THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of the 30th Street Industrial Corridor, Cheryl Blue works tirelessly to expand Milwaukee’s renaissance to include an area that was once a key cog of the city’s industrial machine. The dynamic, passionate Blue has been a transformative leader for the economic development agency in a predominantly Black neighborhood, helping revitalize empty industrial sites while also maximizing the organization’s impact on housing, services and recreational resources in the area.
She’s coordinating a rails-to-trails initiative to better connect residents to the city beyond, and is working with the Community Development Alliance to build single-family homes on vacant lots. She also spearheaded an initiative that restored 25 homes in the Garden Homes neighborhood, the first municipal public housing cooperative in the country.
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“When I moved back to Milwaukee in 2010 after working in Philadelphia, I was excited about all the great things happening in the city. But I couldn’t help but notice some communities were left out of this renaissance. Predominantly Black neighborhoods, like the one I grew up in, were struggling as other parts of the city grew.
Black Milwaukeeans have seen our share of challenges – but our city was once a thriving hub for people like me. My father, aunts and uncles came from Tennessee during the Great Migration and settled in the 30th Street Industrial Corridor, which was home to companies like Harley and Miller. Neighborhoods formed around the businesses, and people had the tools needed to care for themselves, their families and the community.
The energy changed as businesses began vacating the area. While the Corridor is still home to amazing people, many struggle without the tools they need to support themselves economically. Some folks leave Milwaukee and never come back, which impacts the entire city. Recognizing the area’s rich history, we want to revitalize it for a modern reality, one that makes it a better place for Black people to live but also serves the region.
We focus so much on the negative statistics, but there are already a lot of great things happening in Milwaukee’s Black neighborhoods. Every day, I see wonderful homeowners, churches and businesses who want to serve the community. Recognizing the impact of the past and equipping people in the present, my team and I are committed to building a brighter future for Milwaukee, in the Corridor and beyond.”
“Our board treasurer, Willie Smith, is the executive director of the Northwest Side CDC, which helps shore up the community economically. It’s been a huge resource for Black businesses in the area who historically haven’t been able to secure loans.”
– Cheryl Blue on Northwest Side Community Development Corp.
