Building Black and Brown Futures Across Great Lakes Cities
GLUE is a regional platform for strategy, convening, and collective action—connecting leaders, institutions, and communities across Milwaukee, Buffalo, Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, and beyond.
Great Lakes Urban Empowerment Center
Great Lakes Urban Empowerment (GLUE) exists because the cities of the Great Lakes share a common story—and a common opportunity. Across cities like Milwaukee, Buffalo, Detroit, Chicago, and Cleveland, Black and Brown communities continue to face many of the same challenges, but they also share extraordinary strengths. GLUE was created to connect those strengths by bringing together leaders, institutions, and communities to build stronger futures across the region.
What GLUE Does
GLUE works by curating ideas, connecting people and institutions, and catalyzing collective action across Great Lakes cities.
Curator
We gather and generate research, lived experience, policy ideas, and community voices to help people better understand the challenges and opportunities facing Great Lakes cities.
We generate research, writing, briefings, public conversations, and regional thought leadership focused on the future of Great Lakes cities.
Convener and Connector
We bring together leaders across faith, education, health, business, philanthropy, policy, and grassroots organizing to strengthen relationships and create shared strategies across cities and sectors.
Catalyst
We help turn ideas into action through coalition-building, institutional accountability, civic engagement, and strategic initiatives.
GLUE’s work produces four kinds of impact:
People & Partners
Policy & Practice
Projects, and
Publishing
Featured Initiatives
Proven Work in Milwaukee
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Institutional Accountability Lab
The Institutional Accountability Lab gives a name, structure, and public face to work GLUE has been doing for years. Through the Lab, GLUE helps communities understand, engage, and improve the institutions that shape everyday life.
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My Brother’s Keeper Milwaukee (MBK)
In partnership with the Obama Foundation, GLUE has helped sustain and evolve this city-wide commitment to Black and Brown youth.
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Black Men Organizing (BMO)
A movement mobilizing and organizing men around three core values: brotherhood, organizing for power, and building for action.
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MIRACLE Mental Health Network
A 13-year community campaign reducing stigma, building trauma-informed care, and educating thousands across Milwaukee’s neighborhoods.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Whether you’re a civic leader, community organization, or concerned resident, you can be part of our efforts to transform Great Lakes cities. Get involved by supporting our initiatives, attending events, or volunteering your time.