News & Resources
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AART PB Steering Committee Pens Letter to Common Council Over Lack of Support
The African American Roundtable’s Participatory Budgeting (PB) Steering Committee wrote the following letter to the Milwaukee Common Council to highlight the alderpersons’ lack of support throughout the organization’s PB process.
Four Milwaukee Organizations Awarded $10,000 Each Through AART’s Participatory Budgeting Program
Yesterday, the African American Roundtable (AART) announced the winners of its $40,000 pilot Participatory Budgeting Program at a community celebration. More than 850 Northwest Side residents voted for the top projects they felt would increase safety and change lives.
African American Roundtable Relaunches LiberateMKE Campaign for Fifth Budget Cycle
Today, the African American Roundtable (AART) relaunched its LiberateMKE campaign, which advocates for police divestment and community investment. The organization announced that it is transferring ownership of LiberateMKE to the Milwaukee community.
African American Roundtable Blasts City and State Leadership Over Revenue Plan
Today, the African American Roundtable (AART) blasted Wisconsin Republicans for their proposed shared revenue plan and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier “Chevy” Johnson for his support of it.
African American Roundtable Launches Participatory Budgeting Program
Today, the African American Roundtable (AART) announced that it is launching a participatory budgeting program. This comes after rallying since 2019 for the City of Milwaukee to establish a participatory budgeting process, which would give residents a say in how city resources are spent.
‘This is Pathetic’: AART Rips City of Milwaukee Leadership for 2023 Budget, Continues Fight for Participatory Budgeting
Milwaukee’s 2023 budget was finalized yesterday, and the African American Roundtable (AART) ripped city leadership for a “status quo” budget that funds police at the expense of every other city department, as well as at the expense of the people of Milwaukee. Milwaukee police received a $20 million increase.
African American Roundtable Releases Statement on Milwaukee’s ‘Status Quo’ 2023 Proposed Budget
While the Milwaukee Common Council decided against cuts to libraries and the fire department, which the mayor can still veto until November 15, this budget still fails to meet the needs of the city’s residents.
AART Releases Statement on Joint Public Budget Hearing
Last night the people of Milwaukee spoke, and the message was clear. Community members want to see the city defund the police in order to expand other city services.
AART Releases Second Statement on Closing of Lincoln Hills
The African American Roundtable (AART) calls for processes that proactively center residents, including young people.
African American Roundtable Rallies at City Hall for Participatory Budgeting, Community Budget Priorities
Today, at Milwaukee City Hall, the African American Roundtable (AART), its partners, and community members held a rally and press conference to demand participatory budgeting and highlight community priorities in the 2023 budget.
AART Releases Statement on Mayoral Preliminary Budget Hearing
As the mayor continues to talk about Milwaukee financial problems meaning less services for residents, he fails to mention the pension report we released last year with sensible solutions. Instead the mayor left residents with unanswered questions, a faulty process and no solutions.
AART’s Statement on Ald. Chantia Lewis’ Removal from Office
As an organization that primarily supports District 9, this news is disappointing. Far Northwest Side residents already feel disconnected from elected officials, and this represents yet another obstacle in their struggle to make their voices heard.
African American Roundtable Hosts Rally for American Rescue Plan Act Funding
Today, the African American Roundtable (AART) and its partners gathered to hold city officials accountable for how American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding is spent.
AART Issues Statement on Recent Mass Shootings
The African American Roundtable has released a statement on the recent mass shootings across the country.
AART Awarded $500,000 Grant from Public Welfare Foundation
Public Welfare Foundation, the country’s only endowment fund dedicated to catalyzing new transformative approaches to youth and adult criminal justice, today announced that Milwaukee’s African American Roundtable (AART) was awarded a prestigious True Reformer institutional grant.
AART Featured in National Defund Police Video
The African American Roundtable (AART) was recently featured in a video celebrating movement work across the country from the past two years. The video, which was shared by Interrupting Criminalization, was created by Tom Callahan of Sensitive Visuals.
Open Society Foundations Announce Justice Rising Awards
The Open Society Foundations are proud to announce their Justice Rising Awards, a new investment in leaders working towards racial justice and equality in the Black community in the United States.
We Believe in Milwaukee
In this historic election across race and zip code, we are coming together to collectively demand a Milwaukee mayor that believes in all of Milwaukee. Just as we showed up for one another, voted in record numbers, and marched for safety and justice throughout this pandemic, we are again coming together for our city.
AART Slams City of Milwaukee for Overfunding Police
Today, the African American Roundtable (AART) blasted the City of Milwaukee for using an accounting trick to give the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) $8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds
AART Claims Victory in Omnibus Bill Funding Housing, Not Police
MILWAUKEE—The African American Roundtable (AART) is claiming victory in the fact that the recent omnibus bill that was passed by the Milwaukee Common Council included funding for housing and no new money for the Milwaukee Police Department.
Resources
Mental Wellness Resources for Black People
Black Space is a new organization normalizing therapy for Black and Brown people. They’re for us by us.
AART General Fundraising Toolkit
This toolkit was created by the African American Roundtable (AART) for its partners, influencers and supporters who are interested in helping amplify the organization’s fundraising efforts.
AART General Participatory Budgeting Toolkit
This toolkit was created by the African American Roundtable (AART) for those who are interested in sharing information about the organization’s Participatory Budgeting Program or implementing a PB program in their community.
Abolitionist Strategy Binder
This binder includes organizing resources that cover basic principles of abolitionist strategy, as well as tips, guides, frameworks and lessons learned from organizing for prison industrial complex (PIC) abolition.
Let This Radicalize You: Reading & Discussion Guide
This is a practical and imaginative resource created by Rachael Zafer for activists and organizers building power in an era of destabilization and catastrophe.
Let This Radicalize You Workbook
Created by Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba, this workbook features resources, helpful books, essays, wisdom from veteran organizers.
Defund the Police – Invest in Community Care: A Guide to Alternative Mental Health Crisis Responses
The primary purpose of this guide by Interrupting Criminalization is to serve as a pragmatic tool for individuals and communities organizing and advocating for non-police mental health crisis responses, and to offer key considerations for what can be a complex, costly, and long-term intervention strategy.
Abolition and the State: A Discussion Tool
As movements to defund and divest from policing and invest in community safety expand, abolitionist organizers are increasingly grappling with questions around the role of the state in abolitionist futures. This Discussion Tool by Interrupting Criminalization helps readers move beyond existing analyses and frameworks.
In Our Own Hands: Tools for Talking Abolition & Transformative Justice with Little Ones
This guide was developed by artist, organizer, and social justice educator Rania El Mugammar and provides tools for starting conversations about policing, prisons and transformative justice with children, families and the broader community.
Building Your Abolitionist Toolbox
Here are some everyday resources for a punishment-free world from Interrupting Criminalization.
Don’t Take the Bait
We all deserve freedom, safety and protection, and this guidance from All in Wisconsin shows how to combat divisive language from the opposition.
ARPA/ Participatory Budgeting Toolkit
This toolkit was created by the African American Roundtable (AART) for its partners and supporters who are interested in helping amplify the efforts of its 2023 ARPA/ Participatory Budgeting campaign.
Improving Community Safety Through Public Health Strategies
This report offers early lessons and recommendations from work the Annie E. Casey Foundation is supporting in Atlanta and Milwaukee to prevent gun violence.
LiberateMKE Toolkit
This toolkit was created by the African American Roundtable (AART) for its partners and supporters who are interested in helping amplify the efforts of its 2021 LiberateMKE campaign.
Don’t Call the Police
Dontcallthepolice.com is an online directory of local resources available as alternatives to calling the police or 911. It was founded to provide easy access to alternatives to calling the police when faced with a situation that requires de-escalation or intervention, not violence.
Publications
2023 Annual Report
2023 was a year of tremendous growth and impact. We invite you to learn more about the African American Roundtable’s accomplishments.
2023-2025 Strategic Plan
This is a multi-year plan for the next phase of AART’s organizational development.
2022 Annual Report
2022 was a year of strategic growth where we focused on the sustainability and future of the African American Roundtable.
Milwaukee Police Pension Impacts in FY2023 and Beyond
This report provides an estimate of the decreases in revenue for city functions in Milwaukee that will result from a planned increase in the city’s pension obligation in 2023 and beyond as a result of the decision by the Annuity and Pension Board.
2021 Annual Report
AART experienced transformational changes in 2021. Our staff tripled in size, we expanded our programming, and we moved into our new office on the Northwest Side of Milwaukee and have already begun making an impact.