Updated 21 July 2014, by Nate Imig
You probably read the statistics on proverty and segregation in Milwaukee, and it doesn't look promising.
Milwaukee is #1 in black/white residential segregation, #1 residential segregation based on poverty, #1 incareration rate for Black men, and more distrubing numbers.
But a local coalition of creatives looking to change those statistics.
Greater Together is a new initiative created by Ken Hanson of Hanson Dodge Creative and AIGA Wisconsin (Amerincan Institute of Graphic Artists). It aims to raise awareness and to inspire ideas about tackling racial and economic inequality in Milwaukee.
Announced last week, Greater Together has created a call for proposals. The Challenge is an open competition of ideas, and both individuals and groups are invited to submit ideas to bridge divides caused by racial and economic inequality in Milwaukee by leveraging the power of design.
AIGA Wisconsin is also collaborating with organizations like churches, community activists, and businesses on the initiative.
"In celebration of this year’s centennial, we want to use design as a platform to build and sustain social change," said AIGA Wisconsin President Chris Klein in a news release.
"The Challenge will be the culmination of a four-month awareness campaign and will establish a coalition and foundation with the sole purpose of dsimantling Milwaukee's legacy of segregation and inequality. This coalition includes NAACP, ACLU, MTEA (Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association), Community Shares, Common Ground and others," Klein said.
More details are available on Greater Together's website. The deadline for proposals is August 22. Proposals must be submitted online at http://www.greatertogether.me.
Click the podcast player above to hear Nate Imig's interview with Klein and Newaukee's Jeremy Fojut.
