NEWS APP. AND HAPPENING TODAY, BRONZEVILLE WEEK IS NOW UNDERWAY IN MILWAUKEE. THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHTS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE CITY’S NORTH SIDE. 12 NEWS DUKE CARTER TELLS US HOW THE KICKOFF EVENT IS HELPING FAMILIES HAVE HEALTHIER PREGNANCIES AND BIRTHS. IT WAS VERY ALL WORTH IT ALL. DEFINITELY ALL WORTH IT. MARQUEL JENKINS IS ONE OF ABOUT 100 RUNNERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE ANNUAL HARAMBEE FIVE K TO ACTUALLY RUN FOR A PURPOSE AND RUN FOR JUST REALLY JUST TO RUN TO GET ACTIVE. THE RUN WALK IS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY BIRTH OUTCOMES. THE FOUNDER, TONDA THOMPSON, STARTED THE ANNUAL RUN AFTER LOSING HER SON, TERRELL. POST CHILDBIRTH. MY MISSION WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL BABIES ARE BORN STRONG AND HEALTHY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TO A LOT OF PEOPLE OF THE ISSUES OF RACIAL DISPARITIES IN BIRTH OUTCOMES THAT HAPPENS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY HERE IN MILWAUKEE. 53212 WAS THE HIGHEST INFANT MORTALITY RATE ZIP CODE. SO THAT’S WHY WE CENTERED IT HERE SAYING, HEY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR BABIES ARE BORN HEALTHY. WHAT ORGANIZERS TELL US THE RACE NOT ONLY PROMOTES AND PROVIDES A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, BUT IT ALSO BRINGS THE COMMUNITY HERE IN BRONZEVILLE TOGETHER. THIS AREA. 20 YEARS AGO, MY COLLEAGUES DECIDED TO CREATE A NEW BRONZEVILLE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. AND SO FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS, WE A WHOLE BUNCH OF STAKEHOLDERS AND SPONSORS PUT TOGETHER BRONZEVILLE WEEK, WHICH IS A WEEK THAT HIGHLIGHTS AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE IN THE HEART OF BRONZEVILLE IS THE AMERICA’S BLACK HOLOCAUST MUSEUM, WHICH IS NOWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY BUT HERE. AND THEN WE’RE ABLE TO SHOWCASE THE BEST KING DRIVE IN THE NATION, AND THEN WE’RE ABLE TO SHOWCASE SO MANY GREAT BUSINESSES, EATERIES AND OTHER PLACES LIKE THAT. GOT TO PUSH FORWARD FOR THE COMMUNITY. IF YOU PUSH FORWARD, THE COMMUNITY, WHO YOU PUSHING FOR? THEN WE’RE IN MILWAUKEE. DUKE CARTER, WISN 12 NEWS. BRONZEVILLE WEEK RUNS THROUGH NEXT SATURDAY AND TOMORROW IS THE BRONZEVILLE CULTURAL AN
Bronzeville Week begins in Milwaukee with 5K run to promote healthy births
Bronzeville Week in Milwaukee started with the Harambe 5K run-walk, aiming to raise awareness about unhealthy birth outcomes and racial disparities in the African American community.
Updated: 7:07 PM CDT Aug 2, 2025
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Bronzeville Week in Milwaukee kicked off with the annual Harambe 5K run-walk, an event designed to raise awareness about unhealthy birth outcomes in the United States, starting at North and MLK Drive.Marquell Jenkins, one of about a hundred runners who participated, said, “It was very, all worth it. Oh, definitely all worth it.” Jenkins expressed the value of running for a purpose and staying active.The event was founded by Tonda Thompson, who initiated the annual run after losing her son Terrell post-childbirth. “My mission was to make sure that our babies are born strong and healthy in our community. And, to alarm people of the issues, racial disparities of birth outcomes that happens in the Black community here in Milwaukee,” Thompson said.Thompson highlighted the significance of the location, noting, “53215 was the highest infant mortality rate ZIP code. That’s why we centered it here, saying, hey, we need to make sure our babies are born healthy.”Organizers emphasized that the race not only promotes a healthy lifestyle but also fosters community unity in Bronzeville. “This area 20 years ago, my colleagues decided to, create a new, Bronzeville, African American cultural and entertainment district. And so for the last 15 years, we, a whole bunch of stakeholders and sponsors, put together Bronzeville Week,” they said.Bronzeville Week highlights African American culture, featuring sites such as America’s Black Holocaust Museum, unique to Milwaukee, and showcasing local businesses, eateries, and other cultural highlights. Participants are encouraged to support the community, with one runner stating, “You gotta push for it, for the community. If you ain’t pushing for the community, who are you pushing for then?”
Bronzeville Week in Milwaukee kicked off with the annual Harambe 5K run-walk, an event designed to raise awareness about unhealthy birth outcomes in the United States, starting at North and MLK Drive.
Marquell Jenkins, one of about a hundred runners who participated, said, “It was very, all worth it. Oh, definitely all worth it.” Jenkins expressed the value of running for a purpose and staying active.
The event was founded by Tonda Thompson, who initiated the annual run after losing her son Terrell post-childbirth.
“My mission was to make sure that our babies are born strong and healthy in our community. And, to alarm people of the issues, racial disparities of birth outcomes that happens in the Black community here in Milwaukee,” Thompson said.
Thompson highlighted the significance of the location, noting, “53215 was the highest infant mortality rate ZIP code. That’s why we centered it here, saying, hey, we need to make sure our babies are born healthy.”
Organizers emphasized that the race not only promotes a healthy lifestyle but also fosters community unity in Bronzeville.
“This area 20 years ago, my colleagues decided to, create a new, Bronzeville, African American cultural and entertainment district. And so for the last 15 years, we, a whole bunch of stakeholders and sponsors, put together Bronzeville Week,” they said.
Bronzeville Week highlights African American culture, featuring sites such as America’s Black Holocaust Museum, unique to Milwaukee, and showcasing local businesses, eateries, and other cultural highlights.
Participants are encouraged to support the community, with one runner stating, “You gotta push for it, for the community. If you ain’t pushing for the community, who are you pushing for then?”
