“ We want all these people to feel at home “ - REV. DR. ALEX GEE
even just as a broader experience.” In addition to the cultural aspects, the center will also be a place for Black entrepreneurs and artists to create and foster their ideas and mentor and be role models for each other. “This gives our people a centralized space to witness the vast creativity and knowledge that already exists in our communities.” While the center is in its design phase, Gee is working to meet with people in the Madison community to learn how the center can be most useful to those who will utilize its services. “We are conducting sessions with scores of African American single moms, ex-offenders, young adults, faculty members, and doctors. We want all these people to feel at home, so I want them to know we’re listening to get a collective sense of their needs so we can incorporate solutions into this space.” The facility will have conference rooms and classrooms to host workshops, a performance stage for creative expositions, and a commercial kitchen for food service during events. “Nothing like this exists in Wisconsin. We want this to be a place for both this community and others around the county.” Gee’s long-term vision for the center includes expanding to locations like Atlanta, Dallas, and other major cities across the U.S. “People have been saying, ‘We need a cultural center,’ and I’ve been thinking about that a lot during the last decade. We need space to regroup and strengthen our community. That’s not just here in Madison. That goes for Black people everywhere. We need a place that fosters success specifically within the Black community and gives us the connections and resources to help us achieve it.” The center’s inaugural campaign will begin in the spring. Gee expects construction to start in the fall of 2022. MAKING PEOPLE FEEL AT HOME
development, the Center for Black Excellence and Culture will be a physical space designed to promote unity among the African diaspora, generate Black wealth, focus on Black health, and encourage Black cultural celebrations. Gee birthed the idea for the center after recognizing a need for Black people to have a space created specifically for enjoying their culture. “Churches used to be where people would go for an experience of music, food, and celebration. While the church certainly still plays that role in a lot of areas, there isn’t a place that offers that experience for unchurched communities or
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