Milwaukee, Wis., Jan. 26, 2021 – With construction imminent, the community-centered ThriveOn Collaboration has announced ThriveOn King as the name of its physical home at 2153 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. The collaboration’s lead organizations – Royal Capital Group, the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation – anticipate work will begin in spring 2021, now that the purchase of the former Gimbels and Schuster’s Department Store building is complete.
Created through strong neighborhood input, the ThriveOn King name honors the spirit of its special location between King Drive and Vel R. Phillips Avenue and pays reverence to the history and legacy of those who have brought pride and vibrancy to the community for generations.
As the construction planning and organization phase commences, the collaboration will be announcing virtual job fairs, safe open house tours and other intentional efforts to ensure a high level of economic empowerment for the adjacent neighborhoods as a result of jobs and local small business participation.
“With the neighborhood engagement and partnership leadership from both the public and private sectors, I’m pleased that we are advancing a neighborhood development that is inclusive, and that will serve our collective aim toward continuing to advance thriving communities,” said Kevin Newell, president and CEO of Royal Capital Group.
Coalesced around a vision for Milwaukee that is equitable, healthy and thriving for all, the ThriveOn Collaboration’s programs and investments focus on matters related to economic opportunity, health and wellness, early childhood education, housing, and social cohesion. The place-based collaboration is designed to bring economic and social benefit to the community, leveraging the complementary expertise and resources of the Foundation, MCW and Royal Capital.
“Every step forward in this collaboration brings us closer to the community we serve, and we can’t wait for the day we open the doors to the Foundation’s new headquarters at ThriveOn King as true neighbors and partners,” said Ken Robertson, executive vice president, COO and CFO for the Foundation. “The Foundation’s strategic vision calls us to recenter communities, and our work here together is the perfect example of living that vision. This is a model collaboration that counteracts racism and disinvestment by representing community voices and advancing our collective, long-term commitment to systemic change.”
“Through the ThriveOn Collaboration, the expansion of community assets will be a primary goal, said Greg Wesley, senior vice president of strategic alliances and business development for MCW. “ThriveOn King will house many of these within the first floor space of the building. It is thrilling to see the ongoing conversation and input of the community be developed and constructed in the building.”
Authentic community engagement is a hallmark of the ThriveOn Collaboration, and this includes investing in the ideas and priorities of residents and other neighborhood leaders. The collaboration is integrating community perspective and participation through a dedicated Community Advisory Council whose 15 members live or work in Halyard Park, Harambee and Brewers Hill. Council members have a prominent voice in grantmaking and program initiatives supported by the ThriveOn Collaboration.
Through the Council’s recommendation, the ThriveOn Collaboration recently awarded $30,000 in grants to support youth, employment training and community-based activities that encourage youth social connections, promote peace and build community cohesion in the participating neighborhoods:
Applications for a second grant cycle will be due May 31, 2021.
More updates on the ThriveOn Collaboration can be found at thriveoncollaboration.org.
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation is Wisconsin’s largest community foundation and was among the first established in the world. For more than a century, the Foundation has inspired philanthropy by connecting generous people to community needs that align with their interests. The Foundation was founded on the premise that generosity can unlock an individual’s potential and strengthen the community as a whole for everyone who lives here. We work in partnership with those who are committed to ensuring greater Milwaukee is a vibrant, economically thriving region that comprises welcoming and inclusive communities providing opportunity, prosperity and a high quality of life for all.
With a history dating back to 1893, The Medical College of Wisconsin is dedicated to leadership and excellence in education, patient care, research and community engagement. More than 1,400 students are enrolled in MCW’s medical school and graduate school programs in Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Central Wisconsin in. MCW’s School of Pharmacy opened in 2017. A major national research center, MCW is the largest research institution in the Milwaukee metro area and second largest in Wisconsin. In the last ten years, faculty received more than $1.5 billion in external support for research, teaching, training and related purposes. This total includes highly competitive research and training awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Annually, MCW faculty direct or collaborate on more than 3,100 research studies, including clinical trials. Additionally, more than 1,600 physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, provide care in virtually every specialty of medicine for more than 2.8 million patients annually.
At Royal Capital, having the opportunity to serve its communities in such an intimate and catalytic manner, is a privilege that it carries with high appreciation. From housing, retail, philanthropy, and community services, the people of Royal Capital Group are grateful for the opportunity to provide quality experiences that stretch beyond bricks and mortar. With a disciplined strategy and intentional execution, its efforts have led to the development of quality sustainable communities, while achieving the double bottom line for its investors and partners. The employees of Royal Capital Group are proud to be considered leaders in urban development, and we maintain our excitement to build, create, and be afforded the opportunity to “color outside the box.”
