Member Login    |    News    |     Event Calendar    |    Directory    |   Contact
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
  • JOIN
  • Membership
    • The benefits of joining
    • Member directory >
      • Member Spotlights
      • Talent Solutions Directory
    • What we do >
      • Talent >
        • Ranking Milwaukee County Schools
        • Education recommendations
        • Technology Education & Literacy in Schools (TEALS)
        • Career-based learning experiences
      • Growth
      • Livability
      • Equity
      • Peer metro comparison
    • Cost saving programs >
      • Health insurance plan
      • Office supply discount program
    • Events >
      • 2021 All Member Meeting
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit
      • Talent Solution Series
      • Emerging Leaders Series
      • Global Business Insights Series
      • Member Orientation
      • Replay: The Business of MKE Series
      • Replay: Race Bridge Series
    • For members only >
      • Fall 2022 Impact Report
      • Sponsorship
      • Advertising
    • Need more info?
  • Networks
    • Leadership Council
    • President's Huddle
    • Executive roundtable program
    • FUEL Milwaukee for young professionals
    • Future 50 Awards Program
    • Networking Forum for referrals
    • Region of Choice Initiative
    • Roundtables for high-growth companies
    • World Trade Association
  • Advocacy
    • 2021-2022 Legislative Scorecard >
      • Senate Votes
      • Assembly Votes
    • Recent Legislative Wins
    • Funding Local Governments
    • Miller Park economic impact study
    • Wisconsin State Legislature
    • K-12 Education Recommendations
  • Economic Development
    • Milwaukee 7 Partnership for Economic Development
    • MKE Venture Mentoring Service
    • Milwaukee Development Corp. >
      • Rebuild & Revitalize Program
    • Milwaukee Urban Strategic Investment Corp. (MUSIC)
    • Milwaukee EB-5 Visa program
    • Starting a business >
      • BizStarts
      • New business planning guide
    • More about Milwaukee
  • Metro MKE
    • 2023 Navigate Business MKE
    • Business outlook survey
    • Economic trends
    • Local media listings
    • Major employers in metro Milwaukee
    • Metro Milwaukee demographics
    • Order a publication
    • Relocating a business
  • About
    • Board of directors
    • Career Opportunities at MMAC
    • Staff
    • Milwaukee Commerce magazine
    • Press releases
    • Members of the media >
      • Recent Media Coverage
    • Scholarships for minority students
Region of Choice initiative
Background & Data


In 2019, MMAC surveyed its board of directors and 500 corporate leaders who identified racial disparity as one of the region’s biggest liabilities. We then formed a working group to identify and recommend actions that would help employers and the region improve metro Milwaukee as a location of choice for diverse talent.

THE DATA
We compared Milwaukee to 20 of its peer regions using seven measures of economic prosperity across each ethnic group (white, African American, Hispanic). We then ranked each region on these measures. Milwaukee ranked 6th among peer regions for the prosperity of its white population and last for the African American and Hispanic populations. Milwaukee also had the largest gap in prosperity between its white and African American and white and Hispanic populations.

THE RESEARCH
MMAC engaged consulting firms with extensive experience in diversity, equity and inclusion to create a baseline of information from diverse talent on the barriers, challenges and opportunities of working and living in metro Milwaukee. This project included:
  • 32 participating organizations with 125,000 in collective employment
  • 1,100 survey responses
  • 17 focus groups
  • Talk-Back sessions with HR and Diversity professionals
  • HR/D&I Roundtable meetings
  • 15 CEO interviews

KEY SURVEY TAKEAWAYS
From more than 1,000 diverse managers responding:

60%
believe that diversity and inclusion efforts at their company are focused on meeting compliance goals, not on improving company culture

62%
of African American managers feel they have limited exposure to opportunity
56%
of Hispanic/Latino
managers feel they are overlooked or ignore
43%
of diverse managers felt discrimination or bias in their workplace
64%
of diverse managers
felt discrimination in the community.

THE GOAL: By 2025, increase diverse management by 25% and diverse employment by 15%

Research shows that African American and Latino/Hispanic communities in the Milwaukee Region have a significant gap in economic prosperity measures as compared to 20 peer regions across the country. While we strive to make progress in every aspect of diversity, this pledge is intended to address the acute disparities facing African American and Latino/Hispanic professionals in our community.

RESEARCH
Read the full report >>


A 2018 survey of the MMAC’s Board members and CEOs of its member companies identified racial disparities as the biggest challenge facing the Milwaukee Region. Based on that feedback, MMAC formed a taskforce to conduct comprehensive research on the challenges and opportunities that diverse management employees face in Metro Milwaukee through a survey, focus groups and listening sessions.

MMAC compared metro Milwaukee to 20 peer regions on seven measures of prosperity across White, African American and Hispanic populations based on seven indicators, including:
1.    Managers & officials
2.    Management, business, science, art occupations
3.    Unemployment
4.    Bachelor’s degree of higher
5.    Singe, female-headed households with children
6.    Owner-occupied housing
7.    Poverty rate
Picture
Copyright © 2023 Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
All rights reserved.

301 W Wisconsin Ave., Ste. 220 | Milwaukee, WI 53203 
Tel 414/287-4100 | Fax 414/271-7753 | info@mmac.org
  |  Privacy Policy

  • JOIN
  • Membership
    • The benefits of joining
    • Member directory >
      • Member Spotlights
      • Talent Solutions Directory
    • What we do >
      • Talent >
        • Ranking Milwaukee County Schools
        • Education recommendations
        • Technology Education & Literacy in Schools (TEALS)
        • Career-based learning experiences
      • Growth
      • Livability
      • Equity
      • Peer metro comparison
    • Cost saving programs >
      • Health insurance plan
      • Office supply discount program
    • Events >
      • 2021 All Member Meeting
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit
      • Talent Solution Series
      • Emerging Leaders Series
      • Global Business Insights Series
      • Member Orientation
      • Replay: The Business of MKE Series
      • Replay: Race Bridge Series
    • For members only >
      • Fall 2022 Impact Report
      • Sponsorship
      • Advertising
    • Need more info?
  • Networks
    • Leadership Council
    • President's Huddle
    • Executive roundtable program
    • FUEL Milwaukee for young professionals
    • Future 50 Awards Program
    • Networking Forum for referrals
    • Region of Choice Initiative
    • Roundtables for high-growth companies
    • World Trade Association
  • Advocacy
    • 2021-2022 Legislative Scorecard >
      • Senate Votes
      • Assembly Votes
    • Recent Legislative Wins
    • Funding Local Governments
    • Miller Park economic impact study
    • Wisconsin State Legislature
    • K-12 Education Recommendations
  • Economic Development
    • Milwaukee 7 Partnership for Economic Development
    • MKE Venture Mentoring Service
    • Milwaukee Development Corp. >
      • Rebuild & Revitalize Program
    • Milwaukee Urban Strategic Investment Corp. (MUSIC)
    • Milwaukee EB-5 Visa program
    • Starting a business >
      • BizStarts
      • New business planning guide
    • More about Milwaukee
  • Metro MKE
    • 2023 Navigate Business MKE
    • Business outlook survey
    • Economic trends
    • Local media listings
    • Major employers in metro Milwaukee
    • Metro Milwaukee demographics
    • Order a publication
    • Relocating a business
  • About
    • Board of directors
    • Career Opportunities at MMAC
    • Staff
    • Milwaukee Commerce magazine
    • Press releases
    • Members of the media >
      • Recent Media Coverage
    • Scholarships for minority students