Black, Brown and Thriving? Social X MKE Asks What’s Possible in Milwaukee

It’s Homecoming Week for Social X MKE, a group that seeks to create spaces for diverse professionals to meet and network in Milwaukee. This week of events is intended to show off the best of what this “social media in real life” organization offers all year long. 

Social X MKE kicked off the week with a Mostly R&B Brunch Xperience on Sunday at Nō Studios, and then on Monday, hosted a panel discussion about what it means to thrive in Milwaukee and whether that’s possible for the city’s Black and Brown residents. On Tuesday, the group shifted toward the future with a tech workshop about AI and the digital evolution. 

Here’s a look at the remaining events for Homecoming Week: 

• The Meetup @ Milwaukee Night Market: Swing by the Social X MKE tent at the Milwaukee Night Market then explore the free outdoor event, featuring food vendors, live art, local music and a beer garden. Wednesday from 5-10 p.m. at West Wisconsin Avenue between Second Street and Vel R. Phillips Avenue
• The Creative Xchange: Storyteller Kim Shine will moderate a panel of four local creatives who will discuss strategies, trends and best practices for growing a creative brand and business. Plus, there will be a chance for attendees to create a plan to jumpstart their goals. Thursday from 5-8 p.m. at UW-Milwaukee’s Lubar Entrepreneurship Center (2100 E. Kenwood Blvd.)
• Fellas Friday: This is part of Social X MKE’s IMMENSE Wellness series, which supports men of color as they explore their health, wellness, careers and personal aspirations. Friday from 5-7 p.m. at Honeybee Sage and Wellness (1819 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.)
• Run the Yard 5K Run/Walk: Social MKE’s run/walk crew, FEAR MKE (Forget Everything and Run) will be jogging the Hank Aaron Trail. Plus there will be food, music and giveaways. Saturday from 9 a.m.-noon at the Urban Ecology Center (3700 W. Pierce St.)
• MKE Xpress Tour: Get an intimate look at Milwaukee’s newest venues and hidden gems. At each stop there will be an exclusive tour from a special guest, plus trivia, refreshments and giveaways. Sunday from noon-6 p.m. at 910 W. Juneau Ave.
• The Give Back @ Juneteenth: Sign up to volunteer at this celebration that recognizes the past while looking forward to a progressive future. Volunteers will supervise the Kid Zone in the parking lot of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School. Monday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Clinton Rose Senior Center (3045 N. N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.)

Déysha Smith-Jenkins moderated Tuesday’s panel discussion about what it means to be thriving in Milwaukee. The panel was centered around three questions: 1) Unpacking Milwaukee, the city that we know and love so well, 2) Minor setbacks for significant comebacks and 3) How will we do the work? 

“We’re going to keep our questions and answers strong, but not long,” Smith-Jenkins joked, before kicking off a lively conversation, which made for an empowering, quote-worthy night.

Here are five enlightening and inspiring snippets from the “Black, Brown & Thriving?” panel discussion:

“The ways that I don’t feel supported, is unfortunately a lack of follow through … We love the great idea, we love to check off the boxes, we love to get everybody in the room and “do the thing.” We love to say that we did the event or that we hired this person or we did this – and then we do nothing with it. We just sit there. It’s the equivalent of me spending four years – which is about the average that I spent on an album, my time, my resources, my studio time, the other engineer’s time, everybody involved in that album – and just upload a YouTube link. But unfortunately, I’ve been on the receiving end of doing things that in other cities and in other places would be more respected and celebrated.”

– Kellen “Klassik” Abston, Creative at Klass Act Productions

“[Milwaukee] has the obstacles that I think can motivate the next generation. What do I mean by that? Just because it has obstacles, doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. Obstacles were meant to be overcome. That inspires me to be part of a group of people that are redefining what the city can look like 10, 15 or 20 years from now. We’re in an amazing time! We have new leadership. We have leadership that looks like the community. And we can continue adding more leadership in all aspects of our sectors: Education, health, political – whatever you want, the sky is the limit. We can really redefine what Milwaukee will look like in 10 years, and that to me is exciting. That’s why I want to stay.” 

– Victor Amaya, President and Executive Director for Data You Can Use

“I do believe that I am thriving. I’m also a product of MPS. I tell people I went to all the South Side high schools at MPS – I got kicked out of high school a lot and I got into a lot of fights. I used to be involved in gangs when I was a teenager. Sometimes I run into my high school teachers and they freak out that I am this professional, that I made it, because I wasn’t supposed to. They didn’t expect this from me. But when I think about my community – my Latino, my Latina, my Latinx community – I don’t believe we are thriving as a community. We’re the fastest-growing constituency in the city of Milwaukee and state of Wisconsin, and I believe we are constantly left out of the conversation, not invited to sit at the table. So as a community, I think that we need to break down some more barriers. But me as an individual, I am privileged to say that I do believe that I’m thriving in this city.”

– Joanna Bautch, Executive Director for VIA CDC

“We need more people who look like us in the room. … We have this notion that being the only one stands for something – that means nothing. Being the only one means that you’re an individual in a room that’s not a collective of us, and if we’re going to move any needles or make any change, we need to operate as collectivists. And when we don’t have people in the rooms that look like us and it’s that one Black person, and that one brown person, why do we automatically think that the white people are advocating for us? They don’t live here. They aren’t from 27th and Cap[itol Dr.], they don’t care about Midtown. Why would we automatically believe that? I’m sorry but I’m rooting for Black and brown people all day, every day.”

– Oby Nwabuzor, Founder of Envision Growth

“My experience in Milwaukee is that people aren’t happy being the only one. I work in a predominantly white environment and my colleagues are very supportive, but … I think it’s important to have a community of people who look like me, that can help relate, because I didn’t get that in my day to day. I also feel like Milwaukee is very receptive to you creating – I mean look at Social X, case in point. If you don’t feel like there’s something here for you, I think this is a great city to create that space for you.”

– Ashley Smith, Attorney for Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. 

After the discussion, there were breakout session so that panelists and Social X MKE’s team could talk candidly and directly with the audience. They hope to take feedback from the event directly to Mayor Cavalier Johnson. 

For more information about Social X MKE’s work, mission and events, go to socialxmke.com.