The first gathering
The first NEWaukee meetup became a recurring series around Milwaukee.
Origins / Co-founded in 2009
NEWaukee
A social experiment that grew into a new way for Milwaukee to meet itself.
Representational imageA city recognized the work
Milwaukee’s mayor proclaimed February 13 NEWaukee Day.
Jeremy’s founding chapter closed
Jeremy departed to pursue civic passions after helping shape the organization’s evolution.
From the archive
Creating the conditions for connection.
The Starting Point
NEWaukee began with friends hosting gatherings for newcomers in Milwaukee. The first meetup in 2009 became a recurring invitation to explore the city and meet people outside the usual circles.
Jeremy’s Role
Jeremy co-founded NEWaukee and served as its Chief Idea Officer, helping turn a social experiment into an organization built around experience design, community engagement, and new forms of civic participation.
What It Became
The work expanded from gatherings into city-scale experiences and programs including Young Professional Week, Milwaukee Night Market, Urban Spaceship Conference, Milwaukee Founders Community, and client engagement work.
The Human Outcome
The category changed repeatedly, but the mechanism stayed consistent: create an invitation, lower the barrier to participate, and give people a reason to encounter one another.
The Continuing Legacy
NEWaukee continues today as a Milwaukee engagement agency. Its history offers durable evidence that a playful community idea can become an institution with a life beyond its founders.