Can I get a yeehaw up in here?

This month's CreativeMornings/Milwaukee was one for the books — and the history books, at that. It felt like a celebration before anyone even sat down.

From the outside, the building is an unassuming dark red brick schoolhouse in a residential neighborhood. Step through the door and it transforms — on this particular morning, into a full-on cowboy celebration.

Guests entered through an archway into the community center gym, which transformed into our lecture hall for the day — with approximately 50 horses displayed throughout. Horse banners, horse posters, inflatable horses, a horse photo booth and on centerpieces with tiny horses to keep us company from every angle. The Missing Peace didn't just host this event — they made it feel like a homecoming.

Then six Black cowboys walked in and gave us a master class on local cowboy history.

See the Full Photo Album

This Month's Featured Venue

We were welcomed with open arms by Babett Reed, Executive Operations Director of The Missing Peace — and she set exactly the right tone.

The Missing Peace is a community collaborative space dedicated to giving people a safe place to share their experiences, find resources, and support one another through a variety of programs and initiatives. Their mission says it best: "Together we can create a world where everyone can find their missing peace and thrive in a community that uplifts them."

If you're looking for a space that genuinely walks its talk when it comes to community, get to know The Missing Peace. They're the real deal.

This Month's Featured Performer

Before the cowboys took the stage, DJ Julian Gross set it. March's featured artist kicked off the morning with a western playlist that pulled the whole room into the spirit of the day — and if you were there, you felt it.

Julian is more than a DJ. He's a performer, recording artist and sound engineer who brings a perspective shaped by his southern Maryland roots to Milwaukee's local music scene. He has mixed and mastered tracks for artists including Kirko Bangz, Dizzy Wright, and JAY IDK, and his own original sound is just as compelling.

His philosophy on music fits right in with what CreativeMornings is all about: "Music is supposed to tell stories, deliver messages, and emit emotions. I make all of my music based on real life events or experiences. If someone can connect or relate to a certain situation I've been through, I'd consider myself a successful musician."

Julian is available for bookings throughout Milwaukee. Keep an eye out for him — and if you need a DJ who brings genuine artistry to the table, reach out.

Connect, experience and follow along:

📩: juliangross@juliangrossmusic.com
🌐: www.juliangrossmusic.com
🌆: @juliangrossofficial

Our Featured Panelists

You Got To Have Your Heart Involved

View the Full Talk

Cowboy history, as most of us know it, is incomplete. The real story is richer, wider and far more diverse than Hollywood ever let on.

When Kevin Nichols stood up as a 30-second pitcher in front of the April 2024 CM audience, he was hoping to bring those stories to light. Kevin wanted more people to know about the Wisconsin Black Cowboy Association. After his pitch, he connected with Natalie Derr, Kelvin Kazibwe and Jenn Hergert to make that happen.

Language Tells A Story
The word "cowboy" has roots in racism — "boy" was a derogatory term used for Black men regardless of age. White workers were called "cow hands" or "ranch hands." Mexican workers were called "vaqueros." Only Black workers got saddled with "cowboy" — and yet they claimed it, owned it and made it legendary.

Built By Many Hands
Vaqueros — Mexican and Indigenous people — were the original American cowboys, teaching settlers how to work cattle and the land. Black and formerly enslaved people brought deep knowledge of animal husbandry and horsemanship from Africa, becoming masters at training horses and cattle. The American West was a collaboration. It just wasn't written that way.

Names We Weren't Taught
Bill Pickett, Bose Ikard, Isom Dart, and more shaped the famous cowboy culture. Bass Reeves, a Black U.S. Marshal, brought in over 3,000 felons and is widely believed to be the real inspiration behind The Lone Ranger. Stagecoach Mary (Fields) drove the mail across the West. Deadwood Dick (Nat Love) was one of the best riders and sharpshooters around. These stories exist — they've just been skipped over, whitewashed in films and TV that quietly race-swapped real history.

As Percy Evans put it: "The Black man helped build the American West — and we are left out of history."

History Lives Right Here in Milwaukee
These aren't cowboys who traveled in from somewhere else. They're our neighbors. Doc Stamps grew up a few blocks from where we sat, at 25th and Vine — his cousins went to school in the very building that now houses The Missing Peace. Percy Evans was born and raised in Milwaukee and spent his career as an educator in Milwaukee Public Schools, weaving Black cowboy history into his work. Mack Kirksey has been around horses since age 4 and got his first pair of boots at 5. For these men, cowboy culture isn't a hobby or a heritage project — it's identity, rooted right here in the Walnut Hill neighborhood.

And they ride for this community in the most literal sense. When a little girl named Alexis Patterson went missing, Milwaukee's Black cowboys didn't wait on the sidelines. They saddled up and rode through parks, along the lakefront and through backyards, searching for her. That's what it means to be a cowboy in the city.

How You Can Show Up for Milwaukee's Cowboys
These men aren't just horse riders — they're active community members who show up. Here's how we can show up for them:

• Invite them to your block, they'd love to visit
• Talk to local representatives about making parks and open lots more horse-friendly
• Keep an eye out for cowboy events happening around the city — and bring a friend
• Advocate for more cowboy and horse education year-round, not just during Black History Month
• Get involved or donate to the Milwaukee Black Cowboy & Buffalo Soldier Association https://www.mkebsa.org/donate
• Go see the "Forged by Steele" documentary on Sunday, March 29!
• Stay open! All are welcome in cowboy culture.

As Mack Kirksey said simply: "I am who I am." That kind of grounded authenticity is exactly what our world needs more of.

Forged By Steele Documentary

The story of the Milwaukee Buffalo Soldiers Association is being told in the upcoming film: Forged by Steele with a March 29, 2026 premiere. It is a documentary that highlights their journey, horses, heritage and mission.Sunday, March 29
3:00-4:00 p.m.
The Oriental Theatre
2230 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202

🌐: www.mkebsa.org

A Love Letter from January 16 کورسو (Koorsoo) Event

The 2026 CreativeMornings MKE season kicked off in true storybook fashion with our first event of the year, themed Koorsoo — a faint glimmer of hope that survives in the darkness.

As snow fell steadily all morning, Hart Park in Wauwatosa transformed into a wintery Wisconsin scene, setting the perfect backdrop for a theme rooted in quiet resilience and soft rebellion against despair.

Curling teams slid across the ice nearby while attendees gathered, bundled up and energized, to welcome the new year together.

Our Venue Hosts

Hosted by Heat Haven Suna Park, owners Jesse Hieb and Ryan Bingham shared their vision: “We just wanted to build something that helps people feel good, connect with others and maybe even enjoy being outside when everyone else is hiding inside.”

With hot coffee generously donated by Discourse Coffee, donuts from Cranky Al's, and good vibes fueled by a completely full room (and standing room only!), the morning was a powerful reminder that even the smallest sparks of warmth and connection can shine bright in the heart of winter.

Our Featured Performer

Setting the tone for the morning was Maximiano Janairo, who's music held the room with a quiet, steady glow. Their work is rarely about just one emotion, moment or person — instead, it lives in the in-between, where growth, uncertainty and hope gently overlap.

Their debut album, The Real Truth, explores how experience flows through seasons of change, making it a natural and deeply felt companion to our January theme, Koorsoo.

Maximiano shared that they knew there was a faint glimmer of hope — but didn’t quite trust it yet.

So they did what artists do best: they wrote a song to convince themselves. That song, “Simple,” was performed for everyone in attendance, offering a tender moment of honesty, vulnerability and soft reassurance that lingered long after the final note.

The Real Truth was ranked the third best album of 2024 by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, described as “one of the most piercing and emotionally resonant collections of songs from a Milwaukee artist… a towering artistic achievement.” And there’s more to look forward to — Maximiano will be releasing their second album, Rokeby, on April 1.

Connect, listen, and follow along:
📩: musicbymaximiano@gmail.com
🌐: maximianomusic.com
🌆: @publicmaximiano

This Month's Speaker

Our January CreativeMornings MKE keynote was a powerful reminder of how storytelling can carry us through life’s most unexpected chapters. Suzanne Spencer began by asking a simple but profound question: What’s the story behind where you are today?

As a news reporter, she built her career around telling stories of resilience — stories that mattered. Every day, she saw how storytelling had the power to inform, connect and make a difference. But in 2021, the story that would put her most to the test became her own.

A phone call from her doctor revealed a brain tumor, abruptly changing the script of her life. Suzanne went from having it all to not knowing what the next day would bring, eventually undergoing two brain surgeries — one while pregnant.

She shared the moment with striking honesty: “I was facing death at the very moment I was also bringing life into this world.”

Through sincerity, vulnerability, and humor — including the blunt email she sent to her family announcing she had a brain tumor — and photos she once thought she’d never share, she invited the room into the most challenging season of her life.

Suzanne spoke openly about the flood of what ifs: What if I don’t survive surgery? What if I come out of this differently? Will I return to a job that I love? How do I become a mom to a newborn while recovering from brain surgery?

And ultimately, the question that reshaped everything: “What is the point of surviving it if I don’t turn it into something more?”

When I say mic you say check – Mic? Check. Mic? Check.

From that experience, Suzanne introduced a simple yet powerful framework for resilience — M.I.C.

Mindset
Mindset matters. She described intentionally shifting from fear to gratitude, starting with a single decision and choosing her mindset in each moment.

Inner Voice
The inner voice narrates the story we tell ourselves, which then becomes the story we tell others. Becoming curious about that voice can change everything.

Community
Resilience doesn’t happen alone. Build your community before you need it. To receive support, you also have to give it. Her message resonated because it was universal.

While her story centered on a brain tumor and an unexpected diagnosis, people saw themselves in it — the invisible scars, the uncertainty, the moments when life comes without a blueprint or guidebook.

Suzanne's story reminded us that challenge connects us all, and that long after the details fade, you will remember how you felt hope.

Espresso Shots

Danielle Scampini Linn | Little Geese Shop

Our first Espresso Shot kicked off with serious heart and high energy from Danielle Scampini Linn, owner of Little Geese Shop — a community-driven children’s boutique built for real life with kids.

As a mom of three (ages 3, 6, and 8), Danielle shared her belief that life shouldn’t stop or completely change when you have kids — you should bring them along on all your adventures. Little Geese Shop was created to make that possible, offering a space where families can care for their kids while still caring for themselves.

From buying, selling and shopping thoughtfully curated secondhand finds to renting welcoming spaces like the Mother Goose Room and Golden Goose Lounge, Little Geese is all about flexibility, connection and community.

With a mission to make secondhand shopping fun, easy, and genuinely worth it, Little Geese Shop gives high-quality kids’ clothing and gear a second life — helping parents save money, reduce waste and keep their little ones looking great. Danielle’s passion, joy and rapid-fire enthusiasm filled the room, reminding us that strong communities are built one tiny treasure (and one bold idea) at a time.

Learn more or get involved:

🪿: 7601 Harwood Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53213
📩: hello@littlegeeseshop
🌐: littlegeeseshop.com
🌆: @littlegeeseshop

Anna Jarecki Cure | Nourish Skin and Sugar Studio

Our second Espresso Shot brought the buzz with Anna Jarecki Cure, founder of Nourish Skin and Sugar Studio, a locally owned East Tosa wellness space redefining modern, holistic self-care.

What started as a one-woman operation has grown into a phenomenal team — and in 2026, Nourish is leveling up even more with plans to expand into a full-service hair studio, create more community-driven experiences and continue growing their CBC-based skincare line, Good Influence.

From introducing sugaring — a gentler, plant-based form of hair removal still new to the Midwest — to actively investing in her neighborhood, Nourish is rooted in care, intention and connection.

Anna shared her journey of building a business and is now working toward purchasing the building and expanding the studio’s impact even further. Her message landed simply and powerfully: “When you invest in the people and places with intention, everything thrives.”

It’s a domino effect — and Anna is living proof of what happens when you pour back into your community.

Follow along and connect:

🧖🏻‍♀️: 6230 W North Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53208
📩: nourishmkestudio@gmail.com
🌐: nourishmke.com
🌆: @nourishskinstdio

Matt Garza | "You Got A Guy" Build & Finish Pro

Closing out our Espresso Shots was Matt Garza, founder of You Got a Guy Build & Finish Pro — and yes, he really is that guy.

New to Milwaukee after moving from Austin, TX about a year ago, Matt brings quality craftsmanship, straightforward pricing, and refreshingly honest work to local homeowners who want to love their spaces. From house painting to custom-built furniture, his focus is on results that last — and projects that don’t come with stress.

Matt spoke candidly (and hilariously) about how overwhelming homeownership can feel. His goal? To make home projects easy, enjoyable, and actually kind of fun — by being reliable, paying attention to the details, and showing up as someone you’re genuinely glad to have in your home.

In an industry where trust can be hard to find, Matt emphasized how important it is to be professional, transparent, and respectful of both people and budgets. With humor, heart, and a genuinely helpful spirit, Matt made it clear he’s not just fixing homes— he’s building trust.

If you’ve got a project in mind (big or small), shoot him an email at mattmgarza@gmail.com or text 512-644-3038.

Event details
📆 Date: Friday, October 17th
⏰ Time: 8:30 – 10:00 AM
📍 Location: Radio Milwaukee – 220 E. Pittsburgh Ave; Milwaukee, WI 53204
🎟️ Tickets are FREE! 

Mao Beckett is our keynote speaker!

All about Mao 🪷❤️‍🔥📖
Mao Beckett (she/they) is a second-generation Cambodian American and founder of Reset and Resilient Wellness. She earned her Master of Social Work degree from Boston College after seven years of active duty service in the Air Force in preventative medicine. As a liberation-centered, EMDR Therapy Certified somatic-spiritual therapist and guide, Mao integrates ancestral and spiritual practices with contemporary understandings of neurobiology and brain healing science, recognizing the nervous system’s innate capacity to rewire, repair, and create new pathways of resilience.

Rooted in a lineage of Kru Khmer, traditional Cambodian healers, she supports people in healing relational wounds, unlearning internalized oppression, and cultivating deeper connection with body, land, and community. Her work nurtures spaces where individual and collective healing flourish grounded in love, joy and compassion.

By engaging the body, mind, and spirit together, she helps people reconnect with their nervous systems, the land, reclaim their voices, and reimagine pathways toward liberation.

Our theme for October is SOFT.
It was chosen by our Victoria chapter in British Columbia, Canada and illustrated by Leah McInnis.

The world feels hard in so many ways. Couldn’t we all use more softness?

Soft is gentle, empathic, and vulnerable. But being soft is not a weakness. It is a sign of deeper strength. Having the courage to walk through life without armor. A willingness to listen before speaking. Welcoming whatever comes with open palms. Pulling someone close for a hug.

What if our work was softer? What would we make with a little tenderness? Art that truly resonates. Innovations that heal instead of harm. Communities that hold one another instead of tearing other people down.

Soft can be a quiet form of resistance. Practice subtlety, trust, and intimacy in a world that celebrates loud braggadocio, knee-jerk reactions, and blunt force.

Let’s snuggle up and let down our guard. Soft can be our salvation.

Read more on the CM blog.

About Radio Milwaukee
Radio Milwaukee is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing diverse music programming and fostering community engagement. It owns two stations, 88Nine and HYFIN, and is committed to connecting the community through music, stories, and events, while spotlighting local talent and reflecting Milwaukee’s rich cultural diversity. Beyond radio, the organization serves as a community connector, bringing people together through the power of music and storytelling.

Getting there
📍 Address: 220 East Pittsburgh Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204

🚲 By bicycle: For those riding from the north, the Water Street bridge is currently closed due to repairs, so use the Broadway Bridge to reach East Pittsburgh Avenue. From the east or west, the Hank Aaron State Trail routing takes you right along East Pittsburgh Avenue. The KK River trail's northernmost point is at East Pittsburgh Avenue at the Broadway Bridge.

🚌 By public transit: The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) bus routes 15, 18, and Green stop southwest of Radio Milwaukee on South 1st Street near East Pittsburgh Avenue. Note that all southbound routes over the Water Street bridge will detour to the Broadway Bridge to reach East Pittsburgh Avenue. For details, see RideMCTS.com.

The Hop Streetcar stops in the Third Ward near The Milwaukee Public Market on St. Paul Avenue, and it is about a five-block walk south along Broadway, across the bridge, to East Pittsburgh Avenue. For details, see TheHopMKE.com.

🅿️ By car: For those driving from the north, the Water Street bridge is currently closed due to repairs, so use the Broadway Bridge to reach East Pittsburgh Avenue.

Event details
📆 Date: Friday, September 19th
⏰ Time: 8:30 – 10:00 AM
 📍 Location: Alice's Garden – 2136 N 21st St, Milwaukee, WI 53205 (**a nearby indoor location has been secured in case weather is not in our favor. stay tuned!)
 🎟️ Tickets are FREE! 

All about Mikel
Mikel McGee is the founder and lead creative of 414LORAL, a Black woman-owned floral studio based in Milwaukee’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood. What began as a kitchen counter hobby, designing arrangements for friends and family-has grown into a beloved flower shop known for its playful design and community rooted spirit.

Mikel’s path into floristry started with a one-credit elective at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, long before she ever imagined she'd turn flowers into a career. With a Master’s in Criminal Justice and a background in nonprofit and community work, she spent years in service driven spaces before transitioning into entrepreneurship. 414LORAL was born from that intersection, where beauty meets purpose, and storytelling becomes a way to connect and care for community.

Since opening her brick and mortar shop during the pandemic, Mikel has built a brand that specializes in custom arrangements for weddings, events, and everyday moments with a commitment to locally sourced blooms, sustainable practices, and intentional design.

When she’s not designing flowers, Mikel finds joy in the little things: perfectly fluffy pancakes, cute nail art, dilly dallying without guilt, and her English bulldog Gramps. Her work and her life is rooted in joy, curiosity, and the belief that beauty is worth slowing down for.

Our theme for September is BLOSSOM.
It was chosen by our Pereira chapter in Colombia, illustrated by Edwin Morales, and is presented by Adobe.

No one is born with all the knowledge and skills they’ll need to thrive in life. That’s why kids go to school. But we shouldn’t stop learning once we graduate. We need to find new teachers.

A mentor doesn’t have to be an expert or the top of their field. Just someone who’s been there and done that before. Someone to show you the way and offer a bit of advice and encouragement. Ideally, they’re willing to make introductions and mention your name when you’re not in the room.

Being a mentor is considered a way of giving back. But mentors get just as much out of the relationship, if not more. Beyond the satisfaction of helping, mentors also learn from their mentees. From a fresh way of looking at established practices to tackling new problems with a beginner’s mind.

So, ask for help. We all could use a guide as we climb. Find your mentors and be a mentor in return. Your plans for growth are more likely to succeed if they include lifting others up as you rise.

Read more on the CM blog.

About Alice's Garden
Alice’s Garden Urban Farm is a two-acre community farm in Milwaukee’s Lindsay Heights neighborhood that has served the city for over 50 years. It offers more than 100 garden plots for families and organizations and hosts wellness programs, cultural events, and markets. The farm includes an herbal labyrinth, firepit, clay oven, and art installations that support gatherings and learning. Programs range from yoga and herbal education to poetry circles and children’s reading groups, helping people and ideas blossom. Alice’s Garden also uses regenerative farming and a 20,000-gallon rainwater system to promote sustainability. These efforts make it both a neighborhood anchor and a model for urban green spaces.

Getting there
📍 Address: 2136 N 21st St, Milwaukee, WI 53205
🚲 By Bicycle: Accessible via surface streets.
🚌 Bus Route: The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) bus routes Blue, 21, and 81 stop just north of Alice's Garden at the intersection of North Avenue and West Fond du Lac Avenue. For details, see RideMCTS.com.
🅿️ Parking: Plenty of street parking.

Today's session defintely got our wheels turning.

Thanks for raveling to the shore with us for our workshop series around this month's Nomad theme!

Big thank you to the South Shore Yacht Clu for hositng us (we 🧡 you, Mike!); and to Bradley Steckart, Cris Siqueriea and Hannah Samoy for guiding us through exploratory workshops!

We loved the hands-on interaction and are excited to implement more of this in the future. 

Until next time.

See the full gallery on our Flikr profile.

An Exploratory Workshop: Community, Character, & Creativity
Event details

📆 Date: Friday, August 15th
⏰ Time: 8:30 – 10:00 AM
⛵️ Location: South Shore Yacht Club – 2300 E Norck St; Milwaukee, WI 53207
🎟️ Tickets are FREE! 

Meet our workshop leaders

EXPLORE COMMUNITY 🤝
Bradley Steckart is the developer of Sit By Me, a social engagement app and business dashboard aimed at solving the loneliness epidemic and building up local community networks, while promoting local businesses and helping them fill more seats. The story behind his work was recently published in the Biz Times. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.

EXPLORE CHARACTER 🎭
Cris Siqueira is a Brazilian-born multimedia artist. She has earned Master's Degrees in Film and History from UW-Milwaukee and won the 2024 MICE Mini-Grant for her first long-form comic "May You Get What You Want." Before moving to Milwaukee in 2004, Cris owned a small bookstore specialized in graphic novels in her native city of São Paulo, where she also covered comics as a journalist and continues to translate graphic novels to Portuguese. Cris loves curating comics and zines for Lion's Tooth and collaborating with local artists in special projects and exhibitions. She is the co-owner of Lion's Tooth bookstore. Visit Cris' website to learn more.

EXPLORE CREATIVITY 🎨
Hannah Samoy is a Milwaukee-based Filipina-American artist and curator dedicated to preserving cultural memory and building connections. Her work amplifies BIPOC voices and encourages open dialogue around history, belonging, and place. She has curated exhibitions and public programs at satélite Gallery and Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, showcasing artists across disciplines and career stages. Hannah received her BFA from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, completed a two-year curatorial fellowship at the Art Institute of Chicago, and was awarded the 2023 gener8tor Art x Sherman Phoenix Grant. Check out Hannah's website.

Our theme for August is NOMAD.

It was chosen by our Ulaanbaatar chapter in Mongolia and illustrated by Oyuna Bold.

Some people feel compelled to travel from place to place. To live outside the confines and constraints of a permanent address. Others have no choice but to leave home in search of a better life. A nomad embraces discomfort, welcomes the unknown, and sees every detour as a new adventure.

Have you heard the call of the open road? Ever dream of being a digital nomad working from exotic locales? Crossing borders and time zones to discover fresh inspiration and share-worthy views. But following your nomadic spirit doesn’t require collecting stamps in your passport.

The act of creating is its own journey. So, meander through your ideas. Roam between different styles. The most important thing is to take the first step. It doesn’t matter where it leads, because the joy is suddenly finding yourself somewhere unexpected.

Whether you’re racking up frequent flyer miles or navigating a change in your creative career, remember that motion fuels imagination. Wander. Wonder. Repeat.

About South Shore Yacht Club

Founded in 1913 on a floating clubhouse — the LILY E Schooner— South Shore Yacht Club has a rich history. The current clubhouse, built in 1938, is home to the nationally known Queen’s Cup Race across Lake Michigan. Whether you’re a lifelong sailor, a first-time visitor, or just here for great food, sunset views, great company and family-friendly events, there’s something for everyone!

Unlike many yacht clubs, SSYC is a lively hub all year round. More and more of their members don’t own boats, but they still enjoy everything the community has to offer. SSYC dues and slip fees remain affordable, ensuring that South Shore is truly a place where everyone feels at home.

They operate a full-service marina with 230 slips, crane, fuel dock, tender, dry-sail storage and winter storage. The grounds exude genteel charm. Downtown Milwaukee’s waterfront skyline provides a sweeping vista in the distance.

Getting there:

🚲 By Bicycle: The Milwaukee County Oak Leaf Trail passes through South Shore Park by the Yacht Club.

🚌 By Public Transit: The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) bus route 15 stops southbound on Kinnickinnic Avenue at Ellen Street and northbound on Kinnickinnic Avenue at Linebarger Terrace. Walk north on Ellen to Nock and east on Nock to the Yacht Club. It is about a ten-minute walk. For details and connecting routes, see RideMCTS.com.For details, see RideMCTS.com.

🅿️ Parking: Plenty of parking in the SSYC parking lot. Look for the CM signs!

There's something powerful about watching someone stand in front of a room full of people and openly celebrate the fact that they didn't get where they are alone. That's exactly what Steve Glynn, Chief Milwaukee Officer at Experience Milwaukee, did at our July CreativeMornings event — and it was exactly the reminder we all needed.

Steve's story doesn't start with privilege or a built-in network. Growing up in a single-parent, low-income household with his father incarcerated his entire life, he learned early that the traditional pathways to success weren't going to be handed to him. But what could have been a story about barriers became a story about bridges — the ones he built, and the ones others helped him cross.

The Wake-Up Call
When Steve finally graduated college, he had a realization that would change the trajectory of his life. While celebrating with classmates, he noticed something: many of them already had professional networks waiting for them — family connections, mentors, introductions lined up like dominoes. Steve didn't. And instead of letting that be a dead end, he asked himself a different question: What if I built my own network? And what if I helped others do the same?

In 2007, that question became Spreenkler — a creative community and networking group that would go on to connect hundreds of Milwaukee's creatives, entrepreneurs, and tech professionals. It wasn't just about business cards and LinkedIn connections. It was about creating real spaces where people could launch careers, find collaborators, build confidence, and most importantly, see themselves reflected in a community that believed in them.

The Power of People
Throughout the morning at Wantable Cafe, Steve didn't just tell his own story — he told our story. The story of a city built by people willing to show up for each other. He spoke about the mentors who took a chance on him, the collaborators who believed in his vision for Spreenkler, the friends who became business partners, and the strangers who became family through shared creative work.

He talked about selling Spreenkler in 2014 not as an ending, but as a launching point. Because the mission hadn't changed—only the platform. Today, through Experience Milwaukee's podcast, events, and storytelling, Steve continues doing what he's always done: creating spaces for people to connect, shine, and share what makes Milwaukee special.

Milwaukee's Secret Ingredient
What makes Steve's work so vital is that he understands something fundamental about Milwaukee: our greatest asset isn't our lakefront or our breweries or even our food scene (though he'd argue all of those are world-class). It's our people. It's the way we show up for each other. It's the networks we build not because they're transactional, but because they're transformational.
Steve reminded us that morning that none of us get anywhere alone. Not him. Not the founders in the room. Not the creatives, the dreamers, or the entrepreneurs. We are all standing on the shoulders of people who opened doors, made introductions, gave advice, shared opportunities, or simply believed in us when we didn't believe in ourselves.

The Invitation
As the morning wrapped up and people lingered over coffee (because that's what we do in Milwaukee — we stay, we talk, we connect), Steve left us with an invitation: to be intentional about building our own networks, yes, but more importantly, to be the person who helps someone else build theirs.
Because that's what Milwaukee does. That's what Steve does. That's what we can all do.

Whether he's on the ice playing hockey, working from one of Milwaukee's many bars, hanging out with his wife and their four kids (ages 6 to 19), or proving to anyone who'll listen that Milwaukee is truly the best city in the world, Steve Glynn is living proof that when you invest in people and community, you don't just build a network — you build a legacy.

Thank you to Brett Newski for kicking off the morning with such energy. His smart, spirited songs were the perfect opening to July's MENTOR event.

CreativeMornings Milwaukee meets monthly for breakfast lectures designed to inspire the creative community. Each event is free and open to anyone interested in joining our growing community of makers, thinkers, and doers.

Thank you to Wantable Cafe for hosting us and to Steve Glynn for reminding us that connection isn't just nice to have — it's everything.

Check out the full talk here:

Let’s talk about how PUNK our gathering on June 20 was. One hundred twenty-seven creatives gathered at X-Ray Arcade for a truly inspiring morning. Folks didn’t expect a punk concert at 9 a.m. but a punk concert they did get! X-Ray Arcade is an artist-owned and operated venue that aims to provide Milwaukee with the finest in Electric Entertainment: live music, games, food, DJs, pop-ups, weddings, and more. The 10 owners are 100% volunteer – how punk is that!? (Is it punk to say punk this much?) X-Ray Arcade's mission is to create a welcoming environment for everyone to feel the power of gathering. Special shout out to Jason & JJ for hosting us in your space!

This month, we tried something new – folks could bring their own mugs to fill with Discourse’s delicious coffee. It was so fun to see all the unique mugs people brought along. ☕

Our 9 a.m. concert was brought to us by Modern Tigers. We loved jamming out with you! The concert was followed by a truly punk moment. We all took a collective breath … and then we all SCREAMED at the top of our lungs. It was truly refreshing! Here’s to more screaming!

Thank you to TK for reading the manifesto in June! Very punk of you to volunteer. Thank you! If you would like to read the Manifesto at our next event, please email us at milwaukee@creativemornings.com.

Keynote Speaker: Samer Ghani
“There’s nothing more punk than being a Palestinian artist raised by a single mother,” Samer Ghani said, explaining that finding your own personal brand and being an “activist of representation” is the most punk thing an artist can do.

Samer is a visual storyteller who photographs a lot (seriously, a lot) of Milwaukee musicians. He started shooting artists because he realized “I suck at making music,” but also because “if they had good photos, maybe people would start taking them more seriously.” Since 2019, Samer has been a full-time artist, working out of a backpack, editing quickly, and staying true to his honest voice, even when sometimes that means saying “F*ck you, I’m doing it my way.”

“When you find your own brand and carve your own path in a city like Milwaukee, it’s hard to ignore,” he says, reminding us all to challenge the status quo and invest in mutual aid and the creative economy.

That’s pretty punk, if we do say so ourselves! Thank you, Samer for inspiring us all. Check out Samer’s work, and book him next time you need some PUNK visual storytelling.

Watch the full talk:

 

Portrait by Holly Schisler

Samer Ghani is our keynote speaker!

Event details
🗓️ Date: Friday, June 20th
⏰ Time: 8:30 – 10:00 AM
📍 Location: X-Ray Arcade – 5036 S Packard Avenue; Cudahy, WI 53110
🎟️ Tickets are FREE! 

All about Samer Ghani

Samer Ghani is a first generation Palestinian American, born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Raised in a single mother home and taught through Milwaukee Public Schools, Samer’s first encounter with art was with his time spent at Wedgewood Academy (formerly Bell Middle School), where he played violin and won both National and International awards with his orchestra class. In high school Samer’s senior art gallery of photography was highlighted in an OnMilwaukee article (2011), furthering his future career as an artist in the Milwaukee community. In his adult life Samer excelled in university, but more specifically his time at Apple, he became one of the youngest leaders at his store, helping create an environment of innovation from the customer experience to employee relations.

Samer’s time as an artist has bled into the Milwaukee community and beyond, bringing community initiatives to life with partners like The City of Milwaukee, The Bucks, Visit Milwaukee, Imagine MKE, Milwaukee Ballet, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Light the Hoan, Vivent Health, Jigsaw, Hanson Dodge, Bader Rutter, Google Arts & Culture, Universal Music and more, as well as highlighting some of Milwaukee’s best artists in a number of astonishing venues across the city and nationwide.

“Samer Ghani is an artist. An artist with an exceptional eye and a passion for capturing moments. He has built a career combining his camera, curiosity, and community into works that stand out from the noise, that elevate the subject of each shot. The Milwaukee based director, producer, photographer, videographer, and journalist may have honed his skills by documenting live music, but his hard work and eagerness to grow have expanded his versatility and tools, emerging with one of the most distinctive styles we’ve seen. Samer gives authentic artistic insight and shares his thoughts on working in Milwaukee, connecting his art to being a Palestinian American, and more.” -Nathan Honoré of the License Lab

Our theme for June is PUNK.

It was chosen by our Bologna chapter in Italy and illustrated by Cristina Portolano. 

🎸The description for this month’s theme is written in the style of lyrics to a punk rock song. If you know a band that wants to put them to music, we’ll feature their cover song of our punk rock anthem on the CreativeMornings blog and social. 🎵

Does the system feel broken
Staring at our screens
Not hearing the screams

Wake up wake up wake up

We’re not meant to go it alone
Find your people lift them up
Do what you can with what you got

Wake up wake up wake up

Your creativity can save you
What you gonna make
What you gonna change

Wake up wake up wake up

🎸🎵🧷

Photo + directions by John December

About X-Ray Arcade

X-Ray Arcade is an artist-owned and operated venue that aims to provide the Milwaukee area with the finest in Electric Entertainment: live music, food & drink, games, movies, DJs, art vendors, pop-ups, weddings and more.

“Touring and being a part of the Milwaukee punk scene have been the most formative experiences of my life,” says Woods. “So a big part is making this a fun place for touring musicians.”

The 10 owners are 100 percent volunteer and there are a few paid staff members who work the bar and kitchen. “The intent was never to make money,” says Woods. “We wanted to create a place we could all be proud of and to pay back some of what we got when we were younger from the DIY scene.”

[Pull quotes from OnMilwaukee’s article, “X-Ray Arcade is DIY to the bone.”]

🚌 Bus Route: The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) bus route 15 stops on South Packard at Somers Avenue two blocks north of X-Ray Arcade.
🅿️ Parking: Plenty of street parking on S Packard Ave and E Martin Ave

🎶🎵 DJ Jim Q’s PUNK playlist + blog is LIVE and always a great read & listen.

An excerpt—

Come all rebel rousers, nonconformists and weirdos, this month’s playlist is for the defiant at heart. The theme is Punk, and through this tracklist we will examine all angles of the culture and characters. “Our band could be your life”, The Minute Men open the playlist with that invitation from the first verse of their uncharacteristically sentimental tune, “History Lesson pt II”. The Replacement, examine the loneliness and melancholy of the a traveling independent band with “left of the dial”, X-Ray Spex celebrate the expressive exibitionism of punk with “I am a Poseur” and closing with Neil Young’s assessment of the new wave of rebels in “My My Hey Hey, Out of the Blue”, in true punk fashion he sings “it’s better to burn out than to fade away”, a line Kurt Cobain would later borrow to bid the world a farewell in his final note.

Did you know the #1 way people learn about CreativeMornings/Milwaukee is through their friends? 

This month, we invite you to forward this email to a friend. Invite them to sign-up for our newsletter & register for this event with you!

We can’t wait to see you and your buds, pour out some more coffee, and expand our circle of morning people.

Illustration collab by Caroline Ferrero @carolineartsy17 
and Aly Miller @aly_illustrations

On May 16, ninety-two creatives gathered at the beautiful ThriveOn King in Milwaukee for an inspirational and creative morning (no pun intended! 😉). The space, which is the renovated and rejuvenated historic Gimbels-Schuster’s building, is a vibrant community hub in the heart of Bronzeville. It’s the home to local organizations including the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and the Medical College of Wisconsin’s community engagement programs, along with nonprofit partners, mixed-income apartments, and more. Read more about the space and the ThriveOn Collaboration here. Thank you so much for hosting us in your incredible space!

We sipped coffee from Discourse (thanks, Ryan!), snacked on Cranky’s donuts, and browsed pottery from Terra Alta before settling in for the morning. ☕🍩

To kickoff the morning, performance artist Jonah Denae read us a powerful poem. Everyone in the room was focused and attentive, pulled in by the storytelling and emotion, as she read it. Thank you Jonah for your words and your vulnerability. You inspire us so much!

Both Denae and our keynote speaker were recently featured in Shepherd Express’ Central City Story: The Meaning of Juneteenth 2025: The People Speak. 
Milwaukee residents, leaders, artists, politicians, and everyday people tell us what the holiday means to them. 

Thank you to Stephen for reading the CreativeMornings Manifesto! You rocked it. If you would like to read the Manifesto at our next event, please email us at milwaukee@creativemornings.com. ✨

Photo by Holly Schisler.

Keynote Speaker: KEVIN NEWELL

“There’s a difference between revive and revival,” Kevin began his keynote panel, hosted by speaker coach Alea Cross. He explained that to revive something implies that it is complete, whereas revival is an ongoing and continual process. He shared about how he has been a part of the revival process of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Milwaukee, including ThriveOn King, through his business Royal Capital Group. “I never want to be in a space where I ‘revived’ King Drive.”And what does revival look like on the inside for Kevin? Embracing his love for the hustle and channeling it into the right ways. “I was always hustling,” he said. But he learned to go from being impulsive to finding control. Part of that is trust, along with patience and humility. “Do good by doing well,” he explained is his business philosophy. That, and collaboration, which he says is “the new innovation.” Thank you so much for your inspiring words, Kevin! We walked away remembering to “keep the main thang, the main thang” and are making our lists of “things to do, things not to do, and things that can wait.” Your advice and words of wisdom encouraged us to embrace revival in our own lives! Check out Kevin’s company here to see the great work he’s doing in the Milwaukee community. Thank you to Murphy Fraser for capturing quotes & Brianna Schubert for writing up our recap!

🎬 Filmed & edited by Precious “Jae” Burrell from Epic Media

CreativeMornings is about shining the light on our communities. One way we do this is via 30 Second Pitches. This is where we invite a few people to the stage and share a pitch. Our 30 Second Pitch Nomination Form is always open! Feel free to self-nominate :)

☕️📱 DOWNLOAD THE SIT BY ME APP + MAKE A FRIEND 

Brad Steckart set out to create an app that turns any coffee shop into a spontaneous networking hub. Sit By Me is a Milwaukee-built social app that helps you find nearby people open to quiet co-working or casual conversation in public spaces like cafés, libraries, and breweries. 

Whether you’re new in town or just want to feel less alone, the app makes it easy to share space — without the awkwardness. Focused on bringing the “social” back to “social media,” it’s built for real-world presence and everyday connection. Join the thousands already using Sit By Me in Milwaukee, and discover local businesses making their spaces more welcoming to solo diners, remote workers, and friendly faces.

Download Sit By Me today and discover your next connection, one seat away.

🌷✨ JULY 11 + 25: CONFIDENCE COACHING WORKSHOPSKnown for her empowering coaching philosophy that emphasizes self-awareness, resilience, and actionable strategies, confidence coach Janine Werner helps people break through barriers and embrace their full potential. Grounded in emotional intelligence and positive psychology, Janine will guide you through practical techniques to overcome limiting beliefs and cultivate a winning mindset. Join her in an upcoming workshop at Mother Lion! Janine has offered our CreativeMornings community a 20% discount. Apply discount code CYCFRIEND at checkout.

• Friday, July 11th (9am-1pm)
• OR Friday, July 25th (9am-1pm)

📘📖📚 SUPPORT BERNIE’S BOOK BANK 

Bernie’s Book Bank enables positive life experiences through book ownership. Founded in 2009 in Chicago, Bernie’s Book Bank has distributed over 29 million books to children. Now serving more than 20,000 MPS students with free books, program expansion is underway. 

Curious to learn more or have books to donate? Contact Jenna Renno, executive director for the Milwaukee chapter: jrenno@berniesbookbank.org.

🖼️💫 DISCOVER YOUR INNER ARTIST WITH ARTS @ LARGE 

Arts @ Large is one of Milwaukee’s largest arts education providers, serving communities through impactful programming, collaborative partnerships, and dedicated artist development. Artist in residence curator Jeff Zimpel shared more about A@L experiences led by professional artist educators, supporting the growth of emerging artists, lifelong learners, and students K3-12 through innovative programs, and meaningful community partnerships. 

The Arts @ Large Community Center is located in the Walker’s Point neighborhood and will celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2026. Interested in getting involved? Follow along: @artsatlargemke. 

Event day photos by Holly Schisler. Lots more love in our Flickr gallery.