Over the last two years, we have seen countless corporate players making commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The natural instinct of large companies is to create a department where DEI lives in order to show their commitment. The drawback with that model is it usually misses the grassroots community entities that already exist and are doing the work. This is not to say that partnership cannot be generative; it is to say that it should not duplicate or erase what exists.

American Family Insurance is showcasing a model for true corporate allyship. Their investment model has served as a bridge by resourcing Black leadership with direct ties to the community, especially in Milwaukee. This has helped to find, develop and retain talent. We can incubate new businesses, provide educational opportunities and build pride in the community that we love.

What is most exciting is that this corporate allyship is scalable locally and can be replicated nationally. Urban Futures Center has started to replicate the work in Milwaukee in different cities across the nation. Programs such as the STEAM & Dream Summit bring together local organizations to activate, amplify and invest in the city’s Black and brown-led organizations.

STEAM & Dream programming went national last year through partnerships that featured architecture and hip-hop curricula in Atlanta and DC. Since its inception, STEAM & Dream has carried out a multitude of programming ranging from fundamentals of coding to Venture Capital Academy. Its national presence is now taking the form of city summits led by another Black-led organization, Connect Business Consulting, which aims to showcase Urban Futures Center in Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix.

Numerous reports have named Wisconsin the worst place to be Black in this country, with Milwaukee leading the way in incarceration, the wealth gap and the education gap. This is due to a strategic divestment that has happened over generations and it must be addressed through deep and purposeful investment from the public and private sectors.

This narrative is changing as new strategic partnerships begin to take shape. The Urban Futures model works so well because it is steeped in the belief that those entrenched in communities are closest to the solutions for those communities. Corporate-led efforts that move without being led by community often fall flat. The work of Urban Futures Center is a great example of what happens when investments are coupled with trust in the community, and Black and brown-led organizations are given the opportunity to lead. Community autonomy is the key to scalable and sustainable impact.

Increased investments in Black-led tech hubs with a critical equity lens sets us on a path in the right direction. The technology industry continues to rapidly and persistently change how we navigate society. We must move with the same level of urgency and commitment to using the technology industry as a vehicle to decrease racial disparities. This begins with putting Black and brown people in the driver’s seat.

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Nadiyah Johnson

Writing since May 2022 · 1 story contributed