The Story of Bronzeville

The conception of this nonprofit organization is quite unique. Growing up in Milwaukee, Donavan Hunt and I (Solomon Stewart) became familiar with all the hot spots downtown. We were enjoying the city’s atmosphere, on our way to Taco Mike's restaurant, when we were approached by a man. He exclaimed to us that he was homeless and needed money for food. Unfortunately, neither of us were carrying cash at the time. Not being able to financially support him in this moment left us feeling disappointed. As we continued on down the street, we never noticed he was following us closely. By the time we entered Taco Mikes, he was entering the establishment right behind us. He asked if we could buy him dinner. Without hesitation, Donavan and I ordered him several plates of food, ensuring he would have leftovers.

The owner of Taco Mikes is a good friend of ours. We began talking with him, and he informed us that this sort of thing happens on a recurring basis. Homeless come in and ask for food, in need of a nutritious meal. To accommodate this need presented by the hungry, the owner takes his leftover food from the day and provides it to those in need when he can. He continued to mention that so many local restaurants waste food, when it could simply be presented to those in need. It was at this moment that I knew I could do something to invoke change. After we finished our conversation with the owner of Taco Mike’s, I began to reach out to local businesses and eateries downtown with Cole Barnes and Donavan Hunts support. I gave them a nonprofit pitch and asked if they would be willing to spare any leftover food. In addition, I also began contacting shelters, and they were incredibly receptive. I proposed that we take food from restaurants that would normally go to waste and reallocate it to benefit those who wouldn’t have a guaranteed good day's meal otherwise. By transporting leftover food to shelters, we provide additional resources to feed those that may be struggling.

At this point, all that was missing was an organization name. I chose the name Bronzeville, because back in the day, Milwaukee was known just as that. Bronzeville symbolized a time in which poverty was at an all time low, entrepreneurship was at an all time high, and everyone looked out for one another. There had never been a stronger sense of community. Naming it the Bronzeville Foundation, I felt conveyed the faith I truly have in my city to improve their care of the less fortunate. After receiving generous sponsorships, acquiring agreements between restaurants and shelters, and assembling a passionate team, we were finally ready to put our vision to the test. We are so blessed to have so much support from the downtown/greater metro area community. With all their help, we can change lives, one plate of food at a time.