About
Cultural spaces enhance quality of life and drive our economy. Madison’s Black community has long needed a cultural haven.”
Bigger than a Community Center, Broader than a Cultural Center
Founded by Rev. Dr. Alex Gee, shaped by Co-Founder Lilada Gee, and affirmed by the Black community, The Center serves as a home where we create opportunities and solutions. Here, our art fills the walls, our brilliance is shared, and we reconnect with the roots that unite us. Here, we find emotional relief as our Black joy radiates through the halls, and we watch our children grow in their excellence. Together we are transforming our tomorrow. This is a movement built for you, and all who enter belong.
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The Black Community Has Created a Space for Itself
The Center was born from a powerful vision for the Black community, a vision that extends beyond economic growth and leadership development. It is a living expression of Pan-Africanism. A place that reaches across cities and oceans to strengthen the ties of our African roots and create global citizenship. Where we find each other in unexpected places and know that we are not alone, but that we all belong to a global community. Here, The Center opens that door, weaving this purpose into the very fabric of the space and everything it offers. It is here that you feel the power of our past, the promise of our future, and the brilliance of a community that spans the globe. Become a part of it.
Affirming, Inspiring and Advancing Black Excellence
- Celebrate and teach the impacts, influence and future possibilities of Black greatness and culture in all forms
- Cultivate youth legacy, leadership development, intergenerational connection, and economic growth through innovation and access to resources
- Develop leaders for global Black citizenship through cross-cultural immersive experiences, events, and shared celebrations
- Honor our Pan-African ancestry, creating space to reunite with each other and create connections
- Conduct Black Community-informed and Black Community-based research proving the healing effects of culture on Black wellness, belonging, and prosperity
Areas of Focus
Innovation and Research
Where can Black innovators find a place for mentorship and build social capital?
The Center’s Innovation Center brings Black professionals together to thrive and lead. Workshops and resources focused on financial empowerment, business development, and leadership equip them with essential skills needed to foster professional growth and build generational wealth.
“Leaders aren’t just selected, they are groomed and developed. The fact that The Center for Black Excellence and Culture will create space for enhancing personal and professional development and leveraging social capital creation while mentoring Black innovators is a game-changer for our entire community.”
– Ray Allen, Secretary of Workforce Development and Department of Financial Institutions
Performing and Arts Visuals
Where does the Black community take center stage?
Madison is full of talented Black artists, and now they have been given a spotlight in a Black-owned space. Our performance halls, creative studios, and art gallery showcase the depth and beauty of Black art, offering a home where our stories can be admired by all.
“The Center for Black Excellence and Culture is a dream come true and embodies what I’ve always envisioned for Madison – a place that will finally celebrate, cultivate and empower artists within our culture and community.”
– Cassandra Marzette, Artist, Teacher
Youth and Families
How do we inspire the next generation of dreamers?
Our Senior Center, Women’s Center, and youth programming are dedicated to the anchors of our community. Each space and program was created to foster meaningful moments of connection and provide the support they and their families deserve.
“Resources and support offered through a Family Resource Center to be located within the facility will provide a safe, welcoming, and comfortable environment for young Black families. The programming will be diversity-informed, culturally appropriate, and relationship-based to provide social cohesion, strengthen families, and foster resilience.”
– Ms. Betty Banks, Executive Director of Today Not Tomorrow Family Resource Center, Co-founder of The Madison Times
Health and Wellness
How does cultural connection stimulate Black wellness?
Medical research shows that strong social and cultural connection is key to building a community where Black people live healthier, longer lives because they feel valued and that they belong.
“Wellness is more than medical treatment. Wellness requires the creation of an environment where people can be in spaces where they can laugh, reflect, recharge, and see themselves and others like them in the most positive light. It is holistic healing. The Center for Black Excellence and Culture will be that for the Black community.” – Dr. Jasmine Zapata, MD, MPH, Mother, Pediatrician, Public Health Leader