• Home
  • Archive
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • May 9, 2025

The Madison Times

The Paper That's More Than Black and White

  • News
    • Local News
    • National News
    • International News
    • Sports News
    • Education News
  • Columns
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Life Lessons with Alex Gee
  • Events
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Lifestyle
  • Classifieds
  • Community
    • Middle Spread
  • Milwaukee

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

“300 Strong” Combines Power of Black Male Advocacy Group

October 9, 2015

by Ariele Vaccaro
The Milwaukee Courier

 Two men bond during Saturday’s “300 Strong” event, the first gathering of what is now the Black Male Collaborative. Photo courtesy of Universal Companies.

Two men bond during Saturday’s “300 Strong” event, the first gathering of what is now the Black Male Collaborative. Photo courtesy of Universal Companies.

District 15 Alderman Russell Stamper throws his arms over the shoulders of two young men taking part in “300 Strong”. Photo courtesy of Universal Companies.

Washington Park looked like a sea of gold on Saturday, Sept. 26, as Black male youth in matching gold t-shirts reading “300 Strong” spent the day enjoying each other’s talents and getting to know one another.

Other than their t-shirts, the some 400 young men that showed up to the 300 Strong gathering had something in common. They all belonged to different community organizations with strikingly similar goals.

The event took place to unveil a new initiative called the Black Male Collaborative, a band of grassroots organizations, nonprofits, and businesses all aiming to unite and strengthen Black men in Milwaukee.

Among participating organizations were Running Rebels, Universal Companies, the Boys and Girls Club, Center for Youth Engagement, and We Got This. When the groups begin to work together in October, they plan to help their members to take advantage of their collective services.

“It doesn’t make sense for us to be operating in silos,” said Ptosha Davis, communications manager for Universal Companies. She noted that some of the organizations are serving the same young men.

The collaborative isn’t getting together just to share programming, however.

“We just want black boys to see black men coming together and coming together on their behalf,” Davis said.

The young men watched as their counterparts from other organizations performed poetry, dance, and played music.

They enjoyed a meal for free and learned about what they would be able to do as members of the newly formed collaborative.

According to Davis, 300 Strong implies the strength that Milwaukee’s African American men have in numbers. However, Davis wants to see that number grow as the Black Male Collaborative becomes a well-known Milwaukee entity.

The theme of the event, according to Universal Companies CEO Rahim Islam, was functional unity. He wants to see community organizations work together to make progress toward a common goal.

Saturday was just a taste what that will look like in the months to come, as Black Male Collaborative continues to solidify.

During the event, former Milwaukee firefighter Oshi Adelabu and Co. Supervisor Supreme Moore Omokunde performed a libations ceremony.

Speakers included spoken word poet Kwabena Antoine Nixon, Minister William Muhammad, and others.

We Got This founder Andre Lee Ellis hosted the afternoon.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Popular Interests In This Article: 300 Strong, Ariele Vaccaro, Black Male Advocacy, Black Male Collaborative

Read More - Related Articles

  • Report Ranks Cities by Their Commitment to Improving Life for Black Men, Boys
    Report Ranks Cities by Their Commitment to Improving Life for Black Men, Boys
  • Black Votes Matter: Local Political, Business Leaders Convene for the First Time
  • Department of Workforce Development Encourages Families to Enroll in Wisconsin Promise
  • Viola Davis and Black Actresses Own the 2015 Emmy Awards
  • Clinton Talks Walker and Women During Thursday Rally


Connect With Us

Become Our Fan On Facebook
Find Us On Facebook


Follow Us On Twitter
Follow Us On Twitter

Editorials

Karma Chavez
Amanda Zhang
Julianne Malveaux
Benjamin Chavis
George Curry

Journalists

Jacklin Bolduan
Brianna Rae
Aarushi Agni
Rob Franklin
Claire Miller

Topics

Brown Girl Green $
Young Gifted & Black
Universally Speaking
Ask Progress
Civil Rights

Topics

Police Shooting
Police Brutality
Black Lives Matter
NAACP
Racism

Politicians

Barack Obama
Hillary Clinton
Gwen Moore
Paul Soglin
Scott Walker

Contact Us

Phone:
414-449-4860

Copyright © 2025 Courier Communications. All Rights Reserved.
We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.