By Rhea Riley
Homecoming participants at the Signature House Party event. (Picture courtesy of Social X MKE)
Next week marks Social X MKE’s third annual homecoming week. Not to be mistaken for Beyoncé’s Netflix documentary Homecoming or Coachella concert, Social X’s homecoming week is a summer event crafted for young professionals to explore and enjoy Milwaukee.
Social X is a young professional diversity and inclusion consulting group, focused on reintroducing Milwaukee as a city for young professionals through professional and social events. Approaching their seventh year, the organization has created various opportunities for young professionals to interact and explore the Greater Milwaukee area. One of those opportunities being their homecoming week.
The summer event will comprise of six daily events from June 17 through June 22. The event is made to bring together young professionals, new and native, and reintroduce them to the city in the summertime as they settle into new careers.
Joggers in last year’s Forget Everything and Run 5k. (Picture courtesy of Social X MKE)
“Once they get enough experience, usually within two years they get homesick, they’re not connected to the city, so we want to bridge that gap,” said Social X MKE President and Milwaukee native, Marquayla Ellison. “Homecoming week is celebrating that initiative and taking advantage of the beautiful summers in here in Milwaukee.”
The organization encompasses, several pillars: arts and culture, professional and personal development, health and wellness, community service and social impact to accomplish this. Each year the event caters to these pillars so that no matter the preference, whether its socializing, learning or being active homecoming week has an event for everyone.
Monday will kick off the first event with a panel discussion on Mental health, “Minding Your Mental.”
With the global conversation growing on the topic, this event will be open dialogue on how vital self-care can be for young professionals.
Social X MKE hosts their 3rd Annual Homecoming Week starting Monday June 17. (Picture courtesy of Social X MKE)
“You go through traumatizing things that you didn’t expect; you lose jobs, you lose people,” said Ellison.
“We take the time to assess how we feel whether its therapy or medication is important.”
There will also be a 5k run, with Social X group F.E.A.R, Forget Everything and Run.
This year the 5k will also be incorporating a “Kid’s Dash” for younger members who are involved in Social X.
Rounding out the weekday events will be homecoming week’s signature event, “House Party.” The Friday night event will be an “ode to the good ole college days,” made to break free, socialize and have fun. Hosted at the Mirimar Theater, it will feature music from the 90s and early 2000s, retro clothes, and a door giveaway for their first 100 people.
The rest of the week will have other events including have a city tour, seminars, a community service outing and more.
To learn more and get the full calendar of events visit: https://socialxmke.com/homecoming