In the heart of Milwaukee, the African American Roundtable (AART) is reshaping civic engagement and community power through a bold, Black-led vision of liberation. Founded to serve as a political home for Milwaukee’s Black residents, AART is a transformative force—organizing, nurturing, and amplifying leadership to challenge systemic inequities and reimagine public policy.
AART’s mission is clear and unapologetic: to build power in service of Black liberation. Rooted in values of authentic relationships, love, organization, and community transformation, the group envisions a Milwaukee where Black people thrive in interconnected, joyful communities. Their work spans grassroots organizing, participatory budgeting, food access campaigns, and cultural programming—all designed to center Black voices and shift decision-making power into the hands of those most impacted.
"We nurture, develop, and support Black people in Milwaukee and give them a place to call their political home," said Markasa Tucker-Harris, Executive Director at AART. "We do that through organizing, campaigns, and opportunities for people to do their own self-work so they can transform."
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One of AART’s most visible initiatives has been LiberateMKE, a campaign launched in 2019 to reallocate public funds away from policing and toward community priorities. The campaign galvanized residents to demand investments in housing, mental health services, youth employment, and violence prevention. Over the years, LiberateMKE has not only influenced budget conversations but also cultivated a new generation of civic leaders.
"We saw in the City budget that too much money was going to the police," said Devin Anderson, Campaign and Membership Director with AART. "Extract money from their budget, over $300 million year after year, and invest in the programs that people care about."
"There are good people that are police, but if you continue to try to build on a soil that is polluted, you're going to continue to bring forth things from that soil that's polluted. No matter how you try to build something else on top of it, the foundation and the roots of it is to protect property, and it's never to protect people," said Tucker-Harris.
I spoke with Tucker-Harris and Anderson while on assignment in the Badger State, producing an episode of The 50, a four-year multimedia project in which the Fulcrum visits different communities across all 50 states to learn what motivated them to vote in the 2024 presidential election and see how the Donald Trump administration is meeting those concerns and hopes.
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AART’s approach is not just strategic—it’s deeply relational. The organization fosters spaces where Black residents can be their authentic selves, share stories, and build collective power. Whether through town halls, storytelling workshops, or civic trainings, AART centers dignity and joy as essential components of liberation work.
As Milwaukee grapples with challenges of racial equity, economic justice, and democratic participation, the African American Roundtable stands as a beacon of possibility. Their work reminds the city—and the nation—that transformative change begins with organized communities, courageous leadership, and a radical commitment to love and liberation.
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Hugo Balta is the executive editor of the Fulcrum. He is also the publisher of the Latino News Network.
