Goals for Greater Milwaukee 2000 began in 1978 when Wilfred Kraegel convened a small group
of people to discuss the possibility of a Milwaukee Goals Project. In May of 1979, the
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Division of Urban Outreach funded a Milwaukee Goals Forum
at which approximately sixty Milwaukee area leaders met with experienced Goals leaders from
other cities. In November of 1979, the Milwaukee Journal
sponsored a daylong program featuring speakers from business, academia, government and labor
to look at Milwaukee's future. Between January and June 1980, the Milwaukee 2000 Planning
Group, co-chaired by Wilfred Kraegel and Anthony Catanese, met monthly to establish a broad
outline of the project including their purpose, the geographic area they would cover, a time
frame, and the committee structure. In July, the planning group approved the papers of
incorporation, established themselves as an interim board, appointed a nominating committee
to develop the permanent board and empowered an interim steering committee, chaired by Jean
Tyler, to continue planning a Goals project for the Greater Milwaukee area. In October 1980,
over 100 community leaders were selected to serve on the board of directors.
On December 3, 1980, Goals for Greater Milwaukee 2000 was officially launched at a public
meeting. Invitations were sent to over 1,000 area leaders and organizations. Included with
the invitation was a brief description of the Goals project and a survey form asking if they
wished to participate. In addition, area leaders were asked to respond to the list of
suggested topics for study. The Milwaukee Journal also
created an insert for their newspaper and for general distribution so that citizens could
respond with suggested topics. On the basis of the results from these surveys, the interim
steering committee approved nine areas for study by the Goals project: 1) arts, recreation
and culture, 2) communication, 3) economy/employment, 4) education, 5) health and social
welfare, 6) housing, 7) land use, 8) public safety, and 9) transportation. Frank Horton and
Harry Franke were chosen as project co-chairs for Goals for Greater Milwaukee 2000. Jean B.
Tyler became the executive director in August of 1981. Task force co-chairs were appointed
by the interim steering committee. Between 1981 and 1983, the task forces and their various
committees and subcommittees, conducted research and worked with community citizens and
organizations to create recommendations for improving the Greater Milwaukee area. The final
reports of each of the task forces were made public in the spring 1983.
In 1983, a follow-up group, Action for Goals 2000, was established to encourage continuing
attention to the agenda of Goals for Greater Milwaukee 2000, and to monitor community
progress. Action for Goals 2000's final report focused on the growing gap between
Milwaukee's "haves" and "have nots," and paid particular attention to racism.
