About MKE Black
Building community wealth in Milwaukee.
Founded in 2019 by Paul Wellington and Rick Banks, MKE Black is a nonprofit committed to amplifying the Milwaukee Black community through intentional investment and global connection.
Our Mission
To amplify the Milwaukee Black Community by facilitating intentional investment of resources and building global connections.
Our Vision
To create boundless opportunities driving Black community wealth.
Seven Guiding Principles
Nguzo Saba
MKE Black is guided by the Nguzo Saba — seven principles rooted in African communal values that shape how we build and sustain community.
1
Umoja
Unity
Strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
2
Kujichagulia
Self-Determination
Define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
3
Ujima
Collective Work & Responsibility
Build and maintain our community together and make our community's problems our problems to solve together.
4
Ujamaa
Cooperative Economics
Build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses, and profit from them together.
5
Nia
Purpose
Make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
6
Kuumba
Creativity
Always do as much as we can, in the way we can, to leave our community more beautiful than we inherited it.
7
Imani
Faith
Believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness of our struggle.
Ready to connect with the community?
Browse the directory, discover local businesses, and become part of the movement.