DNC host committee schedules summits on local issues
Local organizers of the 2020 Democratic National Convention are going all-in on community summits.
On Monday, the host committee formally announced summits on key local issues in a bid to address some of Milwaukee’s most pressing concerns, while also striving to include all parts of the community ahead of the July 13-16 convention.
Northwestern Mutual will partner on the initiative and host all the summits, with the first event to be Nov. 22, local organizers said Monday.
The first program is titled “Ensuring Economic Equity,” as convention organizers push a program of diversity and inclusion among suppliers and contractors.
Applications are due Nov. 11 from local community and business leaders to attend the 3E summit. Interested applicants can send a letter to 3E@milwaukee2020.com by Monday, Nov. 11.
In 400 words or less, applicants are asked to outline what they would gain and bring to the summit.
“Applicants will be selected based on their understanding of or experience with supplier diversity, or their perceived ability to generate new perspectives or advance the current model,” a statement from the host committee said.
Two more summits will be held next year, with a February event called the COMMunity Growth Summit focusing on a variety of issues affecting communities outside of America’s major metropolitan areas, including tech, venture capital, mass incarceration and segregation.
An April summit will focus on increasing civic engagement and volunteerism in the area.
Liz Gilbert, president of the host committee, said in a statement that it is “working to ensure the benefits of the Democratic National Convention extend into every community in the region and last beyond the four days of the convention. Our focus on diversity and inclusion is intentional, and we are proud to launch our three summits, alongside our community-minded partners at Northwestern Mutual, with an event focused on best practices in those critical areas.”
John Schlifske, Northwestern Mutual president and chief executive officer, is an honorary chair of the host committee. He pointed to his firm awarding more than $127 million in contracts to small business enterprises in the construction of the Northwestern Mutual’s landmark office tower and said, “we are glad to see local small businesses offered potential opportunities related to the convention.”
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said the summits provide “a significant step forward in addressing issues that are of concern to our community.”
“We want to create a diverse and inclusive Milwaukee model and legacy that lasts for years to come, and these three summits will help us fulfill that mission,” U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore said.