by Kia Marie Cook
A beacon of light in Milwaukee’s Black community that shined brightly, Mileka Aljuwani was dedicated to justice and opportunity for her people.

She served the community in many capacities---leader, activist, exceptional planner and developer--and used her numerous talents in her all consuming quest for economic empowerment and educational equality for African Americans.

Aljuwani, who was Milwaukee’s national leader of Project 2019, an organization working to achieve educational equality for Black students by the year 2019, died Sunday after an intense battle with breast cancer. She was 49.

Described as an activist since her childhood, Aljuwani would fight for justice on just about any issue, though she always remained partial to education, said her brother, Shakoor Aljuwani.

"She always remained assertive in her pursuit in knowledge and education, partly because education was always important in (our) family," he said.

Learning to read at age 2, Mileka Aljuwani often stunned passersby when she would sit on the street corner with her brother reading from the dictionary.

"I made a pretty killing betting people two quarters to their one that there wasn’t one word my sister couldn’t find in the dictionary," Aljuwani said. "That worked until my mother found out!"

In her adult life, Aljuwani continued to pursue and embrace education. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s in accounting from Howard University.

Aljuwani, who was "true to all causes," was affiliated with several local and national organizations, many of which she helped pioneer.

She founded the Angela Davis Cop Watch and was a founding member of Black Citizens for Responsible Government. She was also a member of the National Black United Front (NBUF) and the Black Panther Party.

"Mileka was among that core group of activists who are called upon to provide leadership and support for various campaigns, and never, to my knowledge, refused to participate," said Mikel Holt, who worked with Mileka on several campaigns.

"She was tireless, and shared a love for Black people that was unequaled. A true warrior for Black empowerment has gone to meet our ancestors."

"She never stopped. She was full of spirit, and just kept going ... that’s what she enjoyed," said friend and fellow community activist Yolanda Staples-Lassiter.

"Mileka had top quality leadership that is found in so few people today. She had a way of bringing people together."

"She was really a bridge builder," her brother Shakoor Aljuwani echoed.

The bridges that she built have helped many to accomplish their goals and aspirations.

Her brothers Shakoor of New Orleans and Hashiem survive her.

Visitation will be held Friday, from 4-7 p.m., and the home-going celebration will take place Saturday at 3 p.m. Both will be held at Pitts Funeral Home, 2011 West Capitol Drive.