HYFIN hits 3‑year milestone with Juneteenth night celebration & upcoming Harlem Nights Anti‑Gala

June 19, 2025, marks three years for HYFIN, Radio Milwaukee’s Urban Alternative platform dedicated to celebrating Black culture through music, storytelling, and creative empowerment. The milestone will be commemorated with a Juneteenth night celebration at Summerfest’s Aurora Pavilion, followed by the Harlem Nights‑themed Anti‑Gala fundraiser on August 14.

HYFIN launched on Juneteenth 2022 as a digital-first channel playing the full spectrum of Black music—hip‑hop, R&B, Afrobeats, jazz, dance, Milwaukee‑made tracks, and beyond—combining on‑air experiences with live events, community programming, and support for local entrepreneurs. The platform was created to uplift underrepresented voices and keep local Black talent rooted in the city instead of moving elsewhere.

Juneteenth Anniversary Night | June 19, Aurora Pavilion, 9 p.m.–Close

Hosted by Program Director Element Everest‑Blanks, the night kicks off right after Bone Thugs‑N‑Harmony and features HYFIN DJs delivering throwback vibes:

• 9 p.m. – DJ Meg Nice
• 10 p.m. – Anthony Foster
• 11 p.m. – DJ Kenny Perez 

Fans can anticipate surprise guest appearances, giveaways, and a community-forward party featuring music from the ’90s, ’00s, and beyond.

HYFIN’s Four Pillars

At its core, HYFIN operates on four foundational pillars that inform its programming, events, and broader impact:

1. Music & Culture – Uplifting artists, DJs, curators, and cultural organizers reshaping Milwaukee’s sonic identity.
   
2. Storytelling – Elevating Black voices through media, film, literature, podcast, and digital narratives.
   
3. Music Education – Supporting educators and teaching artists who empower youth through music.
   
4. Technology & Entrepreneurship – Celebrating innovators building platforms, products, and businesses that expand cultural and creative ecosystems.

These pillars reflect HYFIN’s mission to connect, uplift, and invest in the Black community, aligning every initiative to specific areas of creative and cultural impact 

Anti‑Gala: Harlem Nights | Aug. 14 at The Fitzgerald

This year’s Anti‑Gala, Harlem Nights, draws inspiration from the Harlem Renaissance (c. 1918–1937), paralleling Milwaukee’s current cultural revival. The evening unfolds as follows:

• 6 p.m.: VIP activation
• 7–9 p.m.: General admission. Attendees can expect immersive visuals, curated music, live performances, fashion, and cuisine evoking the era’s elegance and bold spirit. The event is a key fundraiser to support HYFIN’s growth, from Grace Weber’s Music Lab to Amplifier events to community initiatives like Blackity Black Holiday Market.

HYFIN’s Community Impact: A Movement in Motion

Since its launch, HYFIN has built a reputation for blending on‑air diversity with off‑air cultural engagement. It regularly features Milwaukee artists on‑air, hosts events like the Anti‑Gala, Brown, Black & Brews festival, Latest & Greatest showcases, and entrepreneurship summits—all to amplify Black excellence and invest back into local talent and business.

Radio Milwaukee’s Director of Strategy and Innovation Tarik Moody credits the platform’s success to its grassroots, street‑team‑style approach and intentional financial backing for Black creatives. Meanwhile, public media leaders commend HYFIN for creating a new model for inclusive public radio community engagement.

As HYFIN looks to the future, its vision remains rooted in the connection of genres, generations, entrepreneurs, and changemakers. The station continues to champion Milwaukee’s Black culture across airwaves, events, and opportunities for leadership and creativity.