I had the joy of sitting down recently with Devin Anderson of the African American Roundtable (AART) for a wide-ranging talk about the organization, its future and community impact.
Anderson joined the AART staff as campaign and membership director in 2019, after working as a field organizer for the Democratic Party. Along with his bachelor's degree in education and political science from Beloit College, his experience makes him the perfect person to talk about Act 12, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, why the AART moved away from LiberateMKE, and the more intentional direction they've taken since.
Rather than focusing solely on citywide or countywide demands, the AART is now working in a much more intentional, community-driven way. The organization’s goal is for people to not only understand where their tax dollars are going, but also have real influence over those decisions.
That’s where participatory budgeting (PB) comes in. At its core, the approach allows community members to show up, share their perspectives and have a direct say over how they want their tax dollars to show up in their neighborhoods. It’s about transparency, shared power and ensuring public money truly reflects community priorities.
You can listen to our full conversation using the player at the top of the page, and then join AART for their next PB session at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. The interactive event at Villard Square Neighborhood Library (5190 N. 35th St.) is a chance to be part of the process, learn about the $600,000 PB fund launching in Milwaukee and collaborate on how it can be used to benefit our communities.
