Historic Harambee neighborhood building named after Reuben and Mildred Harpole | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
October 14, 2021
Reuben Harpole (far right) is honored during a ribbon-cutting this week. Daniel J. Bader (middle), president and CEO of Bader Philanthropies, said the Harpoles “spent the majority of their lives serving our community on many levels.” (Photo provided by Bader Philanthropies)
Reuben Harpole, the “unofficial mayor of Milwaukee,” earned another honor this week after Bader Philanthropies announced the newly renovated Harambee neighborhood building at 3338 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive will be named in honor of him and his late wife, Mildred.
The late Mildred Harpole, shown with her husband, Reuben, worked tirelessly on behalf of the community. (File photo provided by the Harpole family)
“Reuben and Mildred spent the majority of their lives serving our community on many levels – in our schools, neighborhoods, philanthropy and through countless civic endeavors,” said Daniel J. Bader, president and CEO of Bader Philanthropies in a news release.
“This building and its tenants were born in response to what we heard directly from our neighbors. It’s only fitting we name a community building to honor their determination, perseverance and courage to make the lives of others better. It is a testament to their legacy that continues to inspire so many people today.”
The historic Harambee building houses Sam’s Place, a Milwaukee-based eatery and jazz café; Shalem Healing, a nonprofit clinic that serves the uninsured and underinsured; and Refua Medicinals, a business that combines the use of Chinese herbs with modern nutritional science.
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We recently wrote about Reuben Harpole as part of our “Living Legends” series.
LIVING LEGENDS: Reuben Harpole’s secret: Be true to the day you were born
We also remembered Mildred Harpole after she died in 2019.
Milwaukee mourns death of ‘queen of our community’: Mildred Harpole fought for education equity, equal rights