28th Annual Student Research Forum, Spring 2026

UWM Urban Studies Alumni Panel 

1:30 – 2:30PM  
(followed by coffee break/networking) 

Moderator Joel Rast, 
USP Program Director and Professor of Political Science and Urban Studies 

Panelists 

• Trevor Jung, BA, 2017 
  Title: Transit and Mobility Director, City of Racine 
  Trevor Jung is the Transit and Mobility Director at RYDE Racine, where he oversees the City of Racine’s public transportation system and leads modernization efforts, including fleet improvements, solar integration, touchless fare-payment technology, and regional partnerships that have driven ridership past one million annual rides. He has also advanced initiatives such as the Veterans RYDE Free program, automotive pre-apprenticeships with the Academies of Racine, and federal infrastructure investments to upgrade transit assets. Trevor earned a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and after graduation was twice elected to the Racine Common Council, where he chaired the Transit Commission. He was appointed by Governor Tony Evers to the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, representing Racine County, and has served on the boards of the Racine County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, and All Aboard Wisconsin.
• Patricia Najera, PhD, 2018
  Title: Executive Director, Oak Creek Campus, MATC
  With nearly 30 years in higher education, Dr. Patricia T. Najera has dedicated her career to fostering innovative partnerships between academia, industry, municipalities, schools, and community organizations. As the Executive Campus Director of Oak Creek—the second-largest campus of Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC)—Dr. Patricia plays a pivotal role in strengthening strategic collaborations. She actively engages with faculty, staff, and community partners, often described as approachable, communicative, and deeply invested in the voices of all stakeholders. The daughter of Colombian immigrant parents and a first-generation college graduate, Dr. Patricia understands the challenges and opportunities that come with navigating higher education.
• Kari Smith, PhD, 2018
  Title: Real Estate and Development Manager, Department of City Development, City of Milwaukee
  Kari Smith graduated with her PhD in Urban Studies in 2018 and has since worked in local, state, and federal government. Kari’s government work includes building a data set and assisting with open records requests with the City of Racine, managing a five-county demonstration project for the State of Wisconsin’s Bureau of Child Support, working in Community Planning and Development at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and (currently) managing the City of Milwaukee’s inventory of tax foreclosed real estate.
• Nateya Taylor, MS, 2023
  Title: Marketing and Communications Coordinator, City of Milwaukee Health Department
  Nateya Taylor is a Milwaukee-based multimedia storyteller whose work sits at the intersection of health equity, environmental justice, and Black liberation. Through written and visual storytelling, she interrogates the anti-Blackness embedded in social systems and the internalized harms that accompany it, while illuminating the complexity, resilience, and wholeness of Black life. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Urban Studies with a certificate in Digital Cultures. Her academic research centers on residential segregation, Black geographies, and traditions of Black resistance. Grounded in this scholarship, Nateya weaves research and narrative to create stories that are both educational and transformative.
• Jonatan Zuniga, BA, 2015
  Title: Program and Evaluation Analyst, Milwaukee County
  Jonatan is a strategic and innovative public sector professional with a decade of experience in nonprofits and government. Prior to joining Milwaukee County, Jonatan held leadership roles at Loving Venti Consulting, the City of Milwaukee Election Commission, and VIA CDC, where he focused on operational efficiency, civic engagement, and community development. Born and raised on Milwaukee’s South Side, Jonatan’s commitment to equity and civic empowerment is deeply rooted in his lived experience. Jonatan recently joined Milwaukee County as a Program and Evaluation Analyst. In this role, he supports the implementation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Evaluation Project, county-wide data collection systems, and provides technical assistance to internal departments.

Graduate & Undergraduate Poster Abstracts

Abstract 1 

Title: African American Nurses at Misericordia Hospital: A Midtown Legacy 

Author: Emma Siegmund, Master’s Student, Public History 

Abstract: Misericordia Hospital was the first black-owned hospital in the state of Wisconsin located in the Midtown neighborhood of Milwaukee; although the hospital no longer exists, the work done by the African American nurses at the hospital still impacts the city today. Nurses are the backbones of hospitals and perform various important tasks that keep a hospital running, yet their stories are often overlooked in favor of stories of doctors or interesting patients. The purpose of this work is to examine the work of African American nurses at Misericordia Hospital and their impact on the city of Milwaukee, the Midtown neighborhood, and its inhabitants. The information for this project was acquired through the use of archival research, oral histories, and secondary research. African American nurses who worked at Misericordia Hospital created a lasting impact on the city of Milwaukee through their work with patients at the first black owned hospital, as well as one nurse’s work in helping to establish the Milwaukee chapter of the National Black Nurses Association as well as serve as its first president. This project creates an opportunity to learn more about the city of Milwaukee and how the work of African American nurses has shaped its community. 

Links: https://midtownmke.weebly.com/african-american-nurses-at-misericordia-hospital.html 

Abstract 2 

Title: Beyond Streets and Buildings: The Hidden Layers of Russian Shorewood 

Author: Tatiana Danilova, Master’s Student, Urban Studies 

Abstract: Despite a documented Russian-speaking population of approximately 1,400 residents concentrated along Oakland Avenue, Shorewood’s official village narratives and municipal maps offer only fragmentary recognition of this community’s presence. Existing public representations capture isolated demographic data but do not account for the layered commercial, institutional, and social geography that Russian-speaking residents have built and sustained over decades. This project argues against reading Russian Shorewood as a coherent ethnic enclave, proposing instead that it constitutes an ephemeral ethnic retail and institutional landscape – visible through dispersed, unevenly documented traces rather than through any bounded neighborhood form. Using a StoryMap format, I map fourteen sites, including active and former businesses, municipal language-access infrastructure, library collections, school records, and community gathering spaces, drawing on municipal documents, local media, BID records, and community social media as primary sources. Preliminary findings reveal two overlapping layers: a commercial corridor along Oakland Avenue anchored by businesses such as European Food & Gifts and Mixa Jewelers, and a softer institutional layer – Russian-language library collections, village complaint forms, and school enrollment data – that registers community presence within public systems. Together, these traces form a recognizable but officially underrepresented geography. This matters because it shows how immigrant communities in small American suburbs can produce durable, spatially coherent landscapes that remain legible to residents yet largely invisible to formal urban knowledge and planning systems. 

Links: https://uploads.knightlab.com/storymapjs/4bf3d7c29d8023beba9918c2f38ff7c9/russian-shorewood-wi/index.html 

Abstract 3 

Title: Community Wealth Building and Spatial Analysis along the 30th Street Corridor, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin 

Author: Darya Salehi Mava, PhD Student, Urban Studies 

Abstract: This project examines the 30th Street Corridor in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, through an integrated spatial analysis framework that combines site analysis, socioeconomic mapping, and data-driven modeling to better understand community conditions and opportunities for place-based planning. Grounded in the principles of community wealth building, the study focuses on how local economic conditions, access to resources, and spatial inequalities shape neighborhood-level outcomes. The 30th Street Corridor represents a critical case study due to its historical significance, diverse urban structure, and uneven distribution of economic opportunities and investment. The project began with a detailed site analysis of the corridor, including an assessment of land use patterns, spatial structure, and neighborhood characteristics. In addition, a series of thematic maps were developed to analyze individual socioeconomic indicators such as income, employment, education, housing vacancy, and poverty. While these single-variable maps provided important insights, each variable alone offered only a limited understanding of overall economic conditions. To address this limitation, a composite economic distress index was developed as one component of the broader analysis. This index integrates five key indicators: the percentage of adults without a high school diploma, housing vacancy rate, share of adults not working, poverty rate, and median household income ratio relative to the county average. Each variable was standardized using percentile ranking to ensure comparability across different scales. The indicators were equally weighted and combined to produce a composite score representing overall economic distress for each census tract along the corridor. The results were then classified into five categories ranging from “Prosperous” to “Distressed.” The findings reveal clear spatial patterns along the 30th Street Corridor, highlighting areas of concentrated economic challenges as well as areas with relatively stronger conditions. These patterns reflect broader dynamics of uneven development, access to opportunity, and localized economic vulnerability. Overall, this project demonstrates the importance of integrating spatial analysis, multiple socioeconomic indicators, and site-based understanding to develop a more comprehensive perspective on community conditions. The results support data-driven and place-based planning approaches aimed at strengthening local economies, improving resilience, and guiding targeted interventions along the corridor. 

Abstract 4 

Title: Exploring Latinx Immigrant Entrepreneurs’ Social Contributions in Milwaukee 

Author: Sinai Mendoza-Zarate, Master’s Student, Urban Studies 

Abstract: Latinx immigrant entrepreneurs play a vital role in urban economies across the United States, yet scholarship has largely focused on their economic outputs rather than their broader social and spatial contributions. In cities like Milwaukee, immigrant-owned businesses are central to everyday life, shaping community dynamics while operating within structural constraints such as legal precarity, limited access to capital, and systemic inequality. This study asks: How does entrepreneurship enable Latinx immigrant entrepreneurs to create social worlds, cultivate belonging, and assert a presence in the city? Using a qualitative, ethnographic approach, this research draws on participant observation, unstructured interviews with Latinx immigrant entrepreneurs across industries, and supplemental semi-structured interviews with community stakeholders. Data collection centers on everyday interactions within business spaces, with thematic coding focused on belonging, spatial practices, care, and community networks. Preliminary findings suggest that immigrant-owned businesses function as critical social infrastructures that extend beyond economic activity. These spaces act as sites of cultural expression, mutual aid, and informal support systems, where entrepreneurs foster relationships, negotiate structural barriers, and actively reshape urban space. Entrepreneurship emerges not only as a livelihood strategy but as a means of placemaking and identity formation, enabling entrepreneurs to cultivate belonging despite exclusionary conditions. This research contributes to immigrant entrepreneurship and Latinx geographies by reframing businesses as community anchors, offering new insights into how marginalized populations assert presence, produce space, and reimagine belonging within the contemporary city. 

Abstract 5 

Title: Housing Accessibility among International Migrants in Germany: Identifying Affordable Housing Strategies and Pathways to Housing Among African Refugees – a Case Study in Erfurt 

Author: Mike Twum Asante, PhD Student, Urban Studies 

Abstract: Germany has gained significant recognition in recent years for its role in hosting a substantial number of refugees, including African refugees who flee hardship in pursuit of safety. German refugee policies allow asylum seekers to first stay in reception facilities before being required to secure their own housing. However, in a highly competitive rental market, African refugees, among the lowest-income and most vulnerable groups, must compete with local residents for accommodation (Adedeji et al., 2019). Research shows that getting permanent housing is often a gradual process that is affected by many barriers and temporary housing arrangements (Adam et al., 2020; Bernt et al., 2022). This research study addressed two main research questions: What are the primary barriers to housing accessibility identified by African refugees in Erfurt, and what are the major strategies they employ to overcome these barriers in accessing affordable housing in Germany? What are the possible pathways of housing among African refugees from the onset of arrival in Germany to their current housing status in their attempt to access the housing market in Erfurt? Using Clapham’s (2002) housing pathway framework, the study employed a case-study approach, with interviews of African refugees, an expert from Erfurt’s Department of Urban Development and Planning, and a social worker from the Caritas Organization in Erfurt. The results concluded that African refugees use two major strategies to find housing in Erfurt: the self-assisted pathway (internet- and smartphone-based strategy) and the locally assisted pathway (community organization support strategy). Furthermore, the results reveal that the housing pathways of African refugees in Erfurt comprise four stages: accommodation provided by social networks or organizations upon arrival, initial reception facilities, temporary accommodation, and current accommodation. This suggests a distinct pathway to housing compared to other cities due to the nature and structure of the rental housing market in Erfurt. 

Abstract 6 

Title: Impact of Service Cuts on Accessibility and Perception of Lower Income People 

Author: Maryam Karbasi, PhD Student, Urban Studies 

Abstract: Accessibility is a central concern in transportation equity research, shaping employment opportunity and social inclusion for low-income and minority populations (Kawabata, 2003; Grengs, 2012). Yet recurring transit service cuts – driven by fiscal shortfalls or external disruptions – have reduced mobility for those most dependent on public transportation (Ho, Zmud, & Walker, 2024; Kar, Carrel, Miller, & Le, 2022). This study examines how Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) service reductions in 2026 have affected both the measured accessibility of jobs and the perceived experiences of disadvantaged riders. It asks: (1) How have service cuts altered transit-based job accessibility? (2) How do affected riders perceive and adapt to these changes? and (3) How do these perceptions align – or diverge – from quantitative accessibility outcomes? Employing a mixed-methods design, the research integrates GTFS-based accessibility modeling (Wu, 2020) with qualitative interviews following Boschmann’s (2011) interpretive approach. 

Abstract 7  

Title: Land Through Networks 

Author: Ava Danzer, Undergraduate Student, School of Social Welfare 

Abstract: “Neighborhoods are produced through networks; when cultural networks are disrupted, new “healing networks” emerge to foster community ownership, protection, and preservation. Beginning with a case study of a residential home in Milwaukee’s Metcalfe Park neighborhood, this project uses microhistory to show how the construction, ownership, and occupancy of a single property reveal the broader economic and social relationships that have shaped the community over time. Drawing on deed and property records, it traces how these networks have structured the neighborhood’s formation, persistence, and transformation from the 1890s to the present, with particular attention to their evolving spatial, economic, and social dimensions. This research combines archival work at the Milwaukee Public Library, the County Register of Deeds, the Milwaukee Historical Society, and the American Geographical Society with collaborative ethnographic research conducted over the past year alongside Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, a resident-led organization. Framed through the concepts of visibility and invisibility, the project examines how some networks are formally documented while others remain obscured. By reading ownership and sales records against lived community knowledge, it reveals the layered and often hidden social forces that have produced and sustained the Metcalfe Park neighborhood.” 

Abstract 8 

Title: Locating Milwaukee’s (In)Conspicuous Eco Neighborhood(s) 

Author: Allyn Lottouzee, PhD Student, Urban Studies 

Abstract: Would you know an eco-neighborhood if you saw one? This study explores how Milwaukee residents perceive the existence and location of “eco-neighborhoods,” and how these perceptions align – or diverge – from official designations. Drawing on a combination of 100 brief, on-the-ground interviews and online surveys, residents were asked four questions: Does Milwaukee have an eco-neighborhood? If it does, where? What qualifies this location? What neighborhood do you call home? Responses reveal a tension between “conspicuous eco-urbanism” (Caprotti, 2014), in which visible green practices such as community gardens or bike lanes symbolize sustainability, and top-down eco-neighborhood designation from Milwaukee’s Environmental Collaboration Office (ECO). While Lindsay Heights and Sherman Park have been formally designated as eco-neighborhoods, many respondents are unaware of these classifications, instead pointing to areas with visible sustainability projects, such as urban agriculture plots, new tree canopies, or bike infrastructure. Others expressed skepticism that any Milwaukee neighborhood qualifies under global models like France’s EcoQuartier or LEED-ND. Framed within Holden et al.’s (2015) seven axes of eco-urbanism, resident responses were coded to assess whether grassroots perceptions align with formal frameworks. Results suggest Milwaukee’s eco-neighborhood identity is emergent, skewing toward ecol-urban and equi-urban qualities (energy efficiency, equity, affordability) while lacking strong econ-urban or democ-urban dimensions. The findings highlight a gap between administrative branding and lived neighborhood identity, raising questions about whether eco-urbanism is best cultivated through designation or through resident-led recognition. This study contributes to debates on eco-neighborhood legitimacy, green gentrification, and the balance between policy-driven and community-driven sustainability. 

Abstract 9 

Title: Milwaukee in the Civil War 

Author: Ethan Stahl, Major: History 

Abstract: This project seeks to answer the question of how Milwaukee and the surrounding area reacted to the American Civil War and how the city’s response changed over time. This is seldom a dedicated avenue of research and as such deserves to be interpreted and discussed with the public. The research will chiefly consist of primary sources, most notably the diary of Anson Buttles and newspapers like the Milwaukee Sentinel and the Milwaukee Daily News. From the research, one can begin to understand the atmosphere that must have existed in the city at the time. At the commencement of hostilities, Milwaukee was near universal in its support of the war, but a notable dip in enthusiasm occurred in 1862 before it reached an equilibrium in the latter stages of the conflict. Much of the modern social and political landscape has its roots firmly planted in the Civil War; thus, a deep look into the period, with Milwaukee serving as the lens, can generate a better understanding of the present.

Abstract 10 

Title: Variation in Perspectives of Experience: How Access is Perceived on Milwaukee’s Oak Leaf Trail 

Author: Micah Viall, Undergraduate Student, Urban Studies 

Abstract: The Oak Leaf Trail, extending 135 miles north to south, serves as a primary multi-use rail-to-trails trail for residents and visitors of Milwaukee, WI. More than a half-million individuals use this paved pathway annually. Despite its advertisement as an inclusive and accessible public green infrastructure, anecdotal knowledge suggests discrepancies  –  friends and locals reveal a lack of safety and accessibility. This project argues that the experience of green infrastructure such as the Oak Leaf Trail depends on individual perspective and background. My research involves interviews, experiential walks, and participant observations on the trail. I conducted three walks with women living in the Upper East Side of Milwaukee to discuss their experience of the Oak Leaf. Questions included their experience of safety, accessibility, and frequency of recreational use. The project concludes that perspectives of inclusivity and accessibility are not only affected by governance and physical infrastructure but are equally influenced by the cautionary tales shared both by city dwellers and non-residents. While this research focuses on the perspective of women, it opens broader discussions about how inclusion and access are perceived variably. This fieldwork offers insight into methods of expanding access to rail-trail trails across socioeconomic and identity borders. 

Abstract 11

Title: Murals and Identity in Milwaukee

Author: Xitlali Piceno, Undergraduate student, Sociology

Abstract: This project explores how public art reflects neighborhood identity in Milwaukee through a focus on murals found across the north, south, east, and west sides of the city of Milwaukee. Murals are often seen as decoration, but they can also work as forms of public history by showing local culture, preserving memory, and making community values visible in everyday spaces. My goal of this project is to show how murals reflect the neighborhoods where they are located and why their meaning is shaped by place as much as by the image itself. To do this, I selected murals from different parts of Milwaukee and looked at how each one connects to the history, culture, and character of its neighborhood. The final project takes the form of a mini exhibit for a public audience and includes printed images, museum-style labels, a map of Milwaukee divided into north, south, east, and west sections, and short notes explaining why each mural is meaningful in the neighborhood where it appears. By organizing the exhibit this way, the project shows both the differences and the shared themes found across Milwaukee’s neighborhoods. Overall, this project argues that murals do more than make a place look better. They help communities make their stories visible and show how neighborhood identity can be expressed and remembered in public space.

2026 Urban Studies Capstone Project Posters (URB STD 600)

Abstract 1 

Raze or Revive?: Analyzing Demolition as Urban Policy after the 2008 Housing Crash in Milwaukee  

Author: Michael Jensen  

Abstract: This research aims to answer the question of how demolition policy became politicized in Milwaukee following the 2008 housing crash. In the aftermath, the city came under ownership of thousands of foreclosed properties, mostly concentrated in the historically segregated and disinvested North Side neighborhoods. Many properties were abandoned and in utter disrepair. Using a historical discourse analysis of Common Council proceedings, department reports, and local media coverage, this research analyzes how officials framed demolition as a necessary response to the foreclosure crisis and how they linked demolition to the revival of neighborhoods. While initially used as a last resort measure, demolition policy became increasingly prominent under programs like Strong Neighborhoods. This policy was found to be popular, cited as helping stave off increasing crime rates and reduced property values. However, demolition did not address the root-causes of disinvestment, as weak market demand hindered development and prolonged vacancy continued. This research helps contribute to the understanding of how policy responses are shaped not only by real-world conditions, but also by rhetorical framing and discourse. 

Abstract 2 

Title: Beyond Demolition: Lasting Imprints of the Park West Freeway in Milwaukee  

Author: Alexandria Vborny 

Abstract: This study examines the long-term spatial impacts of mid-twentieth century urban renewal in Milwaukee, where federally supported programs such as the Housing Act of 1949 and the Interstate Highway Act of 1956 encouraged large-scale demolition and redevelopment. The partially constructed Park West Freeway and the clearance of over 1,500 homes near North Avenue and Fond du Lac Avenue illustrate how these interventions reshaped land use while displacing residents and disrupting established communities. This research asks how freeway planning and demolition reshaped land use patterns in this area and what redevelopment strategies are currently being implemented. To address these questions, historical aerial imagery is analyzed to compare pre- and post-demolition conditions, in addition to a review of planning documents and redevelopment initiatives, including repurposing vacant lots, housing rehabilitation, and business and neighborhood district revitalization efforts. Findings suggest that the spatial disruptions caused by mid-century clearance persist, contributing to fragmented land use patterns and ongoing redevelopment challenges. Yet current reinvestment efforts demonstrate how coordinated planning and community-focused initiatives can begin to mitigate these long-term impacts. Together, these results underscore the importance of integrating historical context into contemporary planning and highlight the need for equitable, place-based strategies to address the enduring consequences of past infrastructure decisions. 

Abstract 3 

Title: Flood Control or Social Control? Governance, Equity, and Community Power along Milwaukee’s Kinnickinnic River  

Author: Alair Posard  

Abstract: Flood mitigation projects in U.S. cities increasingly operate at the intersection of environmental risk management and social inequality, yet their governance dynamics remain understudied. Milwaukee Kinnickinnic (KK) River corridor-long shaped by flooding, disinvestment and concentrated Latinx population-offers a critical case for examining how environmental infrastructure can both reduce safety hazard and reproduce uneven power relations. This study investigates how flood-control interventions along the KK River functions as instruments of governance, how institutional and media narratives frame their social impacts, and how residents interpret and dispute redevelopment pressures and displacement risks. The project asks: How do KK River flood-mitigation projects operate as tools of environmental governance in historically marginalized neighborhoods, and how do institutional narratives shape public understanding of their social effects? Using a qualitative mixed-archival approach, the study analyzes Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) documents. Environmental statements, public records, media coverage from 2010-2026 and institutional communications and planning designs. Archival and media coding identifies themes of displacement, risk, authority and above all, engagement. Preliminary findings suggests that while flood-control efforts reduce hazards, they can intensify redevelopment pressures and reshape relations in communities and governance-which positions residents as passive recipients rather than active partners. Institutional narratives emphasize technical progress and revitalization, whereas community perspectives highlight concerns about finances and long-term being. These results indicate that environmental infrastructure can unintentionally reinforce social control when equity is not centered in planning processes. This study pushes urban environmental governance debates forward by revealing that flood-control infrastructure is never just technical-its political terrain where power is negotiated, communities are reshaped, and equity is either upheld or undermined. The findings underscore an urgent need for community-driven planning, anti-displacement protections and overall accountability that treats residents not as passive recipients of “improvement.” but as co-governors of their own neighborhoods. 

Abstract 4 

Title: From Private to Public: The Creation of The Milwaukee County Transit System in 1975 

Author: Haylan Blanchard 

Abstract: The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) was established on July 1, 1975, following the county’s acquisition of the privately owned Milwaukee & Suburban Transport Company (M&STC). This transition was part of a broader national shift from private to public ownership of urban mass transit systems in U.S. cities during the 1960s and 1970s. The decline of private transit is often attributed to rising operational costs, strict government regulation, and decreased ridership due to automobile competition. Using a historical and qualitative content analysis of archival materials, this study examines the factors behind the failure of privately operated public transit in Milwaukee and explores how the unique organizational structure of MCTS continues to impact operations to this day. This approach seeks to examine the historical context and legislative frameworks active in Milwaukee County to answer these questions. The financial struggles of M&STC, brought on by declining ridership and increased operational costs, prompted Milwaukee County’s acquisition; the resulting MCTS was then operated by a private, non-profit corporation created and led by former M&STC executives. A historical understanding of the acquisition and structure of MCTS is necessary to address the chronic funding challenges the system faces today. 

Abstract 5 

Title: Homeownership Disparities in Milwaukee: The Role of Community Organizations and Housing Policy in the Effort to Purchase Homes for Marginalized Residents. 

Author: Anna Perez 

Abstract: Often described as having one of the highest rates of racial segregation in the United States, Milwaukee is a city in which Black and Brown residents have continually faced discrimination in a sector that has deeply contributed to the racial wealth gap: the ability to purchase a home. This lack of opportunity and its effects, as well as efforts to address inequalities that exist within the world of homebuying, have been studied by many in different cities. But how does a city like Milwaukee begin to address an issue that is so deeply rooted in its history? Who are the actors and organizations that have taken on the challenge of finding solutions to homeownership inequities across racial and ethnic demographics? What challenges do these actors face? This paper explores the ways in which local organizations connect with community members to provide home buying resources while navigating obstacles such as housing policy changes, limited resources, and the unique circumstances experienced by the individuals that are being served. Through literature and data review, as well as some qualitative sources such as interview and archival data, this paper finds that the road blocks experienced by community housing organizations both mirror the obstacles that are seen across the country, while simultaneously navigating issues unique to a city as historically segregated as Milwaukee. The inner-workings of Acts Housing, along with the Milwaukee Community Land Trust and Community Development Alliance are explored. Findings highlight organization constraints and opportunities, and examines how services compare and contrast with others that are offered nationwide.  

Abstract 6 

Title: Transit Justice and the Politics of Development: The Case of Milwaukee’s Connect 2 BRT 

Author: Charlie Engling 

Abstract: With MCTS implementing the new Bus Rapid Transit system, many residents along the 27th street corridor were awaiting the Connect 2 BRT line that was announced after the Connect 1 line was developed and put into operation. Unfortunately, the project was postponed indefinitely with officials citing budget restraints from an underperforming local tax revenue policy and reliance on state funding. Often, transit planning in higher-income neighborhoods is prioritized under the name of economic development, but this pattern typically leaves low-income neighborhoods behind. How does the prioritization of the Connect 1 route reflect broader patterns of planning bias and discrimination? What does the postponement of Connect 2 mean for the transit-dependent residents surrounding the 27th street corridor? Looking into previous examples emphasizing economic development and sidelining communities facing disinvestment, this research contends that what happened to Connect 2 was not just a product of poor fiscal timing, but the outcome of a system that has historically not treated these poorer communities as a priority. A review of examples of major cities across the country reveals a pattern of transit investments flowing towards wealthier, whiter corridors while transit-dependent communities of color absorb service cuts and deferred upgrades. In Milwaukee, this trend is apparent – within a half mile of the 27th street corridor, 63% of residents live in poverty, 76% are people of color, and one of five households have no car, yet it was the comparatively affluent Bluemound and Wisconsin Avenue corridor that opened the first BRT line.  

Abstract 7 

Title: Patterns of Development: A Comparative Study of Milwaukee’s 56, 67, and 71 Tax Incremental Districts (TIDs) 

Author: Nathan Powley 

Abstract: Over the past several decades, cities across the United States have increasingly relied on Tax Incremental Districts (TIDs) as a tool for promoting urban economic development. Designed to incentivize private investment and development within designated areas, TIDs function by funding current development costs through leveraging future property tax revenue increases. Despite this, the localized impact of TIDs remains understudied and debated at the district level. This study seeks to answer the following questions: what patterns of development, investment, and change are observable within Milwaukee TIDs over time, and how do development trajectories differ across TIDs in terms of scale, timing, outcomes, and investment? Through a comparative case study approach investigating three Milwaukee TID districts, this analysis reviews City of Milwaukee incremental reports alongside literature on the role of TID within the development landscapes of Milwaukee and the broader region in order to track patterns of investment, development, and change across the specific districts over time. The study suggests that within Milwaukee, TIDs are associated with concentrated development and increased investment within the district boundaries, but the scope and consistency of these changes can vary from project to project. The findings also suggest that TIDs function as a valuable tool in shaping where and how development occurs within the city, however, the results also highlight the varied and context-dependent nature of TID developments, emphasizing the importance of careful planning in their implementation. 

Abstract 8 

Title: Prevention, Protection, and Intervention: Comparing Youth Programs in Milwaukee  

Author: Amelia Walker 

Abstract: Urban youth programs are increasingly recognized as critical interventions in addressing inequality, mental health needs, and criminal justice contact, particularly in highly segregated and economically disadvantaged cities like Milwaukee. This project examines how youth-serving organizations in Milwaukee function as key sites of support and intervention, responding to structural inequalities shaped by racial segregation, economic disinvestment, and disparities in policing. It asks how these youth programs differ in their approaches to youth support and intervention, and how they engage with or serve as alternatives to surveillance systems such as policing. This study uses a qualitative organizational analysis of three Milwaukee youth programs: Project Q Milwaukee, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee, and Wraparound Milwaukee. The analysis draws on contextual and organizational data to understand how each program operates within Milwaukee’s social and spatial environment. The findings suggest that these programs operate along a spectrum of intervention, ranging from preventative measures and identity-based support to intensive system coordination for high-risk youth. Together, they illustrate how community-based organizations can both complement and provide alternatives to different systems by emphasizing relationships, safe spaces, and individualized care. These results highlight the importance of investing in diverse, community-based youth programs, and suggest that policies prioritizing prevention, mental health-informed care, and cross-system collaboration may be more effective than reliance on traditional justice system responses. 

Abstract 9 

Title: Shared Urban Greenway and Uneven Change: Land Use and Redevelopment Along Milwaukee’s Beerline Trail in Riverwest and Harambee 

Author: Henry Hopton 

Abstract: Urban greenway and rail-to-trail projects have been commonly adopted in post-industrial cities as strategies to support neighborhood revitalization, connectivity, recreational activity, and the reuse of underutilized space. In Milwaukee, the Beerline Trail has been promoted as a recreational area that connects surrounding neighborhoods, encouraging public use, and supporting local redevelopment. However, these impacts are unevenly distributed, shaped by neighborhood conditions and existing patterns of investment. This study looks at how the Beerline Trail functions across Milwaukee’s Riverwest and Harambee neighborhoods, focusing on differences in land use, visible redevelopment, and everyday recreational activity along the former rail corridor. It uses a comparative approach that focuses on the areas along the trail, drawing on direct field observations measuring trail use, visible redevelopment, maintenance, and conditions along the corridor. Additionally, it uses a review of city planning documents connected to the Beerline Trail. These methods help to identify patterns of difference that can be observed along the trail, rather than being measured through economic indicators. The findings suggest that redevelopment along the trail is closely tied to existing neighborhood conditions, with improvements and connectivity appearing unevenly. Sections of the trail in Riverwest show higher levels of consistent public activity, visible reinvestment, and maintained conditions, while sections in Harambee reflect limited physical change. While the trail provides a shared space for recreation, public use, and community connection, it does not function uniformly. Instead, it reflects how greenway infrastructure interacts with uneven urban development and existing neighborhood conditions, shaping how the trail is experienced across different areas. 

Abstract 10 

Title: When AI Becomes Your Neighbor: Support and Contestation in the Development of Hyperscale Data Centers in Southeast Wisconsin  

Author: Sam Maurer  

Abstract: With private investment at a multi-billion-dollar scale as well as potential impacts to the entire state, AI data centers have emerged as almost unprecedent forces of change for dozens of Wisconsin municipalities, especially in the Milwaukee area. Hyperscale data center development in southeastern Wisconsin has generated intense conflict between large technology companies, utility providers, local governments, and community residents, yet there is little academic work examining how these projects are negotiated at the local level. Questions of who is in favor and who is opposed to these data centers, how their demands are voiced, and who has power over these developments are relevant to anyone who may be impacted by the development, construction, or operation of these data centers, and were used to guide this study. This research aims to identify and examine the coalitions that form to support and contest these massive and ongoing developments by analyzing local media coverage, public meetings, government policy, interviews with community leaders, and actions of private companies involved in these developments across multiple Wisconsin communities. Findings highlight how infrastructure for AI and rapidly evolving modern technology reshape local government and raise questions surrounding how space is controlled and contested in our communities, and who benefits and who is burdened by this massive datacenter development.