Nathan Bernstein was driving his car recently when he heard a radio interview with a representative from the Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals.
As he listened, an idea was born. He realized that that the Urban League group and the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Young Leadership Division have “similar makeup and kindred goals.”
That for him was the impetus for forging a partnership between the groups, he said to a group of 87 at the Pabst Theater on Monday, Aug. 8, during the inaugural event for the partnership, termed “Expanding Your Circle of Influence.”
A graduate of Rufus King High School, Bernstein said that his school’s “completely multiracial setting … fostered communication, interaction, discussion and the foundation of my outlook on my community.”
With that background, he realized that the Milwaukee ULYP and YLD consisted of “like-minded individuals, operating in the framework of like-minded organizations.
“We want the same things for our families and children — good schools, cultural opportunities — in a safe environment,” he said.
So Bernstein, who has been a member of YLD since its inception, approached the division with the idea, and the planning began.
“These communities, in a lot of ways, have so much in common and so much to speak about,” said Ellie Gettinger, young leadership coordinator for the federation.
“There haven’t been bridges built between the African American community and the Jewish community in a long time,” she added.
Alonzo Kelly, a member of the Milwaukee ULYP who also served on the event committee, talked about the significance of the groups’ cooperation. Such events, he said, are important “to put yourself outside of your comfort zone. That’s how solutions are made.”
The partnership will allow him to confront his own perceptions about Jews. “I have to address my own bias,” he said.
Kelly said by participating in the event he was also able to fill a “void in his professional career.”
Joe Ellner, who was also part of the event committee, attended the event with his wife, Michele.
He felt the partnership between the two groups was valuable because “Milwaukee is not conducive” to these types of encounters otherwise. “It’s important to meet the future leaders of Milwaukee,” he said.
Risa Hoffman decided to attend the event because she felt it was “unique — I hadn’t seen anything like this since college” at Washington University, she said. “I think there is a lot that can be shared.”
Courtney L. Hunt, immediate past president of the Milwaukee ULYP and event co-chair with Bernstein, said she felt the relationship between the two groups was “valuable because it’s exposing each group to a different environment, different relationships and different partnerships.”
Through the partnership, she hopes both groups continue their relationship by “attending and participating in each other’s events,” as well as just [give] each other general support.
Bernstein agreed. “Rather then going down different paths at different times we might as well go down the same one together,” he said. “The basis of an honest and thorough dialogue is friendship and trust.”
“This is just the beginning of a long, productive partnership,” said Reggie Newson, president of the Milwaukee ULYP. “We’re really excited about this.”
The Monday event featured music; mingling; a speech by Paul Krajniak, executive director of Discovery World; and a keynote address by Michael Cudahy, grandson of Patrick Cudahy, founder of Marquette Electronics and owner of the Pabst.
It was held with support from the Jewish Foundation for Economic Opportunity, the Jewish Community Foundation’s Jack and Lucy Rosenberg Fund and the Pabst Theater.
The partnership’s next gathering is planned for Thursday, Nov. 3, at the New World Wine Company, 322 N. Water St. Themed “Social Action in Milwaukee — A View from the Bench,” the event will include a wine tasting and talks by The Honorable Carl Ashley from the Milwaukee County Children’s Court; The Honorable Derek Mosley from the Milwaukee Municipal Court; and The Honorable Glenn Yamahiro from the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
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