[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]: Community leaders, elected officials, candidates, faith leaders, and directly impacted residents will gather for a public forum “Uniting to Build Communities in Milwaukee” focused on building stronger, safer communities in Milwaukee in 2026 and beyond.
The forum will center on collaborative strategies to reduce violence, end needless incarceration, and advance strategic investments that strengthen neighborhoods and support families. The discussion will elevate the voices of people who have experienced incarceration, those with loved ones impacted by the system, and community members working toward long-term solutions.
Leaders of WISDOM’s Transformational Justice Campaign as well as leaders from important partners such as The Community, Project RETURN, Table of the Saints, the Wisconsin Good Samaritan Coalition, Prison Action Milwaukee, and the Milwaukee Transitional Jobs Collaborative will be contributing to the discussion.
“It is going to take a significant change in policy to disrupt and end mass incarceration and convictionless sentencing which are both counterproductive to building a healthy community where public safety should be determined by those who reside there,” said WISDOM Transformational Justice Campaign Lead Organizer Ventae Parrow. “I know from experience that when tax payer investments, grant funds, and charitable contributions are utilized to reinvest into the communities where there are financial challenges the healthier those communities become and are.”
WHO: Candidates, elected officials, religious leaders, formerly incarcerated individuals, impacted family members, and community members
WHAT: Community forum on reducing Violence, ending needless Incarceration, and building stronger communities in Milwaukee
WHEN: Thursday, January 8, 2026 from 6-8 PM
WHERE: Wisconsin Black Historical Society, 2620 W. Center St., Milwaukee, WI 53206
WHY: To foster dialogue, build shared understanding, and identify actionable strategies that move Milwaukee toward safer, more equitable communities through smart investments and collective action.
The media are encouraged to attend. Interview opportunities will be available before and after the event.
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged here: https://bit.ly/unitingcommunitiesmke. For any questions, please contact Ventae Parrow, WISDOM’s Transformational Justice Organizer at ventaespeaks@gmail.com.
