Esperanza Unida Inc. is a nonprofit organization that has for over 30 years provided job training and placement to unemployed minority workers of Milwaukee. The organization has been a leader in economic development matters in Milwaukee.
Esperanza Unida is once again demonstrating creative leadership in economic development in a dynamic way by leading an international effort to establish a Sister City relationship between Manisa, Turkey, and Milwaukee.
Over the years, Esperanza Unida has focused on local campaigns to develop economic opportunities for Milwaukee’s central city. We are still focused on continuing that work. What we want to do now is expand our efforts by creating economic opportunities for residents of the central city by attracting international markets to Milwaukee. We feel that the city of Manisa will be a great economic partner.
Manisa is a large city in Turkey’s Aegean region and the seat of Manisa Province. In recent years, Manisa has become a booming center of industry and services. The city’s economic boom is supported by its close proximity to the international port city and the regional metropolitan center of Izmir, Turkey.
In 2007, the Financial Times’ FDi magazine highlighted Manisa as the top Turkish city in terms of cost effectiveness, transport, and overall foreign direct investment among cities across 13 European regions.
The relationship established with government officials and business leaders in Turkey is anchored by leaders of the Turkish community in Milwaukee. Turkish leaders seeking to create partnerships with a diverse community asked Esperanza Unida to work with them. After agreeing to work with them, I was invited to visit Istanbul, Turkey three years ago. With the help of Dr. Suleyman Kurter and Dr. Fetullah Canpolat, leaders in Milwaukee’s Turkish community, I have had the pleasure of being able to help establish a very strong bond between Turkish leaders in Turkey with leaders of our community.
In 2006, I was able to work with Turkish business leaders seeking to buy heavy earth-moving equipment. I asked that they delay their purchase and give me time to see if Ie could secure an opportunity to leverage a contract between these businesses and Bucyrus International Inc.
Before I let Bucyrus in on the potential deal, I spoke with Dr. Darnell Cole of the Milwaukee Area Technical College and explained to him the potential benefits of such an international effort. I saw this as an opportunity to provide central-city workers an opportunity to get quality welding instruction at our agency so that they can compete for these Bucyrus jobs. I figured, I’m getting Bucyrus the contracts.
Dr. Cole saw the benefits and immediately acted to support Esperanza Unida. His staff and key administrators studied the proposal and all agreed that having a heavy-plate welding program placed at Esperanza Unida would be beneficial to the community Esperanza Unida serves.
However, when the matter went up before the MATC Board of Directors, board members Pedro Colon and Peter Earle led the arguments against the initiative. By a 5-4 vote, the MATC board killed the project.
The setback did not stop Esperanza Unida. Upon news of the defeat, Turkish business leaders went on to buy the equipment from a company in Italy. However, they informed me that they still wanted to open a trade route into America via Milwaukee.
Dr. Kurter and I went back to Istanbul in September 2007 and met with the Mayor of Manisa, Turkey. We spoke about creating a Sister City agreement. Manisa’s Mayor asked that we engage in serious trade talks if that were to happen. I informed Manisa’s Mayor that we have a great opportunity to open new markets between Milwaukee and Manisa.
After the meeting with Manisa’s mayor, a delegation of Milwaukee Turkish leaders and I then met with numerous Turkish Congressmen, the secretary general of Turkey and a senior official representing the president of Turkey. We wanted to secure federal-level authority for this initiative. We were assured that we had support.
Dr. Kurter and I returned to the United States and secured a letter of invitation from Milwaukee Alderman James Witkowiak to Manisa’s mayor. Witkowiak’s letter invited the City of Manisa to become a Sister City with Milwaukee.
In December 2007, Manisa’s Common Council met to discuss the proposed Sister City initiative with Milwaukee. By a unanimous decision, the Common Council of Manisa, Turkey, voted to be a Sister City with Milwaukee.
Witkowiak, Dr. Kurter and I are now on our way to Istanbul with a letter from Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, expressing support and hope for a mutually beneficial agreement.
Milwaukee’s Common Council will soon be voting to ratify this Sister City effort. Soon, an agreement will be drafted and presented, so that Manisa’s mayor and Milwaukee’s mayor will sign on building close cultural, educational and economic ties with each other.
Robert Miranda is executive director of Esperanza Unida and is the editor of Spanish Journal in Milwaukee. For additional information, contact (414) 671-0251.
