Wisconsin Life

[truck engine roaring] [upbeat, soulful music] - Mikel McGee: I like how unique flowers are.

These look like little, like, Peeps to me.

They're very just fuzzy.

There's just so many different varieties.

They're all just so special in their own way.

I'm Mikel McGee, and I am the founder and lead florist of 414loral.

So, we've got in some Anthurium.

This is one of my absolute favorite flowers.

I love the different textures.

I love the different aromas.

Okay, so we've got sweet pea, and we love this because of how whimsical it is.

[wrap crinkling] When I'm arranging, I really like to take note of that; how each flower plays its role in making the overall arrangement beautiful.

[buoyant soul music] Now, I'm gonna go in with some linear flowers to give it some height.

Just the way that I feel when I'm in the shop and here, in general, I feel like this space has a lot of really good energy and that's something that I want to share with the community.

So, when this space opened up, it kind of seemed like a no- brainer to try to get in here, especially with it being so close to the old shop.

I knew I really wanted to stay in Bronzeville on King Drive.

[optimistic soul music] Just the history of Bronzeville, where we are, history of King Drive or 3rd Street.

It was known for being a hub for Black entrepreneurship and that's something that's so special that I get to be a part of a new generation of that.

We have a lot of different events and opportunities for people to come in and work with flowers.

We have a flower club, our Build Your Own Bouquet bar, a monthly design workshop.

We're on a mission to just see our community flourish.

- So, you notice we're in a very beautiful space today.

We're surrounded by flowers, right?

[funk music] - We've never had an all-male workshop.

We really didn't know kind of what to expect if the fellows would even be feeling it, if they would want to be there.

[clapping] [speaking indistinctly] - Put your hands down!

This is for you.

These are for you to take home!

[laughter] - You could tell that everyone was just really present, and everyone wanted to be there.

And that was just so inspiring.

Hey, Harry.

So, Heal Black Man is founded by Harry Evans.

- This may be something that make you feel good, - Mikel: He started the organization as a way to show Black men alternative ways to heal.

And his intention for creating this event was to show men that you deserve flowers, too.

Okay, which one do you want?

Brought two different varieties.

- That one because it's different textures.

- There you go.

I think it was pretty evident to everyone who was at the workshop just how present everyone seemed.

It's more than just a flower shop.

It's a space where people can come to connect and bring a little bit of joy into their lives with flowers.

- One, two, three, 4-1-4!