Increasing African American Donor Participation: Progress and Next Steps in Community Education

When I first read about the Milwaukee Divine Nine members using art to spark conversations around organ donation, it struck me not just as a health initiative, but as a profound cultural moment unfolding right in the heart of Wisconsin’s largest city. The exhibit, blending creative expression with a critical public health message, feels especially resonant given Milwaukee’s deep-rooted traditions of community advocacy and its ongoing efforts to address health disparities that have historically impacted Black and brown neighborhoods.

What makes this effort particularly noteworthy is how it taps into the long-standing role of the Divine Nine—those historically Black Greek-letter organizations—as pillars of service and education within African American communities. For decades, these groups have mobilized around everything from voter registration to scholarship funds, and now, their involvement in promoting organ donation awareness represents a natural extension of that legacy. In a city where systemic barriers to healthcare access have persisted, initiatives like this aren’t just informative—they’re acts of trust-building.

Looking at the broader context, organ donation rates among African Americans have lagged behind other demographics for years, not due to lack of need, but often because of mistrust in medical systems, cultural beliefs, and insufficient outreach tailored to specific communities. According to national data referenced in the exhibit’s supporting materials, while African Americans make up a disproportionate share of those waiting for transplants, they remain underrepresented as donors. The Milwaukee-based artists and organizers behind this exhibit are directly confronting that gap by meeting people where they are—through galleries, dialogue, and shared creative experiences rather than clinical lectures.

This kind of grassroots engagement mirrors what we’ve seen in other cities where cultural institutions step in to fill gaps left by traditional public health campaigns. In places like Chicago’s South Side or Atlanta’s West End, similar efforts have used barbershops, churches, and now art spaces to normalize conversations about health that might otherwise feel taboo or intimidating. What’s emerging is a model where trusted community intermediaries—whether they’re fraternity and sorority members, local artists, or faith leaders—turn into essential translators between medical institutions and the public they serve.

Milwaukee’s own landscape makes it a particularly fitting place for this kind of work. From the bronze statues along the RiverWalk honoring the city’s industrial and immigrant roots to the vibrant murals in Walker’s Point that celebrate Latino and Black excellence, public art has long been a vehicle for storytelling here. The Divine Nine exhibit adds another layer to that narrative—one where aesthetics and advocacy intersect to encourage not just reflection, but action. Imagine walking past a powerful mixed-media piece near the intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and North Avenue, pausing to read a QR code that links to donor registration, and realizing that art didn’t just beautify a corner—it might have helped save a life.

Given my background in community-driven storytelling and public health communication, if this trend impacts you in Milwaukee, here are the three types of local professionals you need to know about when seeking to support or replicate such initiatives:

• Culturally Competent Public Health Coordinators: Look for individuals or teams embedded within Milwaukee’s community health centers or nonprofit organizations who have demonstrated experience designing outreach campaigns that resonate with specific cultural groups. They should understand the nuances of health literacy in Black and Latino communities, have partnerships with trusted local institutions (like churches or Divine Nine chapters), and prioritize two-way dialogue over top-down messaging.
• Community-Based Arts Facilitators: Seek out local artists, collectives, or arts administrators who specialize in creating participatory projects that address social issues. The best facilitators don’t just produce art—they create spaces for dialogue, often working with groups like the Milwaukee Artists Resource Network or the Hmong American Friendship Association to ensure diverse voices shape the creative process. Check for portfolios that include past public installations tied to health, education, or civic engagement.
• Faith and Civic Engagement Liaisons: These professionals bridge gaps between secular health initiatives and religious or fraternal organizations. In Milwaukee, this might imply someone who works with the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee, collaborates with Divine Nine chapters on service projects, or has experience navigating the sensitivities around end-of-life discussions within faith communities. Their value lies in their ability to speak both the language of public health and the cultural dialects of trust.

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