The Index of African American Well-Being - Milwaukee

The African American Leadership Alliance Milwaukee (AALAM) commissioned a research study, , The Index of African American Well-Being, through the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for Economic Development. The African American Well-Being Index identifies how well African Americans are doing in Milwaukee. As in 2020, the 2024 Index ranks Milwaukee last among the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas, by a significant margin.

AALAM is a connector and convener across The Alliance of African American leaders and all community stakeholders who are collectively dedicated to addressing gaps and leveraging opportunities to improve the well-being of Milwaukee’s African American community towards a better Milwaukee for all.

The Business Imperative

For organizations operating in our region, the gap in leadership from the African American market directly impacts operational success. When prospects perceive limited community leadership that reflects their identities and experiences, companies experience increasing difficulty attracting and retaining top talent. The innovation potential of the region is constrained when decision-making bodies across sectors lack diverse perspectives that drive creative problem-solving and market understanding.

AALAM’s leadership development strategy addresses several critical needs:

• • • Access to a more robust pipeline of experienced leaders for management positions
    • Stronger nonprofit partners with improved governance and operational effectiveness
    • More responsive public sector leadership that understands business needs
    • Innovative entrepreneurs who can serve as vendors, partners, and acquisition targets
    • Enhanced regional reputation that supports talent recruitment efforts

By addressing our leadership gap collaboratively, we create the market conditions for sustainable competitive advantage that benefits all sectors of our regional economy.