin
The Business Council
VIA CDC
WHEDA
WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection
WI LGBT Chamber of Commerce
WI Veterans Chamber of Commerce
WWBIC
YWCA Southeast Wisconsin

 

Bank On Greater Milwaukee logo

Each April we celebrate and promote activities that help people and families learn more about personal finance habits, tools and resources that help them strengthen their financial health. Bank On Greater Milwaukee also releases its annual Your Smart Money Resource Guide and participates in community events, book reads with young people and more.

Check out the Bank On Greater Milwaukee Resources page where you’ll find a number of blog posts on different financial topics and featuring local financial literacy efforts, including 10 Tips to Celebrate Financial Literacy Month and posts about 529 plans, debt relief, retirement planning, and more. This blog post provides a compilation of local and national resources that promote financial literacy throughout the year.

You can also access the resource guide, which is a printed full-color, full-size booklet available in English & Spanish, and offers information and resources on a variety of financial topics. Download it here and contact Constance at constance@uedawi.org if you’d like Guides to distribute!

Also, UEDA worked in collaboration with 6 community partners to sponsor a place-based Financial Health Counselor Certification (FHCC) training last week. We are thrilled that our community will now have 15+ newly certified counselors to serve people and families via the National Association of Credit Counselors! Next steps include putting in place regular network meetings for counselors and a second training cohort in early Fall.

Financial Health Counselor Certification Training group photo - cohort 1 April 2023
FHCC Training Cohort 1: April 17-21, 2023

Special thanks to our funders Bader Philanthropies, U.S. Bank, Zilber Family Foundation and the partners listed below for making this happen!

  • African American Leadership Alliance of Milwaukee (AALAM)
  • Center for Self-Sufficiency, Inc.
  • FDIC Milwaukee Alliance for Economic Inclusion (AEI)
  • Pathways to Financial Empowerment
  • Riverworks Development Corporation
  • Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)
  • YWCA Southeast Wisconsin
Constance Alberts of Bank On Greater Milwaukee with WI Governor Tony Evers and First Lady Kathy Evers
Left to Right: First Lady Kathy Evers, Constance Alberts, Bank On Greater Milwaukee Program Director, and WI Governor Tony Evers

And last but not least, we are proud to share that Bank On Greater Milwaukee was recognized by the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy with a 2022 Financial Literacy Award in the Legacy Category. Recipients are recognized for for providing exceptional financial literacy and capability education in an inclusive and innovative manner.

The legacy award is given to an organization, business, or individual whose purpose and heritage is ingrained in sustained financial literacy and capability efforts. Read more about the this amazing recognition by DFI here>>

Carnival Milwaukee 2023 photo collage

This 15th annual Carnival Milwaukee fundraiser was truly special! On Friday, March 3rd, 270+ guests and friends joined us at the Historic Pritzlaff as we gathered in-person for the first time since 2020.

We celebrated Milwaukee’s diversity through food, music, culture, and fellowship. De La Buena, Salsabrositas, and Samba Da Vida brought the music, dance and vibrant beats, 20 local restaurants and caterers wowed our guests with a diverse menu for our food tasting, and guests enjoyed an interactive photo booth and top-notch raffle. And, this year we invested $6,000+ in local, diverse-owned businesses through this event!

View the 2023 Carnival Milwaukee photo album Read the full recap email here


A Tribute to Bill JohnsonBill Johnson at Carnival Milwaukee 2015

At this year’s event we celebrated the life of Bill Johnson, our Executive Director from 2006-2015, who created this seminal event. He dreamed of creating a space for people from different walks of life to come together and enjoy all the beauty and diversity our community has to offer – in short, a party with a purpose.

We honored him with a a Second Line tribute and other special touches like a “Bill’s Favorites” basket in our raffle, including the creation of a special tribute video featuring live footage and reflections on Bill’s impact. His vision continues to inspire us all!

Special thanks to Vogue Dreams Pro for partnering with us on this video project!

YouTube player

Thank you to our local, live entertainment partners!

Logos for De La Buena, Salsabrositas, Samba Da Vida

www.delabuena.com

Facebook.com/wisconsinsalsa

Facebook.com/SambadaVidaMKE

Thank you to our 2023 Carnival Milwaukee Food Tasting participants!

Aladdin’s Taste of the East Antigua Latin Restaurant Blue Star Cafe
C. Adams Bakery Casablanca China Gourmet
Funky Fresh Spring Rolls Gray Jett Cafe Immy’s African Cuisine
Kilwin’s – Milwaukee Bayshore Lisa Kaye Catering LLC Lola’s Empanadas
Orenda Cafe Pound 4 Pound Cakes Speed Queen BBQ
Sweet Joy Brazilian Cafe Thai Barbq The Ladle Lady
Tres Hermanos Turning Tables Tavern & Eatery

 

Check out this flier of all Carnival Milwaukee Food Tasting Participants
Keep it handy and explore all they have to offer throughout the year!

Carnival Milwaukee is a fundraiser for the Urban Economic Development Association of Wisconsin (UEDA) and celebrates Milwaukee’s diversity through food, music, and dance while supporting the local businesses, individuals and organizations that contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of our city.

Not able to join us this year? Consider making a contribution to support UEDA!

Your support will not only provide direct investment into local businesses, but will also help fund UEDA’s work in sustainable homeownership and affordable housing, financial empowerment, small business growth, workforce mobility, and community investment.

Donate Now button

Congratulations to our 2023 Awardee!

Bill Johnson Bridge Builder Award image, Riverworks Development Corporation logo

Every year we present a Bridge Builder Award to recognize a community member or partner for their efforts to honor diversity and connect people and places through the expression of culture in food, art, music, and space.

On Tuesday, February 21st during our virtual Fat Tuesday event we recognized Riverworks Development Corporation for their commitment to connecting neighborhoods and residents through creative place-making, economic activity with small, diverse businesses, and cultural community events in Harambee and Riverwest.

Their key projects and activities include the development and management of the Beerline Trail, 53212 Marketplace, creative corridor activity, and an array of community events utilizing these newly created spaces. Learn more about them at www.riverworksmke.org.

We also announced that this award will now be known as the Bill Johnson Bridge Builder Award, in honor of UEDA’s former Executive Director, who created the Carnival Milwaukee event in 2009. Bill was one of the most well-known “bridge builders” in our community and we could think of no better way to celebrate his life.

THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 SPONSORS!

2023 Carnival Milwaukee Sponsors list