“There’s a bar and church on every corner.”
- Nearly everyone in Milwaukee
My hometown of Milwaukee seems to have bars and churches on every corner — and I’ve come to believe that’s part of what makes greater Milwaukee one of the most welcoming places in America. It may sound funny, but it’s true. When European immigrants first settled here, they built monumental churches with soaring towers that still shape our skyline today.
Today, this tradition endures in new forms. The region is home to more than 1,000 houses of worship representing nearly every faith — a true melting pot of belief. Within a short drive, you can find the ornate Basilica of St. Josaphat, the first African American church in Wisconsin (St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal), the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, Milwaukee’s oldest synagogue (Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun), the city’s oldest church (Old Saint Mary Catholic Church), and the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. These spaces do more than host services — they offer reflection, connection, and continuity, grounding communities in rituals that have evolved for generations.
If we can learn anything from our many faith spaces, it’s how differences can be catalysts for unity and shared purpose.
And then, of course, there are the bars.
They come in all shapes and sizes — and these days, more of them feature low- and no-alcohol options. In Milwaukee, bars are more than drinking spots; they’re gathering places where people come to celebrate, commiserate, and connect. In their own way, they create a sense of belonging — a different kind of worship, if you will.
So, where are your community gathering places? How do you bring them to life?
We all crave spaces where we feel involved, energized, and at home. Your community already has these places — activate them. It’s a Milwaukee principle the world could use a little more of right now.