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The new year has just begun and many of our brothers and sisters are asking themselves not what they’ll eat—but if they’ll be able to feed their families at all. For many, the road to recovery from recent flooding has been long and uncertain. Families remain displaced, and those who have returned home are still grappling with what repairs they can afford to make.
This instability, coupled with growing food insecurity, makes this season especially stressful. In 2021, only 79% of Milwaukeeans lived within one mile of a grocery store, according to the Milwaukee Fresh Food Access 2023 Map Updates. That number has likely declined as major retailers like Walmart, Pick ‘n Save, and Walgreens have closed locations across the city. The most recent store closure was Aldi on North Sherman Boulevard and now potentially closing this week is the Sentry on Silver Spring Drive. These closures disproportionately impact our most vulnerable neighbors—those already facing economic hardship, transportation barriers, and limited access to healthy food.
But there is hope—and action.
I’m excited to share that the African American Roundtable (AART), in collaboration with 11 dedicated community residents, has launched a food access campaign focused on Milwaukee’s Northwest Side. This initiative is rooted in the belief that access to healthy, affordable food is a human right—not a privilege. It is essential that the Mayor and the Common Council designate funding for a Fresh Food Bill to ensure Milwaukee’s Northwest Side has more grocery stores, farmers markets, community gardens, and community education programs. Residents of Milwaukee’s Northwest Side deserve to eat with dignity and choice!
Learn more about the African American Roundtable’s work.
As a senior healthcare compliance and contracting professional, Lolita Williams focuses on building systems that expand access, improve quality, and support vulnerable populations. Her commitment to addressing food insecurity reflects her broader mission to remove barriers that impact overall community well-being.
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