Leadership takes shape at new Center for Black Excellence

MADISON, Wis. — A new hub in Madison meant to spur creativity, encourage innovation and celebrate Black culture is seeing its vision take shape.

The Center for Black Excellence now has a new chief operating officer who already has strong ties to Wisconsin. Jason Fields served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and, most recently, was president and CEO of Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP).

Now, he said he’s ready to hit the ground running overseeing the completion and soon, grand opening of The Center for Black Excellence.

Fields said the community has played a big role in this project.

“The entire Black community and those abroad helped get this off the ground, with that first donation being 300 African American members in our community,” he said.

The 65,000-square-foot center is expected to open in 2026.

Watch the full interview above.