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CLIENTS
Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation, Self Help Credit Union, Northwest Side Community Development Corporation, JP Morgan & Chase
 
ROLE
Strategy and Design Consultant

TEAM
4
 
LOCATION
Remote - Milwaukee/New York City

Creating a continuum of capital for Black and Brown businesses in Milwaukee.  

METHODS USED
Personal Interviews, Video Engagements, Wireframe testing

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Milwaukee, Wisconsin remains America's most racially segregated metropolitan area.

BACKGROUND

​As a result of long-term systemic racism, community disinvestment and lack of access to quality education and capital, entrepreneurs of color in Milwaukee have not had the tools and resources to develop, grow and sustain their businesses. 

Three community development financial institutions - Self-Help Credit Union (SHFCU), the Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC), and Northwest Side Community Development Corporation (NWSCDC) came together in collaboration to develop a continuum of support for Black and Brown small businesses in Milwaukee, funded by JP Morgan Chase. The ultimate goal of this project is to help credit unions and other partners work together efficiently to grow the impact of the program and to better address the barriers these aspiring entrepreneurs often face in accessing the capital and support they need to achieve their goals.
 

RESULTS

After understanding the experiences of multiple stakeholders in the Milwaukee ecosystem such as the entrepreneurs, financial institutions, and partners of the project, we developed MKE BOSS - a One-Stop-Shop platform for Milwaukee’s entrepreneurs of color to find the resources needed to Build, Operate, Scale and Sustain their small businesses. 

THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT 

To cultivate a more equitable, accessible and synergistic ecosystem for Black and Brown Small Business Entrepreneurs in Milwaukee that informs and equips them with the resources relevant in operating and growing their businesses. And to help the Partner organizations and future partners work together efficiently to grow the impact of their services. 

THE ULTIMATE VISION

  • Build an ecosystem of support, trust and thriving authentic relationships among Black and Brown business owners.
     
  • ​Make Milwaukee the gold standard for Black and Brown business excellence and inspired the rest of the United States.
 
  • Create long-term generational wealth for their families and community.

RESEARCH PROCESS

To understand the small business ecosystem, we deployed research methodologies with multiple stakeholders who influence the system. 

Black & Brown Entrepreneurs

To learn about their needs, aspirations and experiences in building a business and seeking support from financial institutions.

MSBCC Partners

To understand the current systems, processes & services. And to identify the resources, data and expertise are present in this group.

Financial Institutions

To understand their mindsets and processes while making funding decisions.

15+ hours of conversations with Black and Brown entrepreneurs

15+ hours of interviews with MSBCC partner organizations

10+ hours of prototype testing with entrepreneurs & partners

This project is in development. Please ask for a private slide deck link.
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