The African American Leadership Alliance Milwaukee, known as AALAM, has a goal for Milwaukee to become the global destination of choice for Africans Americans by 2025.
"We know that Milwaukee has a lot of negative data points and metrics relative to the Black community and some negative narratives from different national media," its CEO Walter Lanier said.
Lanier started as CEO of AALAM on Feb. 21. Founder Jeanette Mitchell was interim CEO previously following the departure of the organization's first CEO Deneine Powell. AALAM came from the African American Leadership Program, founded in 2009. The alliance specifically formed in 2017 after a meeting of 81 African American leaders and allies. Lanier was one of those leaders in attendance.
Lanier and AALAM's board identified five strategic focus areas to achieve the organization's 2025 goal.
One is aligned directly with the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce's region of choice initiative. AALAM is looking to increase CEO engagement, specifically focused on issues important to Black leadership and collaborating with CEOs who have signed onto MMAC's region of choice initiative.
The second is advancing human resource and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. AALAM is working alongside HR and DEI senior leaders to create more opportunities for Black leadership and an equitable workplace culture.
"Third is opening up networks. We know as a result of being a segregated city, we also know that we’re a silo city. We have a lot of good work happening in pockets and places," Lanier said.
AALAM is working with Milwaukee organizations, including Professional Dimensions, Tempo and Forward 48, to network and strengthen the talent pipeline through more advancement opportunities.
Another key strategy is changing the narrative of Milwaukee, specifically related to African American life. AALAM has partnered with P3 Development Group to tell the authentic stories of life in Milwaukee and create a more positive perspective.
The final strategic priority is one that Lanier called "the crown jewel" of the organization, the African American Leadership Program. Since its inception, the African American Leadership Program has produced over 200 leaders recognized throughout southeastern Wisconsin.
"By growing, strengthening, developing pipelines of Black talent, we not only benefit the community and those leaders, but we also benefit the broader community because the talent is rising and having an impact in the city," Lanier said.
AALAM receives funding support from a variety of grants and foundations such as the Bader Foundation and Greater Milwaukee Foundation as well as corporations like Rockwell Automation and Kohl's Corp. Lanier has also worked with companies to create sponsorship support that provides AALAM with financial support and the companies with access to the leadership program.
Recently, Lanier has been looking for more opportunities to build up scholarship funds for Black leaders to participate in the African American Leadership Program.
"The key things that we do is we’re connectors. We’re conveners. We’re brokers, and we’re influencers. We continue to lead and be at the center of different networks that have a common goal and a common agenda," he said.