Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce | Milwaukee, WI 53202
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Background: Region of Choice initiative

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.

Picture
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 © 2020 Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.  All rights reserved.
275 W Wisconsin Ave., Ste. 220 | Milwaukee, WI 53203  |  Tel 414/287-4100 | Fax 414/271-7753 | info@mmac.org
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  • Membership
    • Gain visibility >
      • Advertising
      • Event Sponsorship
      • Lead generation
    • Grow & strengthen your biz >
      • Executive roundtable program >
        • Roundtable News
      • Food and beverage manufacturers
      • Focus on the Future Awards
      • Future 50 Awards >
        • Future 50 winner archive
      • Leadership Council
      • International >
        • Global Business Insights series
        • Wisconsin International Trade Conference
        • Benefits of WTA membership >
          • Join WTA now
        • WTA member directory
        • Global Pulse - eNewsletter Archive
        • WTA events
        • Volunteer leadership
      • Roundtables for high-growth companies
      • Small business >
        • Council of Small Business Executives
      • Young professionals
    • Improve the business climate
    • Invest in our community
    • Cost Savings programs >
      • Certificates of origin
      • Health insurance plan
      • Office supply discount program
    • Join now
    • Request More Information
    • Members only >
      • Member Orientation
      • Submit an event
      • Submit news about your company
      • Update email preferences
      • Promote your MMAC membership
  • Events
    • MMAC event calendar
    • Event photos >
      • 2020 Golf Outing
    • Community events calendar
    • Submit an event
    • Sponsorship
    • 2019 MMAC All Member Meeting
  • Talent Pipeline
    • Grow your talent pipeline >
      • Business tours for students
      • Career-based learning
      • Manufacturing CAREERx
      • Technology Education & Literacy in Schools (TEALS)
    • Attracting & retaining young professionals
    • Professional development
  • Diverse Talent
    • The Business Council
    • Hispanic Collaborative
  • Advocacy
    • Miller Park economic impact study
    • Legislator voting records
    • Pro-business public policy agenda >
      • Talent
      • Growth
      • Livability
      • Small business legislative agenda
    • Education recommendations >
      • Supportive policies
      • Quality schools
      • Effective Educators
      • Community engagement
    • Ranking Milwaukee County Schools
  • Economic Growth
    • Attracting & retaining businesses
    • Food & beverage cluster
    • Milwaukee Development Corp. >
      • Rebuild & Revitalize Program
    • Milwaukee EB-5 Visa program
    • Milwaukee Urban Strategic Investment Corp. (MUSIC)
    • Metro Milwaukee reports
    • Starting a business >
      • BizStarts
      • New business planning guide
  • About the Region
    • 2020 Navigate Business MKE
    • Benchmarking metro MKE
    • Business outlook survey
    • Economic Trends
    • Local media listings
    • Major employers in metro Milwaukee
    • Metro Milwaukee demographics
    • Order a publication
    • Relocating a business
  • About MMAC
    • Board of directors >
      • New 2021 Board Members
    • Contact us
    • Members of the media
    • Publication archive >
      • News Archive
      • Press Releases
      • Milwaukee Commerce magazine
    • Scholarships for minority students
    • Staff
  • Member Directory
  • Member Login
  • COVID-19 Resources
    • Health & Safety Toolkit >
      • Employer Outbreak FAQs
      • Testing FAQs
      • Preparing for the 2nd wave
      • Health & Safety Checklist
    • Business Strategies webinars