To take a forgotten, blighted community and transform it into a place of hope, inspiration, and achievement seemed beyond reach; until a young minister named Sedgwick Daniels dared to believe otherwise. Over forty years ago, Bishop Daniels committed his life to restoring a neighborhood many had written off. He knew it well. Before the effects of deindustrialization took hold, this community was home to proud families of all backgrounds who raised children, built lives, and passed down enduring values.
Bishop Daniels envisioned a new kind of ministry; one that was as deeply rooted in spiritual life as it was in social transformation. With just eight committed members, he planted the seeds of what would grow into a congregation of over 8,000. Rising to national prominence within one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the world, Bishop Daniels never lost focus on his neighborhood. He advised mayors and U.S. presidents, but he remained grounded in his call to serve Milwaukee’s north side.
He understood that true ministry must address both soul and society. It’s why he founded the C.H. Mason Health Clinic, partnering with one of the nation’s largest Catholic healthcare systems to provide vital services. It’s why he helped lead the movement for school choice, opening educational pathways for underserved families. It’s why he created a credit union to bring economic empowerment to those historically shut out of the financial system. And it’s why he began “Christmas on Mother Daniels Way”, an annual event that has brought joy to thousands.
Bishop Daniels’ vision didn’t stop at service. He dreamed of celebration, preservation, and legacy. In response to a lack of community spaces dedicated to the rich cultural heritage of African Americans, he established the Institute for the Preservation of African American Music and Arts (IPAMA); a vibrant center for music, art, and memory. Here, visitors encounter treasures honoring icons like Rosa Parks, Emmett Till, and Dr. King. The Institute has become one of the largest repositories of African American artifacts in the city, hosting exhibits, performances, and educational events that uplift and inspire.

His leadership earned widespread respect. Students at Howard University wrote admiringly of him. The Dean of Religion at Morehouse College proclaimed his commencement prayer the most inspiring since Dr. King himself. Local pastors dubbed him a "Pentecostal Baptist";  a man who could bridge traditions, faiths, and communities. When the Mayor and County Executive were inaugurated, they stood beside Daniels, flanked by leaders from the Jewish, Muslim, and Catholic communities; a testimony to his ecumenical spirit.
But this work was not about accolades. It was about empowering ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Under Daniels’ guidance, more than 28 partnerships were forged; spanning healthcare, education, business, and civic institutions. From food pantries to housing for seniors, safe schools to youth centers, everything he built reflected a theology of dignity and access.
In the 53209 zip code; an area long marked by disinvestment; Bishop Daniels sowed seeds of revitalization. He didn’t just dream; he acted. He secured nearly $40 million in community investments to build what is now a thriving hub of culture, faith, and economic opportunity. The city of Milwaukee recently honored him by renaming West Hampton Avenue in his memorya street he once walked as a child, now a symbol of his enduring impact.

IPAMA stands today as the beating heart of that vision. With dual campuses IPAMA East, nestled in the Bishop’s Creek development, and IPAMA West, a wooded retreat the Institute continues to enrich the community through art exhibitions, music archives, and educational programs. Events like Juneteenth, Black History Month, weddings, and youth showcases happen here accessible, affordable, and affirming of Black excellence.
Notably, Daniels led this work with no celebrity fanfare, just a relentless commitment and the belief that communities deserve more. His vision attracted the support of donors large and small people who saw in him the power to turn forgotten neighborhoods into living legacies.
The repository includes priceless records of Black musical history: vinyls, instruments, CDs, lyric sheets, and photos from across all genres jazz, gospel, blues, soul, and classical. The artistic contributions of celebrated Milwaukee natives like Charly Palmer and David Anderson line the halls of IPAMA. And still, the work expands with outdoor amphitheaters, new housing, and preservation of historic sites on the horizon.

Bishop Daniels’ legacy is not a monument to one man it is a movement of the people. It lives in every schoolchild who attends a safe and loving classroom. It echoes in the chords of gospel sung at community festivals. It is felt in the sanctuary, the clinic, the credit union, and the Boys & Girls Club all part of a living campus serving the soul and the city.
This is more than revitalization. This is resurrection.
Bishop Daniels believed that hope could take root anywhere and grow into something glorious. Today, his legacy calls us forward: to keep building, keep believing, and keep becoming. The street may bear his name, but the story belongs to all of us.