Sun setting glow
By Maleisha Reedy
It’s been said that “end of life” celebrations are for the living. When we started planning this year’s annual community gathering and fundraiser, we dreamt of Celebrating the Sunset and Impact of LiberateMKE. We reflected on the campaign’s origin, the many community partners that influenced its direction and the strategic adaptations of its time. With watery eyes, we looked through photos, folders and closets. Our eyes were of victory and pride in commemoration of the LiberateMKE campaign. Like a “going home” service of an old friend or beloved family member, we’re delighted that we had the opportunity to sunset LiberateMKE in community with the heartbeat of African drums, the soulfulness of song and the historical background of art and culture. The impact of LiberateMKE vibrated through America’s Black Holocaust Museum on November 13, 2025 as we shared our motive for sunsetting, heard from members of its Leadership Development Cohort and acknowledged our Participatory Budgeting (PB) program win of $600,000!
In addition to its PB win, from its sunrise in 2020 to its sunset in 2025, LiberateMKE has divested $4 million from the Milwaukee Police Department and invested resources in community programs like summer opportunities for young people. It taught residents how to civically participate in Milwaukee’s budget process and changed the conversation about policing and community safety. While our work here is done, late last year we began applying the knowledge and wisdom we’ve learned from LiberateMKE into a food access campaign, which in turn has been as timely as it is necessary.
Thank you to America’s Black Holocaust Museum (ABMH) for sponsoring our event and welcoming us into your wonderful space. ABHM is both historical and memorial, offering both an on-site gallery and an online digital archive of over 3,300 exhibits. Visit ABHM year-round with family and friends with a membership.
Thank you to each of our program sponsors and underwriters! Your contributions support actualizing the equitable, liberated Milwaukee we want to see, be and live in.
Transformative Training Sponsors fund campaign development trainings for stipend leaders. Thank you:
Wisconsin Civic Power Table, convening a community that provides support, accountability and cohesive strategy among 50lc3 organizations in Wisconsin to build collective and well-organized power for our movements
Dream.Org, closing prison doors and opening doors of opportunity into the green economy by bringing people together across divides to create a future with freedom, dignity and opportunity for all
Outstanding Organizer Sponsors fund technology and supplies for important field work. Thank you:
IntrospectDNA, offering family health history and genetic counseling services in a telehealth setting to clients located in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a homegrown network of citizens fighting government corruption and working for fair elections, judicial integrity, media democracy, and open and transparent government
Safety & Security Underwriters, thank you. Our program and event attendees are all important to us and our community, making our safety team an essential expense.
Freedom Inc
Monitor. Edgage. Response. Advocate. (MERA)
Milwaukee Turners
Well-Endowed Philanthropy
SWAG & Decor Underwriters help absorb the costs of printed keepsakes and AART branded items that support building awareness about our organization, our work and our mission. Thank you:
All In Wisconsin
Athena Communications
Black and Brown Womyn’s Power Coalition
Brentwood Church of Christ
Dream Team United
Fathers Making Progress
Great Impressions
Markasa Harris Consulting
Maximized Communications
Schober Outdoor
Sue Blaustein
The Community
Words & Images
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