UEDA Community News

May 2026 | View as Webpage

What We're Working On

We're getting ready for outreach season! Volunteer with UEDA for a couple hours and help share trusted resources with the public. We'll be at Juneteenth Festival, Silver City Festival and a few other resource fairs in the community. View the list and indicate your interest - we'd love to have you!

UEDA 2026 Emerging Topics Series - Session 1 recap: How We Show Up Matters

On May 13th we kicked off this year's Emerging Topics Series with a professional development-focused session led by UEDA member Yes...AND LLC. In this interactive session over 40 participants explored the assumptions and habits shaping trust, collaboration, and results with clients and colleagues.

The next Emerging Topic Series event is August 13th at 9am. SAVE THE DATE!

Our next Brown Bag Lunch & Learn is Friday, June 12th from noon-1pm at Milwaukee Public Library's MLK Branch.

Bring lunch and hear from Ha Hoang, Milwaukee Public Library's Director of Patron Experience & Strategy. You will be surprised at all the library network has to offer! Hint - did you know about Mango languages, sewing machines and blown glass objects....click here to register.

Beverages and dessert and networking time will be provided. There is no charge.

A short tour of the building, the newest branch that opened in September, will be available.

Last month we celebrated Financial Literacy Month - working with many coalition members and partners to showcase various financial empowerment resources. Additionally, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley provided Bank On Greater Milwaukee with a proclamation celebrating financial literacy month at a wealth building event with the Milwaukee County Office on Equity.

Check out the new & improved Bank On Greater Milwaukee website! We've restructured it to feature pages for Youth Resources and the Financial Tools we've developed.

Our Take Root Milwaukee program partnered with Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, Housing Resources, Inc. and the City of Milwaukee Assessor's Office to host a public webinar on April 28. More than 130 attendees learned about the City of Milwaukee property assessment process - what it is (and isn't), how it affects property taxes, and the appeal process. Click here to view the blog post recap.

June is Homeownership Month which celebrates the value that owning a home brings to families, communities, and neighborhoods. Follow Take Root Milwaukee on Facebook & Instagram to see upcoming events and information

UEDA Member Highlights

Congratulations to WWBIC and U.S. Bank for

presenting 17 small businesses across Wisconsin with equity injections on May 14tth as part of their "Journey to Growth" program. Learn more.

Congratulations to Data You Can Use, who celebrated their 10th anniversary this month.

Alternatives in Mobility Wheelchair Repair and Refurbishment Program sponsored by IndependenceFirst. Do you need a repair, have equipment to donate, or find yourself looking for options? If so, contact Tim Kiley at TKiley@independencefirst.org.

LISC Milwaukee announced the finalists for the 2026 Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDIs) on May 27. Congratulations to UEDA Members City of Milwaukee DCD Homes MKE Initiative, Riverworks Financial Clinic Life & Legacy Planning Workshop Series, United Community Center, Early Childhood Educators Homeownership Initiative Developers Group (CDA, VIA CDC, MCC, Rooted & Rising), and Maudwella Kirkendoll (Community Advocates) on their nominations!

Member & Partner Jobs

UEDA members Riverworks, WWBIC, and Guest House of Milwaukee, Safe & Sound, Sojourner Family Peace Center, The Difference Principle, and United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties are currently hiring. Visit the Jobs That Help website for information.

If you are a member and have an opportunity in community development or local government, contact debbie@uedawi.org to promote in our next newsletter.

UEDA Community

Curds of Wisdom – May Session (virtual)

Wednesday, June 10, 2026 | 12–1:00 PM

This session will focus on Expanding Homeownership Opportunities for the Underserved Register here.

What Challenges are Facing the Milwaukee County Transit System? See the recent article in Shepherd Express.

Milwaukee owner-occupancy rates are rising, as distance landlords sell - this recent special by Mike Gousha and John D. Johnson delves into the ways efforts to increase homeownership in the City of Milwaukee are making headway, particuilarly for Black and Hispanic residents.

Hmong American Friendship Association Back to School & Resources Fair

Saturday, August 8 | 10am–1pm

Looking to get the word out about your community program or service? HAFA is looking for additional vendors and sponsors. Email dxiong@hmongfriendship.org for more info.

Milwaukee Public Library Job Search and Resume Assistance Thursdays, 1-4 pm Central - 814 W. Wisconsin Ave. A Goodwill Consultant will be available to provide job search assistance, resume-building help, and interview preparation. Help is available by appointment or walk-in (as available). To schedule an appointment, call 414-847-4961 or email jobsearchhelp@goodwillsew.com.

WHEDA’s Spring 2026 Competitive Loan Applications for the Infrastructure Access, Restore Main Street, and Vacancy-to-Vitality programs are open. To align with the 2026 Housing Tax Credit award timeline, all competitive loan program applications are due by 5:00 P.M. CDT on Friday, June 19, 2026. Learn more here.

Small Business & Nonprofits

WWBIC online training for Small Businesses: Friday, May 29 | Noon - 1pm

Knowing your financial numbers will help you manage your cash, empower your decision-making process, and give you the confidence you need to take your business to new heights.

Learn more and register here.

Planning for a Commercial Space?

Monday, June 15th | 5:30- 6:30pm

Milwaukee County, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), LISC, and other resource partners bring this workshop designed for entrepreneurs who are already operating a business and taking their next step toward a brick-and-mortar location. Register here.

Wisconsin Nonprofit Summit

Wednesday, June 17th | 8am- 5pm

UWM School of Continuing Education, Milwaukee

Rising Together: Renewal Through Community is about exactly that. A day designed for honest conversations, shared learning, and the kind of connection that lasts beyond a single event. Four dedicated tracks for Executive Directors, Fundraisers, Program Staff, and Consultants.

Learn more and Register here..

Upcoming Member Events

VIA CDC Bloom & Groom Event

Saturday, May 30 | 10am-noon| Clarke Square Learn more here.

Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce

Saturday, June 13

HWCC will host the first ever the first-ever Wisconsin Asian Summer Festival at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds in Cedarburg, WI.

Learn more here.

LISC Webinar - Lending to CLTs

Thursday, June 4 | 1-2:30pm

Join a conversation with speakers from the Silk Road Community Land Trust, Grounded Solutions Network, Johnson Financial Group, and Associated Bank on new CLT developments in San Antonio, how lenders have successfully expanded CLT lending in their markets, and lessons for the growing CLT ecosystem.

Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce Coffee Connection

Wednesday, June 10 | 8-9:30am | Milw City Hall

This free event is an opportunity for Chamber members to connect with other business owners and professionals who share their values. Alderman Peter Burgelis and Alderperson JoCasta Zamarripa will be on hand to celebrate Pride Month. Register here.

WI Economic Development Association

June 22-25 | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Basic Economic Development Course (BEDC) provides professionals with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to build a career in the economic development field. Taught by many of Wisconsin's top economic development professionals, the Wisconsin BEDC is also part of the required coursework to apply for the International Economic Development Council's (IEDC's) Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) Exam. Learn more & register here.

Milwaukee Public Library Reentry Summit

Saturday, July 18 | 10am-2pm | Good Hope Branch

The event connects justice-impacted individuals and their families or friends with community resources. Free and open to all. For more info, email Nick at ncenso@milwaukee.gov.

A Home For Everyone Conference

July 29-30 | Pewaukee, WI

Registration is now open for Wisconsin's premier statewide, cross-sector, affordable housing conference. This year's keynote speaker is Brian Goldstone, Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Early bird pricing available until June 15. Conference & registration info here

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Member Spotlight

May 2026

May is National Small Business Month and we applaud UEDA Small Business Member Narvarte Development.

Principal Montavius Jones works at the intersection of real estate development, housing policy, and urban planning to help cities move from vision to implementation.

Their focus is on creating systems that deliver walkable, human-scaled, and context-sensitive development.

Why do we support UEDA?

UEDA has the capacity to take ideas from conception to implementation and in Milwaukee, that is a much needed skill.

Learn more at Narvartedev.com

Welcome to these New &

Returning Members!

Aaron Foley

Bank Five Nine

Diversified Benefit Services, Inc. (DBS)

United Community Center

WWBIC

Current Members

*Check your email for renewal notices to remain current!

Nonprofit &

Governmental

AARP Wisconsin*

Acts Housing

Burleigh Street CDC

Cinnaire

City of Milwaukee DCD

CLIMB USA

Community Advocates

Community Development Alliance

Community First

Consumer Credit Counseling Services

Cream City South Community Development Corporation

Data You Can Use

Ezekiel Community Dev. Corp.

Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS

Guest House of Milwaukee

Historic King Drive BID

Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce

Independence First

Lad Lake

Landmark Credit Union

Latino Chamber of Commerce

LISC Milwaukee

Menomonee Valley Partners

Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council

Milwaukee Community Crossroads

Milwaukee Community Land Trust

Milwaukee County Economic Development*

Milwaukee County Transit System*

Milwaukee Development Corp.

Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity

Milwaukee Public Library

Near West Side Partners

Northwest Side CDC

Prime Financial Credit Union

Revitalize Milwaukee

Riverworks Development Corporation

Rooted & Rising-Washington Park

Safe & Sound

SecureFutures

Self-Help Credit Union

Sherman Park Community Association

Sojourner Family Peace Center

Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission*

Southside Organizing Center

The Business Council (TBC)

The Gateway to Milwaukee

TMG Wisconsin

UMOS

United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County

UW Credit Union

VIA CDC

Visit Milwaukee

Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority (WHEDA)

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection (DATCP)

Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA)*

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)

Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce

Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development (WPHD)

YWCA Southeast Wisconsin

Small Businesses

Andrew's Realty

Community Insurance Information Center (CIIC)

Contexture

Dolomite Marketing

G Consulting, LLC

Good Flow Enterprises

Goyke and Associates*

Homeworks Bronzeville LLC

Impact53

Jobs That Help

LEAD180 Consulting, LLC.

LIFE Wellness and Counseling Services

Lloyd Consulting, Inc

Mueller Communications

Narvarte Development

One Grove Strategies

Yes…AND LLC*

Corporations &

Funders

Associated Bank, NA

Bell Bank Mortgage

BMO

CIBC Bank USA

Erie Insurance - WI*

First Federal Bank

Johnson Financial Group

JPMorganChase

Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation (MGIC)

Old National Bank

Spring Bank

The Equitable Bank

U.S. Bank

We Energies

Wells Fargo

Zilber Family Foundation

Individuals & Students

Adam Bridges

Amy Turim

Barbara Markoff

Christine Davies

Cindy Richardson*

Cole Reckamp

Daniel Adams

Dan Brophey

Frank Martinelli

George Calaway

Irma Yepez Klassen

Julia O'Connor

Kathryn Berger*

Kurt Paulsen

Leo Ries

Matthew Melendes

Peter Richardson

Sam Leichtling

Tamara Castle