Keith Stanley has served as executive director of Near West Side Partners for the past eight years. He is stepping down at the end of the year to become president and chief executive officer of Charlotte, North Carolina-based University City Partners. During Stanley’s leadership of NWSP, 47 new businesses have opened within Milwaukee’s Near West Side area. In an interview with BizTimes Milwaukee reporter Ashley Smart, Stanley reflected on his time with the organization.
How NWSP can keep growing
“The NWSP team and community know efforts must go beyond getting businesses in storefronts and residents in homes. A continued focus on the bigger picture – supporting neighborhood efficacy, community engagement, cross-collaboration and equity – is key to sustaining commercial corridors and supporting business owners. To do so, we’ve developed transformative programs like Rev-Up MKE and Near West Side Week. Keeping those traditions alive – and building on them – brings immense value to our business owners and residents.
“In addition, addressing city-wide challenges through advocacy for improved public transportation and a solution to the reckless driving crisis will make the Near West Side more accessible and desirable to visitors and help our commercial corridors thrive.”
Biggest future challenges
“All nonprofits and organizations working on behalf of the community will continue to face the many structural issues associated with housing, workforce development and social determinants of health. Near West Side Partners was built in large part to address these challenges, through initiatives like the PARC program, Landlord Compact meetings and most recently, the Concordia 27 project. Expanding partnerships, evolving solutions to meet the needs of the community, and continuing to be advocates for our residents and business owners are essential to maintain momentum and deliver on the NWSP mission to nurture a well-balanced, thriving mix of residential neighborhoods and business corridors.”
Tips for creating private-public partnerships
“For a successful private-public partnership you need a few key ingredients: leadership and commitment from the top of the institutions, passion from the staff and team in the community, a strong belief that cross-collaboration is effective in the service of good and – perhaps most important – trust. Establishing trust among residents, stakeholders, anchors and other partners lays the foundation for everything to follow, and it’s no easy task, but everyone deserves a seat at the table and the peace of mind sharing a common vision can bring. That’s how you make the magic happen and accomplish big goals – together.”
Time to move on
“Near West Side Partners has offered me so much in the past eight years, and it’s been an honor to help build and lead the organization. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of its staff, board, anchor institutions, business owners and residents, NWSP has established itself as a model for private-public partnership and resident engagement. It’s a bittersweet goodbye, but the chance to continue NWSP’s organizational model and successes in Charlotte is an exciting one. Near West Side Partners is in good hands and will no doubt continue to make a positive impact on the community and the city of Milwaukee.”
