Milwaukee’s future thrives where intention connects to the alliance.

The African American Leadership Alliance – Milwaukee (AALAM) remains a beacon of exemplary leadership. The Milwaukee nonprofit is backed by a cross-sector of stakeholders who recognize the importance of cultivating high-performing workplace cultures.

“AALAM is strengthening the entire leadership ecosystem to advance our vision of positioning the Milwaukee region as a national standard in leadership, talent attraction, and

Angela Adams, AALAM President and CEO

economic viability,” said Angela Adams, president and CEO of AALAM. “Investment in AALAM constitutes a strategic allocation of resources toward strengthening Milwaukee’s talent pipeline and growing our region’s attraction power.”

At the heart of AALAM’s push for leadership development is the African American Leadership Program (AALP). Each year, a curated cohort of professionals from various industries and organizational structures convenes over nine months to develop in six key leadership areas and connect across social experiences.

Since AALP’s 2008 launch, 263 leaders from over 120 area corporations have completed the program. Program impact data reports that nearly 69% of alumni experience career progression and 50% report serving on one or more boards, deepening their community engagement. A renewed sense of hope and opportunity to grow as leaders in the Milwaukee region is a critical program outcome – so much so that approximately 80% of program graduates remain in the local market – many as corporate, non-profit and public sector leaders. AALP Alumni also include entrepreneurs from various sectors, such as consumer retail, consulting services, venture capital and commercial real estate.

“At the time that I participated in the program, I was employed at Johnson Controls and had already completed at least a couple different leadership programs – but none like this,” said Dana Guthrie, Managing Partner at Gateway Capital and AALP alum. “AALP challenged me to see my areas of opportunity, stretched me as a leader and gave me the courage to bet on myself and launch my own venture capital firm. Being part of a community of leaders who looked like me grounded me in Milwaukee. Some of them I’m still friends and colleagues with today. If it wasn’t for the program, I likely wouldn’t have stayed and started a family here in Milwaukee. It’s the perfect blend of leadership development and authentic community.”

This year marks the AALP’s 15th anniversary, a pivotal time to celebrate the program’s outcomes, while also launching new initiatives for continued growth and impact.

“Participating in the African American Leadership Program (AALP) was a transformative experience for me. AALP profoundly impacted my understanding of self-acceptance, teaching me the importance of embracing my ‘whole self.’ I discovered that authenticity is not merely permissible; it is a powerful asset,” said Dr. Milika Miller, Greater Milwaukee Foundation Vice President of Operations and AALP alum. “By allowing myself to be genuine and true to my values, I have cultivated greater confidence and an increased sense of belonging. This newfound acceptance has enhanced my effectiveness and interactions in my professional life. Recognizing that my unique qualities contribute to my success has been a transformative journey.”

AALP is only one piece of a broader strategy. In 2017, 80 stakeholders gathered for a Strategic Actioning Session (SAS) focused on issues and themes affecting African American leaders who live, work and lead across Metro Milwaukee. Most notably, these stakeholders addressed the steady decline in talent. The working solution to the problem? The creation of AALAM.

AALAM’s programming is evolving beyond AALP to convene partners and organizations who understand the integral role that African American leaders play in strengthening the region. Together, as an alliance, AALAM is working to expand its leadership development offerings, to accelerate building a bench of leaders and support their advancement to retain talent in Milwaukee. People who are intentionally developed and supported are more likely to serve on boards and contribute to the decision-making processes that can help transform Milwaukee into a thriving community for all.

In 2024, AALAM released its latest Index of African American Well-being in the Nation’s Largest Metropolitan Areas. While the data indicates that metro Milwaukee is seeing hints of forward progress on pressing issues like household income and educational attainment, the work continues to realize its vision of Milwaukee as a global destination where African Americans thrive and prosper. This leads to the obvious question: What can be done to change the narrative?

According to Adams, “The business community must remain plugged in beyond AALP; committed to investing in AALAM as thought partners, champions and investors for the long-term. When business leaders commit, people leaders across the region gain a clearer understanding of AALAM’s value.”

Adams welcomes the opportunity to meet area leaders and solidify partnerships with their respective organizations.  Learn more about the AALP 15th Anniversary Celebration and how to stay connected here: https://www.aalamilwaukee.org