The DBE Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meeting for the Southeast Region took place on July 24, 2025, with a focus on community engagement and upcoming events. The meeting began with acknowledgments of support from committee members, setting a collaborative tone for the discussions ahead.

One of the key announcements came from Jenna, who highlighted the upcoming fiftieth anniversary gala for WRTP Bigstep, scheduled for Thursday, September 18, at 5 PM. This event will also serve as an open house for their newly renovated Milwaukee office, located near American Family Field and Marquette University. Jenna encouraged attendees to participate and promised to share a link for ticket purchases in the chat.

Following this, Anne informed the committee about the next DBE of America meeting, which is set for the same evening from 6 PM to 7 PM. She emphasized the importance of this meeting in the ongoing efforts to save the DBE program, mentioning that some members had recently attended a transportation meeting in Washington, D.C., to discuss the program and related legal challenges. Anne provided instructions for those interested in joining the meeting via Facebook.

John also contributed to the discussion by reiterating Jenna's announcement about WRTP Bigstep's anniversary, underscoring the significance of the event for the organization.

The meeting concluded with a sense of urgency regarding the DBE program and a strong call for community involvement in both the gala and the advocacy efforts. The committee members left with clear next steps and a commitment to support these initiatives.