In a recent government meeting, significant discussions centered around the well-being of Latino and African American communities in Milwaukee, led by representatives from the Hispanic Collaborative and the African American Leadership Alliance Milwaukee (ALAM). The meeting featured presentations on the Hispanic Well-being Index and the African American Well-being Index, both of which aim to assess and improve the socio-economic conditions of these communities.

Nancy Hernandez, head of the Hispanic Collaborative, and Angela Adams, interim president and CEO of ALAM, highlighted the findings from their respective indices, which track various metrics including health, poverty, home ownership, income, employment, educational attainment, and business leadership. Despite some improvements in specific areas, both indices revealed that Milwaukee continues to rank among the lowest in comparison to other major metropolitan areas. For instance, Milwaukee was reported as the lowest-ranked city for African Americans, while the Hispanic community ranked 45th out of 50 cities.

Adams emphasized the importance of leadership development within the African American community, noting that 69% of alumni from their leadership program reported progress in their leadership roles. She also pointed out that there has been a notable increase in employment and management positions for African Americans in the region, attributed to collaborative efforts with the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC).

Hernandez discussed the Hispanic Well-being Index, which has shown improvements in various metrics over the years, yet the community's ranking has declined. This paradox highlights the urgency for more effective strategies to enhance outcomes for both Latino and African American populations in Milwaukee.

The meeting concluded with a call for continued collaboration between the city and these organizations to leverage data for shaping policies and investments aimed at improving the well-being of these communities. Both Hernandez and Adams expressed optimism about the potential for change, emphasizing the need for a concerted effort to address the systemic issues affecting their communities.