My favorite story of 2023: How Djdade Denson is building community and changing lives in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Meredith Melland
December 29, 2023
In writing about Milwaukee’s neighborhoods for about six months now, I have already met so many residents who love their block, their neighborhood and the city and contribute to its success.
Djdade Denson radiates passion about community-building in Milwaukee.
As a project management freelancer in the construction industry, co-owner of a restaurant, director of a camping retreat for Milwaukee boys and men and recent graduate of the Associates in Commercial Real Estate program, Denson wants to support and be a resource in the community he grew up in.
When I interviewed Denson a few months ago for a profile story, we planned to meet during his off hours at Coffee Makes You Black, the gathering space he now co-owns.
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After I arrived, he called me and said he was still needed at the construction site he was working at, Gallery 507, and invited me to do the interview there.
As we sat outside of the building and talked, Denson reflected on commercial development, learning from elders and the challenges and opportunities he sees in his ZIP code, 53206, and across Milwaukee.
I scribbled notes in case my audio recording would be filled with background noise of cars passing by. Storm clouds darkened and rolled closer until it started to sprinkle and we moved inside.
This experience was my first time interviewing someone at an active construction site. It gave me a deeper understanding of one of the environments Denson works in, and I appreciated him being generous with his time and space.
It also served as a reminder to show up, because you never know what details you will notice.
The story required thoughtful editing to cover Denson’s range of accomplishments without being too long, and I hope the final product gives readers a glimpse into his mission.
Read the story here.