Why Investing In Black Tech Hubs Could Be The Formula To Economic Equity

As a Black woman born, raised and educated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I know firsthand the barriers that are too often presented due to a lack of representation in spaces of influence. The problem of representation becomes especially damaging in organizations that have the resources to shape the landscape of the city. I founded the Milky Way Tech Hub in 2017 as an effort to make Milwaukee a renowned tech hub that centers on Black people. I believe Milwaukee’s tech and innovation ecosystem can play a huge role in shaping the city’s future where every resident has access to resources and opportunities that the field of technology can afford them...

...Urban Futures Center is an initiative led by American Family Insurance that aims to honor these organizations through allyship, resources and funding. This model is rooted in the acknowledgment and amplification of the impact of Black-led organizations such as Sherman Phoenix, Young Enterprising Society, Journey House and Milky Way Tech Hub. These organizations are grounded in community and are dedicated to building power within the neighborhoods most impacted by the racial disparities...