At the Table: Diverse Dining Showcases Milwaukee's Tech Ecosystem
by Kacee Ochalek and Ben Rangel
A New Kind of Networking
Our evening with Diverse Dining began like most networking events do: sign in, grab a name tag, carefully write down k-a-c-e-e just for someone to mistake the “c” for an “l” and call me Kalee. “I even went to handwriting school, not that anyone would believe it,” I tell the registration table. It’s always an easy laugh. The name tag also asks us to write one word that describes us. Ben writes, “teacher.” I write, “realist.” This is the first hint that the event would be different than other networking events.
Emerald Mills, the founder of Diverse Dining (check out our episode with Emerald here), speaks into the mic and asks everyone to look at their given cards. We have all either been given an answer or a question. It’s up to us to find our match—yet another hint this event is unique. While I never found my match, I got caught up in a few good conversations with an old co-worker and a few Milwaukeeans I’ve just met. Ben found his, with a little help from Google.
Solving Problems Means Showing Up
I ask Barbara Hughes, Architectural Designer at in.studio architecture why she came tonight. Without a pause, she responds, “Mostly I just feel like I don’t know how else to help Milwaukee solve its problems but to show up.” Those in the circle nod. So, here we are. Soon, time is up, and the room is given a quick command to not sit with people they know. Ben and I part ways.
As we sit, Emerald speaks to us like she’s sitting right at our table. I’m totally charmed. The room, equally charmed, listens intently to the paired question and answers. The questions provide attendees with an opportunity to connect without the awkwardness inherent in networking events. More importantly, they educate guests about the sobering lack of diversity in the tech industry.
A Handshake with the Future
The night settles into a few quick introductions from Emerald, Matt Cordio, Co-Founder of Start-Up MKE, and Nadiyah Johnson, founder of Jet Constellations. Nadiyah founded the organization to ensure Milwaukee's tech scene mirrors its diverse population.
As guests, we have Nadiyah Johnson to thank for allowing us to have this night. Last year, she approached Matt Cordio, founder of Start-Up Milwaukee to say, “Why aren’t there any black people in this room?” She had a point. As Emerald taught us during our ice-breaker, 83% of tech executives are white. But unlike developed tech spaces, Milwaukee’s tech scene is still in its infancy, and we have the opportunity to create something wonderfully equitable and diverse.
Emerald Mills leads tables through intentional dialogue at the Diverse Dining event on November 5, 2019
At the end of her address, Nadiyah sums it up best, telling us “The goal is to brand Milwaukee as the most diverse and inclusive tech hub in the nation. I want black people, women, to say, ‘You know what? Instead of going to Silicon Valley, we’re going to the City of Milwaukee, the Milky Way Tech Hub, because I know there is a network and ecosystem there where we can thrive in technology.’” These experts have been preparing this work for years. This dinner felt like a handshake with the future.
Our keynote speaker of the evening, American Family Insurance Inclusive Excellence Leader, Justin Cruz, showcases a blueprint for Milwaukee: rules to follow as we enter this new world of being a city regularly featured in Vogue and named a AirBnB top global destination for 2020. Cruz explains some of his blueprint, a dense and intriguing plan with a double win that will deepen the workforce pipeline, create formal programming, and connectivity that will lead to community impact and career readiness.
Engaging in Dialogue
As the night moved on, we enjoyed a dinner catered by Mr. BBQ. Following the keynote, the night shifts to the essence of a Diverse Dining experience: difficult, intentional dialogue. Ben’s table is full of interested and engaged discussants, facilitated by Ranell Washington, the Partnership Development Advisor at American Family Insurance. He says he is there because American Family Insurance is “investing in and helping [Nadiyah] grow her capacity in Milwaukee and beyond.”
Beyond supporting their partnership with Nadiyah and JET Constellations, he thinks if diversity in Milwaukee’s tech scene improves twofold, it still wouldn’t be enough. It was clear a lot of work still needs to be done, but thankfully organizations like Start-up Milwaukee and Diverse Dining are doing the work.
This is my second Diverse Dining experience, but certainly not my last. Don’t tell my step-dad, but he’s getting a Diverse Dining gift card for Christmas.
Action Step: Bridge the city by attending a Diverse Dining event.
Kacee Ochalek is a producer and host here at Bridge the City. You can connect with Kacee here.
Ben Rangel is co-creator of Bridge the City. You can connect with Ben here.
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