South Africa and the Near West Side

On October 7, 2016 the Near West Side Partners Housing Working Team had the opportunity to host a delegation of South African partners involved in Marquette University’s South Africa Study Abroad program. The members of the delegation -- Linda, Melikaya and Bernard -- are natives of South Africa and were a part of MU’s South African study abroad program. The delegation joined the housing team to see how Marquette University and the Milwaukee community collaborate on issues surrounding housing.

The Housing Working Team and the delegation discussed the Near West Side open house tour that took place in late September, and the ongoing development of a housing plan. The delegation also took a tour that included stops at a few of the Near West Side neighborhood sites.

Hosting the South African delegation in Milwaukee was a great opportunity to see some of the similarities in community and economic development that the Near West Side and Cape Town, South Africa share. Although the two communities are thousands of miles away they both have the goals of strengthening home ownership, supporting families, and developing entrepreneurs.

Special thanks to the Near West Side Partners’ Housing Working Team, Marquette University’s Offices of International Education, and Community Engagement.