LOOK FOR OUR 2025 IMPACT REPORT IN JANUARY!
With full capacity, UEDA staff were able to be present at more member and partner events and activities throughout 2025 – it was a very active year!
We would like to recognize and thank our outgoing board members Sherri Jordan, Barbara Markoff, and Gisela Ortega for six years of service with UEDA. We appreciate your guidance and support and look forward to seeing you in the UEDA network in 2026.
This year’s highlights include:
- We celebrated Adam Bridges’ graduation from the Trinity Fellowship program. Thank you Adam for 2 years of service at UEDA, strengthening our communications and events capacity!
- UEDA also welcomed Sehiry Tapia, a second year Trinity Fellow, to the team as our Communications & Events Coordinator. Be sure to reach out, say hello & share your upcoming events with her.
- We grew our membership network by 38% and engaged over 2,800 people in ALL UEDA programs and activities!
- Hosted 21 program meetings that educated 1150+ practitioners in our Bank On Greater Milwaukee, Take Root Milwaukee, Membership, and Capacity Building programs.
- UEDA’s Emerging Topics Series featured workforce needs in construction, the impacts of major street construction on small businesses, and the impact of Latino entrepreneurs on the Wisconsin economy.
- Our Annual Community Gathering in September was our biggest one yet, with 80+ of our closest UEDA friends in the room. We recognized Jeff Langkamp (Outstanding Community Partner) and Beth Van Gorp (Extraordinary Volunteer) for their support of UEDA!
- We tabled at 10 community-wide events providing 700+ people with financial education and homeownership resources.
- We continued to host bimonthly training sessions for City of Milwaukee NSP Community Organizers, tackling issues such as illegal dumping and sharing best practices on resident engagement.
- UEDA continued to partner with other intermediaries to support the growth of Nonprofit Lift, a resource website and consultant directory.
- Worked with the City of Milwaukee to complete and submit their 2025-2029 HUD Consolidated Plan, setting strategic goals for HUD funds over the next five years.
- Provided direct technical assistance and consultation to community-based organizations to strengthen operations and strategic planning. UEDA also assisted the City of Milwaukee with developing new administrative processes for CDBG funding.
- Continued our support of the Milwaukee Rental Housing Resource Center as a fiscal sponsor and with technical assistance to strengthen operations.
- Our Carnival Milwaukee event brought 330+ people together at The Factory on Barclay to enjoy food from 22 local, diverse food vendors, live entertainment, and raise funds for UEDA.
- UEDA’s Board & Staff continued to make progress on our 2024-2026 Strategic Plan, achieving key milestones in membership growth, board development, operational planning, and communications infrastructure.
Our Bank On Greater Milwaukee program:
- In 2025, Bank On Greater Milwaukee engaged 850+ people through coalition activities, outreach events, trainings, and more.
- Launched a pilot program to help justice-impacted people access banking services and financial education at the Milwaukee Community Reintegration Center (CRC) in partnership with Bank Five Nine. 39 people received 4 financial education sessions and over 70% opened a bank account.
- Distributed nearly 7,000 English and 2,000 Spanish “Your Smart Money” Resource Guides in the community at outreach events, libraries, and through coalition members. A huge thank you to Quad/Graphics who printed this year’s guides in-kind!
- Hosted a learning session for the new BOGM Financial Inclusion Map, which went live in January 2025. It includes new features that allow visitors to learn about Bank On certified accounts and the gaps in access to banking. Thank you to our project partner, Data You Can Use!
- Supported a network of 48 financial health counselors in our community with quarterly professional development sessions and two topic trainings.
- Distributed nearly 300 books to youth at three schools as part of Money Smart Wisconsin Book Reads. Thank you to coalition members CIBC, The Equitable Bank, and Johnson Financial Group for their participation!
- Posted 4 new videos in the “Show Me The Money” series, featuring our coalition members sharing their tips on checking your credit, savings accounts, credit scores, and what banks can do for you.
- In November, we received a Bank On Integration Accelerator grant that will support and deepen the impact of the CRC Project in 2026.
Our Take Root Milwaukee program:
- On December 8, Take Root Milwaukee celebrated 15 years of service with 45 members coming together for food, drinks, and cake. The celebration also marked a special milestone as Mayor Cavalier Johnson issued a proclamation officially recognizing December 8, 2025, as Take Root Milwaukee Day!
- In 2025, Take Root Milwaukee engaged 1,100+ people through coalition activities, outreach events, trainings, and more.
- Conducted 3 community sessions during Homeownership Month on homeowners’ insurance, legacy planning, and the do’s and don’ts of hiring a contractor. These events continue to spark additional events by TRM in various neighborhoods.
- Continued to monitor the Take Root hotline and website, making referrals to members and other resources to help people buy, fix, or keep a home.
- Hosted training on Financial Trauma for 46 practitioners who provide financial counseling and educational services in the community.
- Supported the professional development of TRM members and practitioners with Information Exchange sessions, coalition meetings, and analysis of annual Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) lending data.
- Continued to advocate for strong investments in Down Payment Assistance in the 2026 City of Milwaukee budget.
- Participated in another successful strategic planning session, planning and aligning our goals for the upcoming year.
Check out our Newsletter archive for additional updates, links, and resources.
Additionally, we thank all of our Volunteers, Funders, Members, and Partners for their continued support of our work in community and economic development – we could not accomplish our mission without you!
We’ll see you in 2026!
