#NorthwestSideStories: Meet Bianca Shaw, who values civic engagement and inspiring people to work with their elected officials. Bianca believes young people need examples of who they could become and mentorship to thrive.

Thanks for being part of our community and supporting our work in 2023! Here are some of our best moments of the year. Learn more about how you can plug into our work in 2024:

"This was my first introduction to class differences among my own people. We were the not-so-poor. Until my experiences at school, I believed that everyone else lived the way we did. " - Angela Davis

#NorthwestSideStories: About five years ago, Jerron Perkins launched his own restaurant "as a spinoff of the mothership" Perkins Family Restaurant to "bring a new era, vibe" to the Perkins' Family Legacy. He recently opened an event space right next door.

Being part of AART's Participatory Budgeting Program was such a rewarding experience. Here are some reflections from a couple of Steering Committee members who led the process and enabled its success.

"Solidarity is not an act of charity but mutual aid between forces fighting for the same objective." - Samora Machel

#NorthwestSideStories: Danielle is the loving owner of Dior's Gallery, an event space and dining experience hub. Dior's Gallery thrives through love, and Danielle believes safety starts with the same thing. Visit our YouTube channel to hear her story!

Thank you so much to those who have participated in our Each One Bring One campaign so far. Today is the last day! . This giving season, AART is asking that Each One Bring One. We need you to donate AND share this campaign with others.

"We were warriors and hunters, poets and jali, farmers and soothsayers. We were magicians and healers, artisans and thinkers, writers and dancers. We were fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, cousins and kinsmen. We were lovers. And we were home. " - Daniel Black.#Kwanzaa

"As we work to build a joyful, political home in Milwaukee. Each One Bring One can apply to every facet of our work. Interested in volunteering with our organization? Each one bring one. Want to attend one of our evening meetings? Each one bring one."

#NorthwestSideStories: Meet Jordan Banks and the Brew City Legends, a team bringing soccer to Milwaukee's far Northwest Side for inner-city youth. Jordan views Brew City Legends as a safe space for players to have fun, try, fail, learn and succeed.

"Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates history, values, family, community and culture. The ideas and concepts of Kwanzaa are expressed in the Swahili language, one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa." .#Kwanzaa

Since the Black Santa Houston launched in 2019, Kelvin Douglas has re-created that experience for countless Black children nationwide. From being featured in The New York Times to appearing on the Drew Barrymore Show, he’s covered a lot of ground.

#NorthwestSideStories: Meet Deja Taylor of UBUNTU Research & Evaluation! She's one of our partners on our Northwest SIde Asset Mapping Project. We've collaborated to identify spaces, services, and skills for this project.

“Though I don’t like to speculate on causation, I think we can see the rise in violence against transgender and gender-diverse people is definitely culminating with the rise of anti-transgender rights legislation."

#NorthwestSideStories: Delicia and Johnel Morris are a beautiful and active family. Whether biking, playing baseball, bowling, or even communicating with community leaders, they love to experience all that the Northwest Side has to offer.

"This eight-month process reminded me of Mariame Kaba’s quote, 'Everything worthwhile is done with others' and June Jordan’s quote, 'We are the ones we have been waiting for.'". Check out our latest blog post from AART's Devin Anderson on our PB program.

#NorthwestSideStories: AART's longest supporter and board member, Anita Johnson, is a private woman who is often in the public eye. She's seen the Northwest Side change over time and invites others to change with the community as defenders of democracy.

#NorthwestSideStories: Check out AART's Community Program Manager's story about what she's experienced since living in the Meadows for over a year and organizing throughout Milwaukee's far Northwest Side for nearly two!

Black power can transform individuals, families, communities and beyond. This giving season, the African American Roundtable is asking that we come together and Each One Bring One. Please donate and share our work so we can grow even stronger!