Food Leaders Lab Ambassador Opens Grocery Store in Milwaukee Food Desert

The inaugural Food Leaders Lab Milwaukee Class. Photo Credit: GM Creative

Many of Milwaukee’s neighborhoods with the highest poverty rates are also food deserts, with little access to supermarkets carrying affordable fresh food.

The goal of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is to end hunger in Wisconsin, but in order to do so, eradication of these food deserts is imperative.

Maurice Wince, Milwaukee community leader and member of the inaugural Food Leaders Lab class, is well on his way to making an impact in the Sherman Park neighborhood, opening a brand-new grocery store in one of the city’s numerous food deserts.

In celebration of this feat, Wince is opening the doors on July 15 (4315 W Fond du Lac Ave) for his new neighbors to stop by and get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look.

“Sherman Park Grocery is a new social enterprise providing access to affordable, healthy groceries in the Sherman Park Neighborhood,” he said.

The celebration starts at 10 a.m. and is expected to feature food trucks, activities for kids, appearances by community leaders and much more.

Wince’s passion to provide access to food to his community brought him to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, as a member of the Food Leaders Lab.

“Food Leaders Lab is a seven-month advocacy and community leadership institute which connects local residents with lived expertise with hunger to advocacy, policy and leadership opportunities,” said Matt Stienstra, director of strategic partnerships and programs. “Food Leaders Lab Ambassadors work collaboratively, leveraging advocacy strategies to advance anti-hunger solutions in their community.”

Wince, alongside Yashica Spears-Wince are thrilled about the opening of Sherman Park Grocery and look forward to providing accessible fresh produce to the community. “A dream come true, we are truly blessed to be able to do this for the community,” he exclaimed.

“We are honored that Maurice is an ambassador for our inaugural Milwaukee Chapter of the Food Leaders Lab,” added Stienstra. “Maurice is a proud Milwaukee native, has decades of experience working within the food industry and is driven to improve the socioeconomic problems that impact his community.

“His participation with Food Leaders Lab connects directly to his current work opening a brick & mortar grocery store in one of Milwaukee’s food deserts in Sherman Park.”

If you are looking to learn more about the Food Leaders Lab or Sherman Park Grocery, please reach out to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin’s public relations and communications coordinator, Tony Cartagena, via email (tcartagena@feedingamericawi.org).