Milwaukee Marks 100 Years of Black History Month at City Hall

Event focuses on supporting and uplifting Black professionals in the community.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Milwaukee city leaders commemorated a century of Black History Month with a special event at City Hall, focusing on supporting and uplifting Black professionals. The "Power Hour" event aimed to appreciate, uplift, and acknowledge the history and impact of Black America and Black Milwaukee, while also providing resources and support to help retain local talent.

Why it matters

Milwaukee has long struggled with racial disparities and the outmigration of Black talent. This event marks an important milestone in the city's efforts to celebrate its Black community and invest in the professional development and retention of Black residents.

The details

The Black History Month Power Hour event at Milwaukee's City Hall featured speakers, panels, and resources aimed at supporting and uplifting Black professionals in the community. The goal was to tap into Milwaukee's existing talent pool and provide opportunities for Black residents to succeed and stay in the city.

  • Milwaukee has celebrated Black History Month for the past 100 years.

The players

Mark Chambers

A Milwaukee city leader who spoke at the event.

Sirr Jrice

A Milwaukee official who discussed the importance of retaining local Black talent.

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What they’re saying

“We're celebrating a 100 year of Black History, and what a better way of celebrating then in African American culture.”

— Mark Chambers (wisn.com)

“I mean, Milwaukee has a lot of talent that we don't tap into. We love to those avenues and talent wells that we have right here. So we can improve homegrown talent and give them opportunities to succeed and hopefully stay.”

— Sirr Jrice (wisn.com)

What’s next

Milwaukee plans to continue its Black History Month celebrations throughout the month, with a variety of events and initiatives focused on supporting and uplifting the city's Black community.

The takeaway

This centennial celebration of Black History Month in Milwaukee underscores the city's commitment to recognizing and investing in its Black residents, a crucial step in addressing longstanding racial disparities and retaining local talent.