On The Edge Of Equity

Step into the world of transformative conversations with Dominique Samari, a visionary strategist, coach, and facilitator. Join us as we explore her journey from criminal defense attorney to fostering equitable and inclusive change through P3, the organization she co-founded.Delving into the heart of racial segregation, Dominique's Belonging Project unveiled stories of how individuals create connections in divided communities. This led to the birth of Kin Universe, an innovative online platform, which revolutionizes dialogue. Users are thoughtfully matched based on personality traits, communication styles, and interests. Through six transformative conversations, they journey toward vulnerability and empathy.Dominique's platform tackles tough conversations, especially regarding race. By connecting people with diverse backgrounds, Kin Universe sparks growth and understanding. This methodology is supported by University of Washington research and is finding its way into organizational equity and inclusion initiatives. Tune in to discover how Dominique's personal journey and innate gifts have culminated in her mission of fostering belonging, one conversation at a time. Episode Highlights:08:07 - It's an online platform that connects people across race for conversations with the idea that, very similar to my experience in Afghanistan, we need to be in relationships to have the very difficult conversations. 11:06 - The only two rules really are that you follow the discussion guides and that you don't talk about race or race-related matters across the first five conversations. By the fifth conversation, we are hoping that you have enough of a relationship where you can then talk about race.12:54 - You have to know that going in, that that's exactly how you're going to feel. We are humans and being uncomfortable, whether that's physically or emotionally or mentally, if there's dissonance, we don't run towards these things. We just don't. I think in order to overcome most of the challenges that we're facing in our everyday world right now, most of the challenges that my colleagues and partners in these organizations that we work with are trying to face, that we have to get comfortable with some level of discomfort. It's what it requires. Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Dominique SamariLinkedInBio:Dominique Samari is an experienced strategist, coach and facilitator who helps organizations build and sustain equitable and inclusive change. A naturally empathetic leader, Samari specializes in supporting leaders as they navigate difficult and complex change.Samari began her career as a criminal defense attorney and a City of Milwaukee criminal court commissioner. She transitioned from the practice of law to international development, serving in key management positions for the U.S. Department of State's Rule of Law Program in Afghanistan. There, she designed and implemented culturally-relevant strategies and training opportunities for over 2,000 Afghan criminal justice professionals.Samari is also the creator of the Belonging Project, a year-long exploration into how individuals create a sense of belonging across differences. Informed and inspired by data from the Belonging Project, she subsequently developed Kin Universe, an online platform designed to authentically connect individuals across real and perceived differences.

Uncover the transformative journey led by Ken Robertson, the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating and Financial Officer of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, as he shares his inspiring initiatives to empower disadvantaged neighborhoods. Ken is a driving force behind the ThriveOn Collaboration, which encompasses the remarkable restoration of the historic Gimbels and Schuster's building. This urban gem now stands as a bustling administrative hub, parking structure, and a vibrant community center, complete with an early childhood education center. For Ken, representation is more than a concept—it's a conviction. His personal experiences serve as a bridge between local communities and financial strategies, fostering a deeper understanding of neighborhood dynamics. Tune in to hear Ken's insights on initiatives and approaching them with humility and audacity, striking a balance between boldness and sensitivity to effect meaningful change. Listen and embrace the power of collaboration, representation, and visionary community upliftment.Episode Highlights:05:37 - In roles like mine and similar roles, representation matters. I mean, that lived experience from the neighborhood and bridging that gap between what's happening there and how our institutions work, how our businesses work, is just critical if we're going to move forward and solve some of the challenges that we have.10:19 - It's one thing to sit in a corporate park and think about programs, think about fixes for neighborhoods. It's another thing to kind of be in the neighborhood and walk day by day in that neighborhood and talk to our neighbors, and work with them in coming up with solutions that'll make everybody's lives better in that space.13:33 - We know that this is more than brick and mortar within the building. So, our aim is to help activate the entire neighborhood, not just us, but working with partners, along this. So, the whole goal was this would be catalytic, and we think we're accomplishing that.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Ken RobertsonLinkedInGuest Bio:Ken Robertson has been serving the Foundation as vice president and CFO since October 2015, but was promoted to executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer in 2020. Robertson has over 20 years' experience in both the for-profit and the nonprofit sectors. His professional experience includes serving as CFO for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, as well as finance roles with GE Healthcare, Briggs & Stratton, Miller Brewing, Motorola and more. Equally important, his lived experience as a Milwaukee native and product of Milwaukee Public Schools, plus his volunteer leadership roles with Wisconsin Philanthropy Network, Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), and Howard Fuller Academy, afford him a unique perspective that guides his approach to community leadership and decision-making.

Let's listen to the inspiring journey of Judge Derek Mosley, a true advocate for empowering the youth and promoting civil discourse, whose path to the law was ignited by a character he saw on LA Law. Explore how Judge Mosley uses social media to share impactful Black history stories, inspiring future generations to rise against adversity. Find out the significance of leading by example, as Judge Mosley encourages young people to see him as a role model and act upon their dreams, when you listen to this episode.Tune in to learn how his passion for law and inspiring others led him to create the METAL Program, providing students with invaluable insights into various career opportunities and discover the program's impact as students get the chance to meet professionals from different fields, fostering a sense of curiosity and ambition. Join Judge Derek Mosley in embracing a "we" mindset instead of an "I" perspective, fostering meaningful change in our communities.Episode Highlights:12:25 - No matter if you're Black, White, Asian, Latino, no matter what your background is, if you don't eat, you are going to die. You can be as opposite as you think we are, but we have to eat to survive. So, why not let's get together and eat as humans and just talk and get to know each other? When you do that, you realize you have more in common than what separates you, and that's been going on from day one.14:29 - When I was going to school, Martin Luther King is about the extent of Black people you learned about, and you learned a little bit about slavery and then Black history. So, if you knew nothing about Black people, you would think our entire diaspora was slavery and Martin Luther King.18:29 - I think it's important for my daughters to see it because they know how important it is to me that it's important to them because now they're doing it. They do the same thing. Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Judge Derek MosleyLinkedInGuest Bio:Derek Mosley graduated from Marquette University Law School in 1995. After graduation he served as an Assistant District Attorney for Milwaukee County from 1995-2002. As an Assistant District Attorney, he represented the State of Wisconsin in over 1,000 criminal prosecutions. In 2002, Mr. Mosley was appointed Municipal Court Judge in Milwaukee. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest African-American to be appointed judge in the State of Wisconsin. For ten years Mr. Mosley served as the Chief Judge of the Milwaukee Municipal Court. In 2023, Mr. Mosley became the Director of the Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education at Marquette University Law School.Judge Mosley routinely speaks both nationally and internationally about Unconscious Bias and Black History. Also, as a kidney transplant recipient, he is an ardent supporter of Donate Life Wisconsin, the National Kidney Foundation, and Versiti (formerly the Blood Center of Wisconsin). He currently serves as a Donate Life Hollywood advisor to the television and movie industries to promote accurate depictions of organ donation and transplant on television and in movies. In his spare time, Judge Mosley is a local Milwaukee foodie, and served as a 2022 James Beard Judge for the James Beard Foundation.

Hear about the incredible journey of Francesca Mayca Wegner, the President and Chief Possibilities Officer of Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee (HPGM), as she leads the charge for increased representation and economic opportunities for Hispanic and Latino communities in Wisconsin.Shaped by her upbringing, Francesca embodies a determined leadership style driven by curiosity, interpersonal skills, and a deep commitment to listening, understanding, and connection. Her passion for creating positive change shines through as she spearheads HPGM's mission. Francesca's leadership thrives on community. She highlights the significance of nurturing a "circle of people" who uplift and support one another, paving the way for collective success.Tune in to explore Francesca's inspiring journey – from fostering unity and empowerment to creating systemic change that resonates across Wisconsin and beyond. Learn about HPGM's commitment to enhancing financial sustainability, securing a permanent home, and launching a groundbreaking Latino leadership program. Find out what Francesca and her sister Gabriela are gearing up for that will celebrate the unique perspective of Midwest Latinas when you listen to this episode.Episode Highlights:10:45 - For us, it's focusing on a few key areas: systems and infrastructure, financial sustainability and strategic partnerships and programming. So, we are really confident that this intentional approach will help us sustain, grow, and deepen our impact in our community in a way that truly honors our legacy and is going to, in my opinion, come out on the other end with a stronger Wisconsin, not just for Latinos, but really for our state as a whole.14:35 - None of us get to where we are or achieve what we do all on our own. I'm still waiting for someone to show me an example of someone who had no help, and I've been really blessed and have had beautiful people in my life who have nurtured me and helped me succeed. 20:15 - When we think about representation, outside of the workplace and just things like media or literature or really anything else you can imagine in your life, one of the things that my sister and I have always talked about is feeling like our perspective isn't necessarily represented.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Francesca Mayca WegnerLinkedInA movement leader who dreams big and envisions the long-term possibilities around her, Francesca Mayca Wegner recognizes that it takes resources, access, and dedication to affect sustainable change and she has dedicated her life to that very mission. Francesca serves as President and Chief Possibilities Officer of Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee (HPGM). Appointed in April 2021, she is an advocate, connector, and convener, and has led the organization through a record growth period with its membership, philanthropic gifts, and revenue during one of the most challenging times within the global landscape. Known as a strong and insightful partner, she welcomes leaders from all sectors, breaks down barriers, and increases access to a network that's not always been so accessible to Latinos. In only two years, Francesca has nearly doubled HPGM's membership, secured the largest grant in the organization's history, redefined what ‘professionals'...

Discover the heart of Milwaukee's cultural tapestry as Sarah Maio, VP of Marketing and Communications at the Wisconsin Center District, takes us behind the scenes. Listen to learn how her team crafts an experience that showcases Milwaukee's essence while driving economic growth.Sarah delves into transforming the Wisconsin Center District into a high-performing, empowered team by leveraging digital communication, especially with the upcoming expansion of the Baird Center that will enable multiple events concurrently, ushering a seamless flow of activity through the city. The Wisconsin Center District's commitment to the community shines through initiatives that give back to local nonprofits. It isn't just about infrastructure; it's a fabric woven with Milwaukee's essence. Tune in to uncover how the Wisconsin Center District is crafting an unforgettable narrative, intertwining Milwaukee's culture and prosperity in every event. This episode is a journey into the soul of a city that thrives on unity and innovation. Episode Highlights:04:12 - Our focus is also on communications in general and acknowledging the role that comms specifically plays, not just externally, but internally. And having spent the last five years alongside our CEO to build out a culture, not just a shift, but a sea change, to empower our staff to make decisions when they are faced with the guest in the moment to make sure that we have three guiding values and principles that everyone is working by and everyone is using as their yardstick for success, and for measuring how we treat each other, how we treat our clients, how we treat our guests.17:29 - It's that intentional focus that has been since the beginning, a key component of building the building and making sure it speaks to residents. Then we thought this year we have this beautiful, unbelievable rooftop ballroom that's being constructed. It is a crown jewel for all of downtown. It is spectacular, and it is 14,000-square-foot terrace outside of it.20:50 - I also see us in such a fantastic growth mode right now, and so to be able to bring new talent in and hire and grow each of our teams and work with our colleagues to make sure that we are finding the cream of the crop and bringing new people in, and hearing them reflect back what their experience has been like in their first weeks and months and years with us, it's so exciting to see it happening.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Sarah MaioLinkedInGuest Bio:Sarah Maio has been with the Wisconsin Center District (WCD) since 2016 and is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the WCD. Before, Maio was the director and first staff member of marketing for WCD. In five years, she has grown the marketing department into a team that supports digital strategy and social media, event promotion, stakeholder relations, internal communications and executive communications. Maio has been in the Milwaukee marketplace since the early 2000's. Her experience includes a variety of product lines and business models, including arts, non-profit, franchise, and global brands.

Join us for an inspiring dive into the world of transformation with Genyne Edwards, Co-Founder of the P3 Development Group and a dynamic and visionary leader, who is redefining change across industries. With a passion for people and a knack for creative problem-solving, she is paving the way for equitable and inclusive solutions.Genyne is a trailblazer, recognized for her role in Milwaukee's largest workforce diversity research study and the launch of the City's Office of Equity and Inclusion. She believes in the power of stakeholder engagement and the strength of every voice at the table. Embracing collaboration and curiosity, Genyne fosters a culture of support, valuing diverse perspectives. She has discovered that being the "expert" isn't necessary, but it's about harnessing the collective brilliance around her.Celebrating both triumphs and setbacks, Genyne's journey is one of continuous growth and self-reflection. Her wisdom shines as she shares the joy of learning from both successes and failures. Tune in to explore Genyne's fascinating path, from purpose-driven leadership and business development to her anticipation of balancing personal life with a growing footprint in the world of hospitality. Gain insights from this change agent who is shaping a more inclusive and collaborative future, one purposeful step at a time.Episode Highlights:08:29 - The joy for me always comes from that light coming on and you can see it. You can experience it at a table where you know you found that magic. And that magic could be as simple as ensuring that we finally have broken through the challenges of being able to come to a table and to be able to talk through what is most meaningful.12:32 - Another lesson that I've learned is to celebrate the successes and the failures. We do a lot of celebration at P3 and sometimes it is just laughing at ourselves when we've done something. But we are at a point now, after these 13 years, that we are back in that process of reinventing what we hope P3 can be, and that's because we've grown as leaders.13:20 - The conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion have also led us to understand that there's going to be the waxing and waning, and there's a pendulum around this work. And so, although our clients were hungry for that, they now are changing. And so, we need to equip ourselves for the next leg of this journey, which might be doubling down to protect the efforts that we've put in place.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Genyne EdwardsLinkedInBio:Genyne Edwards is a skilled leader who has leveraged her passion for people and solving problems to work across diverse business sectors for more than 20 years. Known for her unique blend of strategic and creative thinking, Edwards brings valuable insights and experience as a hands-on practitioner and facilitator in the areas of organizational and leadership development, communications, and diversity, equity and inclusion.Prior to co-founding P3 Development Group, Edwards served in leadership roles in corporate, nonprofit and government sectors, including serving as the first African American Deputy Secretary of Wisconsin's Department of Tourism. She has been instrumental in developing impactful programs such as the Mosaic Partnerships Program, the African American Leadership Program and the City of Milwaukee's Business Capacity Building Program.Edwards is a sought-after thought leader and the recipient of many awards, including the United Way's Driver of Diversity Award, the 2021 Milwaukee Business...

Embark on a journey of empowerment and advocacy with Jennifer Dirks, the dynamic President and CEO of Tempo, Wisconsin's largest women's professional group. She leads Tempo's impactful mission, providing a thriving space for women's professional growth. Guided by the powerful mantra, "The world moves when women rise," Jennifer passionately champions women's causes and encourages a spirit of mutual support among them. Tempo shines in its focus on cultivating emerging leaders. It nurtures leadership potential through coaching, sponsorship, and mentoring avenues, propelling women forward in their careers.Tune in to hear the heartwarming story of an individual whose grant application was matched by her employer, driven by their alignment with Tempo's transformative mission. Listen to Jennifer highlight Tempo's commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that every member feels a sense of belonging and that diverse voices are welcomed at all levels. Don't miss this empowering episode, where Jennifer shares her dedication to uplifting women, fostering leadership, and driving positive change through Tempo. Episode Highlights:03:05 - I think there are so many times that women have that tendency or maybe there's that stereotype that we don't support one another. But this is really a true meaning of helping one another rise. And the world can only be a better place when we continue to lift those and advocate for those around us.07:51 - They are the rising stars. They are the next generation. They're the future generation of leaders. So, they are advanced in their career. They're probably middle management type of leaders, maybe not yet–just on the cusp of that executive leadership.14:19 - I recognized that the brand and the evolution of our organization wasn't representative of the community in which we lived and were serving. And so, it was really important to me, not only from a diversity and a sense of belonging for all of our members, to ensure that that was happening, but it was diversity of thought. It was diversity of industry.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Jennifer DirksLinkedInGuest Bio:Jennifer Dirks is the first President and CEO of Tempo as of 2014. Dirks is a communications and public relations executive with more than 20 years of corporate and agency experience with business-to-business and business-to-consumer markets. Dirks also spent more than a decade as a television news reporter and producer in various newsrooms across the Midwest. She currently serves on the Board of PEARLS for Teen Girls, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Medical College of Wisconsin Physicians Board. She spent nine years on the Milwaukee Art Museum Friends of Art Board. She is an adjunct instructor for Marquette University and an active member of Professional Dimensions and Milwaukee Women inc. She volunteers her time with Big Brothers, Big Sisters and the Lakefront Festival of Art. Dirks was named a 'Woman of Influence' and a 'Power Broker' by the Milwaukee Business Journal.

Prepare to be inspired as Damian Buchman, Founder and Executive Director of The Ability Center and Co-Founder of The Opportunity Center, shares his extraordinary story of conquering bilateral osteosarcoma, a childhood bone cancer. Against all odds, Damian's positivity became his lifeline, using "currencies" like possibility, positivity, passion, and perseverance to write a story of triumph.Damian's experience serves as a guiding light for anyone facing their own battles, illustrating how these currencies can navigate the darkest of times. But Damian's impact doesn't stop at his survival. He founded the Ability Center, a beacon of inclusivity that brings people with disabilities together to play and enjoy life to the fullest. Damian's current project, The Opportunity Center, is a testament to his unwavering commitment and is set to bridge divides, offering hope and unity to both impoverished and wealthier neighborhoods. As we tune in, Damian's journey will remind us that life's currencies can reshape destinies, inspiring us to stand for inclusion and change. Tune in to celebrate the triumph of the human spirit. Episode Highlights:10:19 - The Ability Center is literally what I consider my purpose for survival. I think that God saved me for multiple reasons, and I think this is one of the primary ones. And the Ability Center has found a unique niche, and the way I sum it up is making it possible for people with disabilities to play together with those they love most.22:34 - What makes it unique is the idea of the universal design. What makes it unique is the populations in which we want to serve. And what makes it the most unique is that it will be the first multi-sport tourism center that is built in an urban setting in the country. 26:30 - You've got this opportunity for people to just come together and organically see how it's just another human as opposed to any of the external input in their lives that are screaming at them about how they should see another person, and they can start to be impacted by their own experiences versus the narrative we're being delivered.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Damian BuchmanLinkedInBio:As a two-time, 25 year, one-in-a-billion survivor of childhood cancer, Damian was an active and athletic teenager whose childhood cancer diagnosis left him with an ambulatory disability at the age of 13. He quickly learned how to adapt to his "new normal" and today is an adaptive athlete, an adoptive father, and a successful social entrepreneur. Just three days before his 13th birthday, Damian was diagnosed with osteosarcoma— an aggressive, rare, and deadly bone cancer— in his right leg. Just seven months into remission, he was diagnosed again, this time in his left leg. Against steep odds, Damian became a one-in-a-billion survivor (today only a handful of people worldwide have survived his diagnosis), and while his battle remains never-ending, his power of positivity, passion, and perseverance are at an all-time high.As in the years since his “recovery,” he has undergone 28 major knee surgeries, including a variety of replacements and revisions. His resulting disability gives him unique insights and passion into his quest to help and inspire others who face physical challenges in their lives.

Step into the world of Corry Joe Biddle, Vice-President of Community Affairs for the Metropolitan Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce and Director of Fuel Milwaukee. A Milwaukee native, she is determined to reshape perceptions about her city. Witnessing consistent change in once-exclusive environments fills her with optimism for Milwaukee's thriving business community.Fuel Milwaukee, under Corry's lead, attracts talent with events, networking, and development opportunities. Their "Making Milwaukee a Region of Choice" initiative, involving 135 companies, strives to amplify representation of black and brown talent in workplaces. Already, 80% of surveyed employees have noted more diverse workplaces. Tune in as Corry urges integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into all aspects, emphasizing the Top 5 Rule – your circle shapes you. She champions change through partnerships and small steps. As Milwaukee's culture transforms, she's optimistic about the city's thriving business future. Join us for Corry Joe Biddle's inspiring journey, driving equitable change in Milwaukee.Episode Highlights:04:07 - I started to learn that people's ideas and perceptions about places are heavily influenced by things other than experience. People that hadn't ever been to Milwaukee had no clue what it was like. 12:33 - Just the fact that someone has a different perspective and can help you avoid certain pitfalls and look at the market in a different way, produce and launch products in a different way, that is an asset that comes with diversity and that is a real business reason to look at DEI.22:28 - I'm seeing hope and change in environments that would have been or that I would've thought would be cold and unwelcoming and exclusive. And it's changing right before my eyes. I'm not having that experience anymore, and there are many, many more people saying that they aren't having that experience either, and that gives me a lot of hope for the future of Milwaukee and our business community. I'm really excited.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Corry Joe BiddleLinkedInGuest Bio:Corry Joe Biddle joined Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) in 2008 and is the Vice President of Community Affairs for the Metropolitan . She is also the executive director of FUEL Milwaukee, MMAC's talent attraction and retention organization serving young professionals. She's also involved in the development of MMAC's workplace talent initiative, “Making Milwaukee a Region of Choice for Diverse Talent,” which seeks to increase the numbers of African American and Latino/Hispanic professionals in leadership roles. Formerly the executive director of America's Black Holocaust Museum, Corry Joe offers a unique perspective on the relationship between diversity, economic development and community engagement.

In this powerful episode, Teig Whaley-Smith, chief alliance executive of the Community Development Alliance (CDA), unveils his mission to advance racial equity by providing quality, affordable homeownership for Black and Latino Milwaukeeans. Join us as we delve into his data-driven approach and collaborative strategies that are reshaping the city's housing landscape.Whaley-Smith's passion for making Milwaukee the best place on planet earth stems from his upbringing in a multiracial family and sense of urgency around fighting for housing issues out of what he calls “love, and not white guilt.”Tune in to learn more about how the CDA is uniting diverse stakeholders, combating predatory landlord practices and empowering homebuyers with down payment assistance.Episode Highlights:10:19 - What's really important in a planning process is that you do talk to people to get their stories as a form of data and that qualitative data, and then also matching that with the quantitative data that is out there. So, we use a process called GARE, the Government Alliance on Race and Equity to develop our plan, and they have a tool that prompts you to ask some really important questions because the reality is there's no such thing as a racially neutral policy.14:29 - There was a sense that we should be building 1500-square foot homes because that's what's being built in the suburbs and otherwise. If you actually talked with residents, they just want a stable place to live that they can call their own. It turns out that the average home in city in Milwaukee is a thousand square feet. If we continue to develop strategies that are building houses that are too big and too expensive, we will never have an impact on racial equity. 23:22 - In the racial equity world, those terms actually mean something different because an ally is somebody that supports you and supports your ideas in theory, as long as it doesn't cost them anything. An accomplice is when you are willing to put something on the line to say, "I'm willing to give something up to do something that you've asked me to do."Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Teig Whaley-SmithLinkedInGuest Bio:Teig Whaley-Smith's spassion is building and leading collaborative teams to make Milwaukee the best place on planet earth. He believes that for Milwaukee to achieve its full potential, there needs to be a focus on the people and neighborhoods that have been left out of the larger political, social, and economic systems. Whaley-Smith was raised and continues to live in the Sherman Park neighborhood and is a proud Milwaukee Public Schools alumnus and parent.In 2022, Whaley-Smith was named the Chief Alliance Executive for the Community Development Alliance (CDA). CDA is an affiliation of community development funders and practitioner in the Milwaukee Area that led Milwaukee's first Collective Affordable Housing Plan, with the goal of advancing racial equity by providing a quality affordable home for every Milwaukeean. The plan lays out a transformative road map to support 32,000 new Black and Latino homeowners, and 32,000 homes for families making less than $15 per hour. CDA continues to successfully bring together funders and partners to implement the innovative approaches within the plan. Prior to joining CDA, Whaley-Smith served as the chief operating officer of Milwaukee County where he managed a $1.2 billion annual budget, serving one million residents. He supported the expansion of mental health services, the...

Representation matters. Tune in to hear Bernard Rahming, the Milwaukee Program Director of the Literacy Lab's Leading Men Fellowship, share his passion for bridging the education opportunity gap and diversifying the teaching workforce. The Leading Men Fellowship is a transformative organization supports young men of color who have recently graduated from high school as they participate in a year-long, residency-style experience providing literacy support to pre-kindergarten students. During their experience, the young men have access to robust coaching and professional development opportunities that equip them with the skills needed to transform the lives of students – and their own. Don't miss this episode! You can find out how to support the fellowship and the young men creating successful pathways to diversify the teaching workforce.Episode Highlights04:08 - Our first challenge is really finding young men that are wanting to do something, wanting to give back or wanting to serve, and then showing them this is a way they can serve. We kind of have to address that harm first of all, but to show them that they have a role that they can actually play in being that person that they wish they had. They can be that young teacher that they wish they might have had when they were in elementary school. 05:30 - Sometimes we're surprised by the young man that that turns out to be like, "I found my passion and my calling through teaching." But I think really, the first thing is commitment. 08:32 - That's a SEEDS approach. It's an acronym that stands for how to be sensitive, how to encourage, how to educate, how to develop skills, and ultimately, how do you develop a self-image within a young person. SEEDS is so great that we actually kind of very softly or maybe secretly use it with the young men themselves.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Bernard Rahming LinkedInThe Literacy LabThe Leading Men FellowshipGuest Bio:Bernard Rahming, IIMilwaukee Program Director, the Literacy Lab's Leading Men FellowshipBernard Rahming is the Program Director for the Literacy Lab's Leading Men Fellowship Program in Milwaukee. He is passionate about building school-to-career pathways and believes education is a vehicle for empowerment. Bernard earned his master's degree in Community Psychology from Concordia University-Portland and his bachelor's degree in Math and Psychology from Marquette University.

How can storytelling and meaningful relationships drive positive change in communities? Jeremy Podolski, director of public relations and editorial strategy for the Greater Milwaukee Foundation (GMF), explores communicating for the greater good and how building relationships and pursuing equity are woven into this.Tune in to this powerful episode as Podolski shares best practices for telling stories and listening to stories, as well as how GMF and Milwaukee's Ex Fabula give him an incredible platform to do both. Episode Highlights:05:22 - There's no formula and that's a good thing. I don't know that any one person is an expert on how to build a relationship. I would say that my approach is to just really try to personalize the interactions that I have. Thinking about every opportunity we have to come in contact with someone new or to reconnect with someone that we already know to some degree, being really intentional about making sure that it's not a transactional interaction, but that there's meaning behind it. 09:57 - It's really hard to understate the importance of equity. It really reflects the values that someone holds, and also just the aspirations for our community and the potential that's there. There's really so much to gain from our community advancing equity, racial equity, economic equity, or social equity.17:48 - We're drawn as listeners to things that tug at us emotionally or that we might hear that triggers a memory for us, or speaks to something that we have an interest. So, as a communicator, do your best to try to predict what those things are, and try to give people something that they feel inspired to listen to or read or dig into in some way.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Jeremy PodolskiLinkedIn

Storytelling and Gender Equity with Dr. Leah FlackDr. Leah Flack is a professor of English at Marquette University and a member of the global nonprofit Narrative Four, which creates safe spaces through structured events called story exchanges where people can exchange meaningful stories and learn to listen deeply to each other. In this episode, Flack shares her passion for storytelling and how it has shaped her career, from finding her path in literature classes to emphasizing the significance of shared stories in cultural moments like the #metoo movement. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion about experiences that encourage storytelling and empathy, as well as how to uplift women's voices. Episode Highlights01: 51 - I think that I was born into this work. As a kid, I saw myself growing up in stories inside of the books that I was reading. And I look back on that and I'm really grateful for it because I think that I grew up inside of books, and that was powerful for me. I was a first generation girl who was in a family where there was no expectation for me to go to college. But reading all of the time showed me that the world was bigger than I realized and that I could be more than the stories I was hearing about my future.12:53 - There are all kinds of studies that show that women don't receive the same level of care as men, particularly women of color. And so the larger question becomes how can we insist that we be heard and that we be heard accurately and fully so that we can get not only the kind of attention and credit that we deserve but also the care in life or death situations? So my hope is that if women can learn to tell their stories, to value their stories and to really create spaces for one another to tell their stories that they will have that skill when it really matters.15:58 - I think that by opening our campus to a wider constituency, to inviting women from the community onto campus that we can learn from them, we can learn from their experiences. There's lots of different kinds of expertise. We can get a sense of kind of where are the vulnerable places and support research that will address those areas, and we can make research available to them that will be useful in their roles as leaders in the community. Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Dr. Leah FlackInstitute for Women's LeadershipDr. Leah Flack at MarquetteBioLeah Flack, Ph.D., is a professor of English who has published two books and several articles emerging from her interest in the ways language and storytelling have facilitated powerful acts of self-expression and social rebellion in a global context, from the ancient world through the #metoo movement. The recipient of Marquette's Raynor Award for Teaching Excellence, she is passionate about finding new ways to help students discover the value and joy of stories, including their own stories. A researcher in transnational modernism, she enjoys teaching classes on Russian and Irish literature, the epic tradition, and modern literature. She is a participant in the Ignatian Colleagues Program run by the AJCU to educate and immerse leaders from American Jesuit universities in

What does it take to create lasting transformation in a community? Frank Cumberbatch, vice president of engagement at Bader Philanthropies, talks about his inspiring journey from the island of Trinidad and his commitment to improving the quality of life in Milwaukee. Cumberbatch's latest endeavor, the Opportunity Center project, in collaboration with Damian Buchman, aims to create a community center that is 100% accessible and inclusive. Inspired by his own gratitude for the opportunities he received, Cumberbatch envisions a space where children and families from different backgrounds can come together, build relationships, and play and learn. Tune in to hear Cumberbatch's insights on meeting people where they are with empathy and understanding, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and appreciating the gifts each person brings. Episode Highlights:04:48 - What we have to do is look inside of ourselves and try to figure out, "What did we wake up this morning to do? What is our purpose?" If you can find your own purpose is in all of what needs to be solved, you're going to be very productive, because you're going to be going at it in a very true, authentic way. 10:37 - If people could take only one thing away from this podcast, it's that there is a way to lift your family up but you got to put in work and you got to commit to your children.24:16 - I think if we put our stuff till tomorrow, we'd never do this. Because what I've learned from him, there really is no tomorrow. The reason why there is no tomorrow, it's not guaranteed to any one of us.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Frank CumberbatchLinkedInGuest Bio:Frank Cumberbatch leads Bader Philanthropies' exploration of a neighborhood, place-based strategy to complement the Foundation's existing grantmaking, with an emphasis on the Harambee neighborhood. Frank brings more than 30 years of experience in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Previously, he was Program Manager with Acts Housing, the Senior Assistant to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and a member of numerous startups. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh.

Faithe Colas, who is president of VonCommunications and a seasoned communications professional, explores the profound impact of stories and how they connect us all, including across different lived experiences. Faithe discusses her multifaceted career and how her early involvement in photojournalism shaped her path and delves into the legacy of her late husband Eric Von, a veteran broadcaster who dedicated his life to supporting community leaders and fostering dialogue. Gain a deeper understanding of the need for authentic and transparent conversations about diverse perspectives in this inspirational episode. Episode Highlights04:55 - When someone comes to you with a question, with a challenge, with an idea, they're sharing a part of you, of themselves rather, that they've been inspired some kind of way to do this. This is their gift. My gift is to connect them and if they're coming to me, they have confidence that somehow I can help them along their journey.07:44 - I think as a human race, we are connected by stories because it reminds us of the commonality that we have. That's the first thing. The second thing is it can make you feel comfortable with someone that you don't know. Why I'm so passionate about telling stories of African-American people is because there's always this perception that we have to explain our humanness. So, we're constantly having to show people that we're positive, that we want the same things that you want out of life, that we're good people, that we're talented, that we're intelligent, that we're educated.17:31 - These voices, they not only shape the news that we hear and see, but they help to shape those conversations that happen in the editorial spaces, in staff meetings. Sometimes you might be the only African-American voice in the room. Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Faithe ColasFaithe Colas has a 33-year career in media and community engagement. Her sweet spot is connecting people and growing the community through public and community relations. She's passionate about empowering women, supporting Black businesses and changing the narrative about Milwaukee.Colas is the host and producer of “I'm Every Woman” and “There's Always Something Good to Talk About,” which air on 860Today.com. She's a member of the National Council of Negro Women-Milwaukee Section, NAACP Milwaukee Chapter, Wisconsin Black Media Association, Milwaukee Press Club, Public Relations Society of America-Milwaukee Chapter and WUWM Advisory Board. She's also a lead fundraiser for the WUWM Eric Von Broadcast Fellowship, which honors her late husband's legacy by fostering the next generation of broadcast journalists.Colas was born and raised in Milwaukee. She is a John Marshall High School graduate and holds a bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies from Midwest Bible College.In another life, Colas would have been a professor of African-American studies and the history of the Black press. If she ever gets free time, she'd fill it with reading books, going to lectures, attending author readings and watching documentaries.LinkedInEric Von Broadcast Fellowship

Funeral homes have had a profound impact on communities for decades. Learn from Dr. Camelia Clarke, president and CEO of Paradise Memorial Funeral and Cremation Services and the Leon L. Williamson Funeral Home, as she shares her journey in the death care industry, the legacy of Black funeral homes and her commitment to serving families during their most vulnerable times.Through the legacy initiative of “How will you be remembered?”, Clarke discusses how she and her family-owned funeral homes support people as they process grief while also celebrating the lives of those who have passed on. Tune in to gain insights about the vital role funeral homes play in communities and the power of remembrance. Episode Highlights:08:14 - In fact, when Martin Luther King, Jr. passed away, when he was killed, the last person to witness him being alive was the limousine driver from the funeral home. He was being transported via the limo of a local funeral home. And so, how we are still carrying that legacy through here in Milwaukee, we acquired last year, the eldest African -American funeral home in Milwaukee, which is almost 75 years old. That's Leon L. Williamson Chapel that we have. That funeral home has been the site of so many meetings, so many strategic meetings with churches with community leaders, and it's right there in the heart of the community and it is such a gem.12:09 - How will you be remembered? That legacy stands on so many levels, whether it's living or whether it's in sickness, or whether it's in death. What you say to people, how you make them feel, they'll never forget it. What you do and how you contribute, people will never forget that. 14:34 - I want to be a helper of people and being able to help poor people for me has evolved from sitting in that arrangement with that husband who's lost his wife or the mother who's tragically lost her son or daughter, and making a difficult time a little bit easier by helping them to create a service that celebrates the life that their loved-one lived. Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedIn Connect with Dr. Camelia ClarkeLinkedIn Guest Bio:Dr. Camelia Clarke brings over 20 years of service in the funeral industry as a licensed funeral director. She is also a licensed insurance intermediary for the state of Wisconsin. She is an active member of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) and Selected Independent Funeral Homes. She is the past president of the Milwaukee Waukesha County Funeral Directors (MWCFDA) and the immediate past president of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association (WFDA).Clarke graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Cardinal Stritch University (BSBA), Marquette University (EMBA) and the University-Wisconsin Whitewater with a Doctorate of Business Administration.She has served on many boards, including the MATC Funeral Service Advisory Board, Prince Hall Masonic Foundation, Zonta International Club of Milwaukee, Outreach Community Health Care Center and Greater Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce. She is an active member of Unity Grand Chapter O.E.S., Sarah's Joy Chapter #8 O.E.S., and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Epsilon Kappa Omega Chapter in Milwaukee.Clarke has been an active church member of the Holy Redeemer Church of God in Christ for many years. She is the wife of Marcel and is the mother of four wonderful children, Raja'ee, Jazzmin, Mariah and Mia Clarke.

How can we handle feedback in a way that promotes personal growth and development? Tammy Belton-Davis, founder and president of Athena Communications, shares invaluable insights on the art and science of giving and receiving feedback, as well as reminds us how feedback and criticism differ. She emphasizes the importance of delivering feedback with love and empathy because it creates a supportive environment that fosters growth and resilience.Additionally, Belton-Davis shares her personal experiences and highlights the importance of faith, positive affirmations and choosing to be better. Don't miss this episode, which is packed with tips on how to engage in open conversations with trusted advisors and introspective examination while intentionally seeking areas for improvement.Episode Highlights:05:10 - Criticism is really about pointing out what is wrong. The difference in both is that feedback should propel us. It should give us an opportunity to do self-inventory. It should give us an opportunity to sort of analyze and go, "Hmm, I hear that." But it should be an opportunity for us to grow.15:01 - Those people that we have the most intimate level of relationship with are often the folks who will tell us the truth, and sometimes in very candid ways, and sometimes it doesn't feel good, because these are people that you love. 20:01 - You know me as a person of faith. I rely a lot on my relationship with God to both be my guide, my compass, my foundation, my everything. There are often conversations that I'm having like, "Help me because I need help." Because I recognize that a mindset change is about intentionality.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedIn Connect with Tammy Belton-Davis LinkedIn Guest Bio:With a background in government, education and public relations, Tammy Belton-Davis is an award-winning public relations and diversity professional. She launched Athena Communications in 2009.From July 2020-February 2022, Tammy served as the inaugural Chief Diversity Officer for the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, with which she has worked in multiple capacities for the past eight years. During her time with the Rep, she worked directly with executive leadership and the board of trustees to develop, implement and measure equity, diversity and inclusion goals and served as an internal coach on inclusiveness and diversity issues. An accelerant in this important work, Tammy assisted the theater as it transitioned to a more permanent staffing structure to lead ED&I work into the future.Prior to launching Athena, Tammy held senior-level positions in city government and community-based organizations and served as a staff assistant with the Milwaukee County Board and Milwaukee Common Council.Tammy brings a fresh perspective, excellence and passion to every project she undertakes. Because of her charismatic style, she is a sought-after facilitation leader for branding sessions and equity training. In 2017, Tammy was inducted into Alverno College's Vanguard Society, the highest honor bestowed upon an alumna for their professional achievement and community service. In 2021, she was a part of the inaugural class of the Milwaukee Biz Times' Notable Alumni, a recognition for distinguished local alumni. She was recognized as a 2017 Center of Change for her commitment to work as a change agent in Milwaukee, and Athena Communications was recognized with a Diversity in Business Award by the Milwaukee Business Journal.Tammy is an active member of the

Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee, is passionate about selling her beloved city to national and international visitors. She grew up in the hospitality industry, starting work in the field at 15 years old, and her work these days has her doing everything from being part of a bipartisan group of leaders bidding for national political conventions to leading her team in culturally responsive work.In this episode, Williams-Smith talks about economic impact through hospitality and discusses her efforts to engage diverse businesses in VISIT Milwaukee's partnership base. Above all, she says? Never put a limit on your potential – and be kind.Episode Highlights03:37 - We are on the road to recovery. It's awesome. It's great for us. But we have taken a really inventive approach to how we market the city. We're not doing the things we used to do. We're much more verbose about how great our city is. It has been a long time that we're often talked about as being quiet, under the radar. People come to our city and say, "Oh, I just didn't realize how good it was." My goal, at the end of my tenure with VISIT Milwaukee, is to never hear anyone say that again. We need to shout it from the rooftop because it does create economic impact. 14:03 - We're all here together for one purpose, and that's to shine a light on Milwaukee. So, it's been an incredible experience. Now the hard work begins, and that's actually shining the light on Milwaukee and hoping that this allows us to create more economic impact, more opportunity that will then allow us to fix some of the things that we still need to fix.26:14 - Never put a limit on your potential. I started as a bartender and a waitress. I worked my way through hospitality, and I'm now the CEO of an organization that gets to sell the city. I get to be on stages around the country talking about how amazing Milwaukee is.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Peggy Williams-SmithLinkedInGuest Bio:Peggy Williams-Smith is a Milwaukee native and veteran of the hospitality industry who joined VISIT Milwaukee as the company's first female president and CEO in 2019. Under her direction, the company has launched exciting, dynamic marketing campaigns to increase economic impact to the community and elevate the city's reputation.Since 2019, Williams-Smith has deepened the company's local connections and developed a nimble team that is more responsive than ever to changes within the travel and hospitality industries. This was none more apparent than during the pandemic when VISIT Milwaukee became the go-to source for information for the hospitality industry and the industry's No. 1 advocate on state and local levels.From promoting the city to the nation during the Milwaukee Bucks' championship run to leading the city's bid to secure the 2024 Republican National Convention, Williams-Smith's strategic leadership will ultimately result in economic gains for Milwaukee for years to come. Prior to her work at VISIT Milwaukee, she worked for Marcus Hotels & Resorts for over 22 years and held leadership positions at varying levels throughout the division. Williams-Smith is a proud mentor of other women in business and uses her free time to support numerous charitable causes. She resides in Milwaukee with her husband, Tim Smith, their niece, Jocelyn, and their Boston Terrier, Tito Fenway.

Dave Steele, Executive Director of MobiliSE, shares how Milwaukee and surrounding areas are taking big steps to ensure equitable multi-modal transportation. From the introduction of Bus Rapid Transit to FlexRide Milwaukee — an on-demand shuttle program connecting people to suburban job sites — learn how these innovative solutions are helping people access greater job opportunities in the region.Dave explains why it's so important to attract new talent into Milwaukee and how transportation is a major contributor to greenhouse emissions. He also offers insights on why conversations around multi-modal transportation often focus on what can't be done rather than what can be done. Plus, hear his optimism for Milwaukee's progress in this space and discover ways individuals can make an impact on climate change through their own behavior. Tune in to hear Dave Steele dive deep into all things multi-modal transportation and explore how we can create an equitable region through improved regional connectivity for economic development and talent attraction. Learn more about the exciting projects underway in southeastern Wisconsin!Episode Highlights13:31 - The point is that it's a choice and really, that's what transportation is all about. It's choices. We have a lot of choices in the housing market, which is great. You can rent a small apartment. You can live in a large house with a big yard. We don't have as many choices in transportation. It's a mono culture around here for our transportation choices, and that's what we're seeking to change. Just provide more choice and more choices make more opportunities for folks.18:19 - For people that might say, "Well, why should I care?" I think a more equitable city is a growing city. A city that is more walkable is one that is making smart investments in its future. We're never going to be able to compete on weather. We all know that. But I think there's a lot of inherent assets that we have here that we can compete on, and we just have to invest in them and really elevate them.20:36 - We can make decisions about how we get around everyday, the kinds of vehicle that we might drive or think about driving, and it's low-hanging for us to make a positive difference.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Dave SteeleLinkedInGuest Bio:Dave Steele serves as the Executive Director of MobiliSE, overseeing day-to-day operations of the organization, including project development, grant administration, and partnership building.Steele has spent over 15 years leading social change. As a non-profit CEO, program officer, consultant and program director, Steele has launched and implemented successful fundraising campaigns, raising resources from individuals, foundations and corporations to fund operations and program expansion. He has overseen a multi-million dollar portfolio of grants and low-interest loans to nonprofits, designing and implementing strategies for maximum impact. He has trained and consulted with hundreds of non-profit leaders and board members, specializing in strategic planning and board development, as well as program design, implementation and evaluation. Steele is a recognized leader in building diversity and inclusion in the non-profit sector, and his work has led to significant and measurable increase in the diversity of non-profit boards and staff.Steele holds a Master's Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and has...

In this revealing conversation, retired Northwestern Mutual President Greg Oberland shares how be progressed through his career, beginning as an attorney in the company's corporate law department and culminating his 36 years there at the helm. He learned the value of taking a business-minded approach when making decisions, while also embracing transparency, vulnerability and openness.Oberland also shares his commitment to advancing racial equity in a white male-dominated environment and how passion for social justice was instilled in him at a young age.Tune in hear Oberland's thoughts and words of inspiration! Episode Highlights06:57 - Being trained as a lawyer, if I give someone due process, and then they can't do the job, I'm able to sleep at night with the decisions that I make about people, and I needed to have that framework early on. Otherwise, I'd agonize over these things because I'm such a people person. But with this framework, I was able to very clearly work through this, think very clearly, and make the right decisions for the organization.14:40 - As I became a leader, it was my passion to open the windows, so to speak to the organization, and allow diversity of thought to come in, diversity of people to come into the organization and respect people for who they are. And as long as we're all working toward the goals of the organization, there shouldn't be any problem with diversity, equity and inclusion at Northwestern.16:26 - This issue of people not being able to bring their authentic selves to work is something that the top leaders recognize, understand and want to change. If we were going to move forward as an organization, they had to see their leaders become vulnerable on this issue.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Greg OberlandLinkedInGuest Bio:Greg Oberland is the retired president of Northwestern Mutual, where he worked for 36 years. He began his career there as an attorney in 1982, but five years later made the move into management. He has 30 years of experience working in a series of progressive leadership roles for the company in such varied areas as operations, technology, product development and sales/marketing. He was appointed president of NM in 2014 and was actively involved in the company's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts serving on both the company's DEI committee and as the executive sponsor of the African American Employee Affinity Group, the first employee affinity group formed at the company. Oberland has also been actively involved in many non-profit organizations in the Milwaukee area, serving terms as president of the American Red Cross of SE Wisconsin, Milwaukee Public Library Foundation and Milwaukee Repertory Theater. Currently, Oberland is on the board of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and a national health organization. He and his wife, Rhonda, are philanthropically involved in advancing racial equity (health, education, housing and economic opportunity) in the Milwaukee community, as well as the performing arts. They have four adult children and eight grandchildren.

Kevin Newell, founder of Royal Capital, shares how his life's work is committed to building the urban core through the lens of social responsibility. Newell's passion for business led him to explore the potential of public-private partnerships after graduating from the prestigious Associates in Real Estate (ACRE) program at Marquette University. Royal Capital invests in affordable housing, health care and education, and Newell is particularly proud of his company's work with ThriveOn King, a 455,000-square-foot, place-based investment that will bring economic and social benefit to communities of color disproportionately affected by disparities.Newell is a proud Milwaukeean and shares his insights on entrepreneurship and leadership during this can't-miss episode.Episode Highlights11:59 - In order for me to keep my engine going, once you get to the point of financial success, you're going to need other things to kind of keep you motivated. And in order for me to not go down and spend my time in South Beach and stick my time here in Wisconsin, it's got to be tied to something bigger than financial reward. And social responsibility is that engine for me, it gets me going. 14:58 - We have the benefit of having brought in a significant major player around early childhood education and understanding that 0-3, that birth-3 timeframe, is so important for our youth, especially with the folks who are marginalized and disenfranchised in our community.17:36 - If we're going to have a real impact in our communities, we need to start with policymakers. We need to start with legislation. Even Dr. King talked about it on his last stage, where we were talking about going from simply marching to figuring out ways we can get people into appropriate seats on the political side.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Kevin L. NewellLinkedIn Guest BioKevin L. Newell is the founder of Royal Capital Group and has served as CEO since 2010. Royal Capital Group is a leading venture and holdings company with a firm focus on urban development and innovation. As the CEO of the organization, Newell has proudly led the company's efforts on business development, strategy, project management and its investment profile. As leader of the organization, he serves as an advocate for urban planning that is aligned with the aim to provide quality, safe, affordable lifestyle campuses that are in the best interest of the community he serves.Newell is a proud Milwaukee Public Schools graduate and received his undergraduate degree and MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He also is a graduate of the Marquette University ACRE (Associates in Commercial Real Estate) program.Some of Newell's notable career achievements include:☐ Real Estate Partner with the NBA Milwaukee Bucks, as Developer/Owner for the new $1 billion Live-Work-Play Entertainment District☐ First African-American to build and own multifamily-commercial developments in downtown Milwaukee and Madison, Wis.☐ Recognized by the Milwaukee Business Journal as a 40 under 40 recipient, National Top Real Estate Executive, Regional Top 25 Power Brokers and Top 48 Most Influential African Americans in Wisconsin.

This episode of the podcast features Gladys Manzanet. As the leader of Northwestern Mutual's Hispanic Marketing Program, Gladys has been successful in evolving the program to focus on equity and inclusion by teaching cultural competency. Gladys shares her approach to introducing herself to multicultural audiences and emphasizes relationship building, giving back to the community, and using feedback as a gift. They touch upon her accomplishments such as being named Woman of Influence by Milwaukee Business Journal and her advice for owning your identity and reframing negative self-talk into positivity. She emphasizes the value of peer mentoring for collective growth celebration.Gladys believes that if you approach things with the intent of making an impact, people will rise to the occasion. Tune in now to hear more from Gladys Manzanet on this inspiring episode!Episode Highlights12:26 - That phrase "people champion" is really, I think, it is centered on optimism in people and hope in people, and providing people grace. So, for me, people champion means to me that I'm able to listen, with both the ears that I've been given, try to speak less but also understand that you are always expecting the best in people. 14:25 - In this work, it will challenge you, but it will also completely fulfill you. And so, if you're always keeping that top of mind, I think that helps you move on day to day. This work of diversity, equity, and inclusion, people are different spaces. They're different places in this work, and you will always have people who will rise to the occasion and people who will disappoint you.25:05 - The lesson that I would like to leave others with is just really take the time to do the work, to understand what is it that you stand for, and understanding your why for what you want to do, how you want to move about the world, and the kind of impact that you want to make.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Gladys Manzanet LinkedInGuest Bio:Gladys I. Manzanet is a Senior Director of Field Diversity and Inclusion at Northwestern Mutual. She is a well-respected field champion, demonstrating a combination of emotional intelligence, leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit to help drive growth and excellence within the field force. She has a passion for creating more inclusive, diverse, and equitable environments. She consults, coaches, and supports Northwestern Mutual's field leadership in their diversity and inclusion efforts. She develops and executes field strategies that will continue to position the organization's exclusive distribution system as a leader in advancing women and historically excluded communities. Since 2015, she's been a leader at Northwestern Mutual providing cultural competency guidance, marketing consultation and training to help advisors increase sales and brand awareness within a variety of diverse segments -- Hispanic, African American, Asian (multiple sub-segments), Women, and LGBTQ+. She currently works directly with 21 Network Offices on their diversity and inclusion journey and has helped develop and support strategies to grow the Hispanic segment of financial advisors by more than 78%. Manzanet has also been a driver of the vision, planning, and content creation for field-focused affinity spaces, including every iteration of the Affinity Summits, Annual and Regional Meeting Real Talks, and Multicultural Mixers. Prior to joining Northwestern Mutual, she honed a wealth of experience in diverse community engagement, strategic planning, and leadership...

Cecelia Gore leads strategic change and transformation in her current philanthropic role with the Brewers Community Foundation, the charitable arm of Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club. As a leader in the Milwaukee community, she has been instrumental in raising $50 million for local nonprofits over the past decade. Cecelia has worked to drive social change and institutions towards greater understanding around equity. She has helped raise awareness about systemic racism and other challenges facing Milwaukee such as education, housing health, and employment.Cecelia has a passion for giving back to her community and helping those in need. She shares her experience working with Henry Aaron, an inspirational legend in baseball who was committed to using his platform to make a difference. Tune in to hear about Cecelia's work which involves raising money for organizations that serve families impacted by domestic violence and other causes. Listen to her advice on how to treat people and to recognize everyone has something valuable they can bring to the table.Episode Highlights04:48 - They understand, because they come from places throughout the country, how important it is to give back. Many of them recognize how wonderful it is for them to be able to access resources that they have. And so, I'll call it an easy ask to say, "Please help us provide some financial resources to support the community."07:07 - Education is an issue. We've been all kind of exposed to and grappling with systemic racism, housing – pretty much the areas that we focus on – health, education, basic needs, workforce, employment, all of those issues are challenging, but I think the reality that there are so many disparities and gaps that we need to address and really look hard and long at are just the work of the day.15:19 - I could just go down the list of organizations where people are working hard everyday. And so, the little piece that I can play is it seems minor, but I have built my career around saying yes, involving myself in causes and organizations where I could bring some resources to the table or some knowledge, and it has really fed my soul. It is inspiring, and I'm thrilled that I had something that I can offer.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Cecelia GoreLinkedInGuest Bio:Cecelia Gore is a senior level executive with extensive experience leading community/external affairs, foundation and sports philanthropy. She leads strategic change and transformation in her current philanthropic role with the Brewers Community Foundation, the charitable arm of Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club. Gore maintains operational excellence, consistently advises on innovative strategies which support efforts to achieve recognition as a strong corporate citizen, and engages in activities that support the community. Gore previously represented one of the largest independent and most active foundations in the history of Greater Milwaukee philanthropy, the Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation where she led grant-making and managed board relations. She has served as a board member and committee chair for numerous nonprofit organizations. Currently, Gore serves as a director for C. G. Schmidt, a family owned/private construction company as well as Froedtert Hospital, The Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Sojourner Family Peace Center, Milwaukee Film and Alverno College. She has received numerous awards and recognition including a Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa from Carroll University. She looks forward to serving as co-chair of...

We explore how Andres Gonzales, vice president of community engagement and chief diversity officer at Froedtert Health, is making a lasting impact on the health care system through his passion for creating equity. He discusses his journey from Puerto Rico to Cleveland and how he has used his lived experiences to form initiatives that empower all communities. Gonzalez also shares about how Froedtert's transformation into an anti-racist health care system is being driven by conversations with community members and stakeholders. Don't miss this engaging episode that reminds us that we all play a part in equity and engagement.Episode Highlights11:56 - If you look at historically how things have transpired in the U.S., at the core of all these issues, or the ills … is really systemic racism and discrimination. And we know that health care is not exempt. We're not obviously immune to that. And so for us, it was about acknowledging that individually, organizationally, but then admitting that openly to our community. And that vulnerability became extremely important.15:36 - One of the things that we heard loud and clear right away from the community was, "You guys cannot be the ones kind of leading the way. It would be great if you can actually empower us, give us some speaking points, and allow some of our trusted members of the community to be the ones that are carrying that message, because they obviously have earned that right."21:46 - I think that that's what fills me every morning, that I know that we can actually effect change, and even if it's in one life that we touch and we can make a difference, that's a win for us. That's actually someone who we impacted positively.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Andres GonzalesLinkedInGuest Bio:Andres Gonzalez, vice president of community engagement and chief diversity officer for Froedtert Health, is responsible for overseeing the integration of diversity initiatives throughout the organization, including expanding workforce diversity and strengthening community relationships. Prior to joining Froedtert Health, Gonzalez was chief diversity and inclusion officer at Baystate Health System, an integrated health care delivery system in Springfield, Mass. He also spent five years at Cleveland Clinic as director of diversity, community outreach and supplier diversity. In both positions, Gonzalez created and championed programs and processes to foster and sustain cultural competence. Gonzalez has a Master's Degree in Education and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, both from Cleveland State University. He completed Cornell University's industrial and labor relations-diversity executive program in 2014 and is a credentialed Cornell certified diversity professional/advanced practitioner. He also has served as a diversity consultant for a number of national companies and organizations.

Laura Glawe, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, discusses how GMF is working to create lasting change. Through conversations around meals at On the Table events, GMF has prioritized key areas: early childhood education and care, impact investing to small businesses, housing and their internal culture, and a $700 million campaign for the community. Racial equity and inclusion are GMF's North Star. Glawe also stresses the importance of becoming an ally in social impact work and focusing on amplifying collective voice for population-level change. Tune in to learn more about how to be an ally, turn one's passions into one's life's work and contribute to creating meaningful impact. Episode Highlights04:00 - A leadership theme I'd like to lift up around voice and vision is the important connection to becoming an ally in social impact work. Especially as a professional in marketing communications, the word ‘voice' is multifaceted when it comes to change-making work.06:17 - I believe in being connected to something greater than oneself. It's an individual choice though, and contemplating one's purpose may or may not combine personal and professional motivation. It can be an aspiration, but it's certainly not the only way to reach fulfillment in one's life. 15:37 - Combining collective voice and vision is advancing a narrative change. Throughout neighborhoods and with donors and non-profit partners and public officials, we do have opportunity, and some momentum is indicating that transformational racial equity and inclusion is possible and happening. Leadership is a more collective process now. Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Laura GlaweLinkedInGuest Bio:Laura Glawe's “Milwaukee pride” and her value to help all people reach their full potential inspire her volunteerism and her leadership at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. For seven and half years, she has served as the vice president of marketing and communications, responsible for elevating the Foundation's brand. During this time, Glawe has led engagement with hundreds of community-wide stakeholders and developed an inclusive strategic vision to reimagine philanthropy and build A Milwaukee for All. The launch of this shared community vision makes racial equity and inclusion the Foundation's North Star and places the voice of Black and Brown people at the center of decision-making. Her investment in authentic communications and engagement with stakeholders earned her a Chief Marketing Officer of the Year recognition from the Milwaukee Business Journal in 2021.Throughout her career in nonprofits and higher education, Glawe's creativity and experience with leading and advocating for positive change have helped make our community stronger. For 10 years, she served as an associate vice chancellor of university marketing and communications at UWM, where she engaged students and alumni to help build the narrative of the university through personal storytelling. During her tenure, she launched many digital strategies to expand visibility of UWM's student experience on the Eastside – by a great lake — as well as advanced the brand of mission-focused priorities such as being a research 1 university, offering online degrees and international student enrollment. She herself is a two-time graduate of the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, with an undergraduate degree in journalism and a master's in administrative leadership. Glawe enjoys development

In this episode, Generation Capital Growth Founder and Managing Director Cory Nettles shares deeply personal stories about his upbringing in Milwaukee and his driving desire to move with urgency and efficiency to make a difference, specifically for communities of color. Nettles is deeply grounded in the values instilled in him by his grandmother, believing that human dignity and worth aren't determined by bank accounts or titles but rather what lives inside all of us. He encourages individuals, especially people of color and women, to have confidence in their abilities. Together with his wife Michelle, Nettles has undertaken an incredible journey to support Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy, focused exclusively on Milwaukee's black children and families. Tune in to this inspiring episode with a visionary leader.Episode Highlights11:54 - We just have this sense of what matters to us and what doesn't, and we're really clear about that. We're really comfortable in our own skin. We don't play somebody else's game. We're running our own race, and we don't have any cognitive dissonance about that. We don't have any confusion about that. There's no identity crisis about any of that, never has been and God willing never will be.14:11 - The first thing I tried to tell folks is you're just as good as they are. You're just as smart as they are, and you got to have that sense of confidence – not overconfidence, because that's different – but a sense of confidence in who you are and what you know.22:18 - Michelle said, "No, we're not doing that. Our kids deserve better. We're going to build something new because our kids deserve a new state-of-the-art school to further enable their learning and their outcomes."Connect with Tammy Belton-DavisLinkedInConnect with Cory NettlesLinkedIn

Laura Gutierrez, who is the first woman and person from UCC Southside neighborhood to lead the United Community Center, draws on early experiences while pushing forward initiatives like empowering thriving Hispanic communities through education opportunities as an equalizer regardless of zip code or birthplace status. She believes in servant leadership, and that it's important for young generations to see women in leadership roles.In this episode, Tammy and Laura discuss the importance of equity and valuing diversity in creating a better world. Laura shares her story about growing up with parents who worked hard to create a better life for their children, as well as the influence of Catholic school and UCC organizations on her journey. She further highlights how she works to provide opportunities for the 1,800 students that she is responsible for, emphasizing understanding each other's cultures so that all can rise together.Tune in to hear Laura describe what her journey had been like as a woman and woman of color leading an organization during challenging times, particularly calling out uncomfortable issues while also finding joy in seeing young people succeed everyday. Laura's goal is to provide children with an opportunity for success and equip them with knowledge so they can take care of future generations. Episode Highlights09:21 - Remember that you are not only representing the community, your parents, but the adults that are trying to set you through and so, for me, the connection and the community, it really was a, "It takes a village." If my mom didn't know something, or whether it was education, or where to find resources for us as children, she'd go and ask.18:44 - It's been a journey of turns and twists, of challenges, of overcoming stereotypes. A) Because you're a woman. B) Because you have children. C) Because you're married. And I've had great bosses, a lot of them. The majority of my bosses have been men, all great.25:45 - I think that's what it's about. It's reaching across the aisle and saying, "Okay, how do we figure this out as a community?" It would have been great for me to stay home in yoga pants, not have to shower maybe. But at the same time, it's like, "No." Sometimes you can't follow what everybody else is doing. Sometimes you're going to have to take that chance and that risk and say, "This is the best decision because it's going to move the community forward."30:04 - When you look at funding for schools, there's one thing to have funding, and then qualified teachers, right? And so, if we're not looking at this from what is in the best interest of the child so that they can be successful, then you're always going to have disparities because a lot of decisions are made without the child being at the center.Connect with Tammy Belton-DavisLinkedInConnect with Laura GutierrezLinkedIn

In today's episode, the inspiring Lauren Feaster discusses the unique platform she has as CEO of Milwaukee's Professional Dimensions (PD) and what it means to lead with intention, integrity and heart, all rooted in system thinking. Her commitment to the work is rooted in her desire to ensure women, especially women of color, are embraced, elevated and compensated for every professional dimension they lead with and in every area where they add value. Dedicated to empowerment through education, Feaster shares her journey as a leader and how one individual can have major impact with intentional work. This episode is sure to inspire listeners from many backgrounds!.Episode Highlight12:26 - Professional Dimensions is my theory of change right now. I`m here because I really believe that the time we are in, what PD offers and has the potential to offer based on its history and how it was founded and what it was founded for, needs to be the answer. 18:51 - The effort has to be shaped by those who are most directly impacted by the injustice and lead by those with personal proximity to the problem.25:35 - Being able to know and learn and know what to do when you find yourself in that situation is just as important as trying to change the system so that it doesn`t happen and it actually does change the system overtime.38:53 - My members give me hope because I`ve seen it, I`ve seen so much success in these things that I share and that`s why I can share them with so much confidence, I would not steer folks wrong.Connect with Tammy Belton-DavisLinkedInConnect with Lauren FeasterLinkedIn

In our latest episode, Andres Gonzalez, the vice president of community engagement and chief diversity officer at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, discusses how to be a catalyst for change and lifts Milwaukee as a place where organizations are intentionally investing in the community. Gonzalez also says that, too often, people in positions of power try to prescribe solutions to communities without first understanding their lived experiences and that this undermines trust.Finally, Gonzalez shares personal stories about what it was like being uprooted from his beloved home country of Puerto Rico to move with his family to Cleveland and how he supported his mom as she attempted to access health care with limited English skills.Episode Highlights11:31 - It's about building trust and understanding what's the lived experience in the community. So, again, we understand what is happening, what people are living through, and then we have a better insight and understanding of what we might be able to actually offer. 21:09 - Let's unpack the pledge. Let's understand what we're signing on to here and then let's make sure that we stay the course and that we are accountable, and also transparent about our journey and how we're either delivering or not on those efforts.33:31 - I oftentimes remind a lot of the folks that I'm mentoring because I'm actually right now in the face of my career where I can pay it forward, but I'm trying to build the next cadre or leaders that will probably pick up the mantle and run with it, and we'll continue this work forward.Connect with Tammy Belton-DavisLinkedInConnect with Andres GonzalezLinkedIn

In this episode, Kenyatta Sinclair of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation shares why inclusion, humanity, and people feeling seen and valued are the most critical elements of doing transformational work. An equity, diversity and inclusion leader with more than two decades of experience, Sinclair also lifts what she sees as the differences between proformative, or symbolic, change verus true systemic chance. She also discusses how organizations can create more equitable opportunities for all employees. This timely, important conversation will help organizations of all sizes create more inclusive workplaces.Episode Highlights:05:45 - Without the inclusion, nobody's talking about racial equity because you have to see the person and their humanity first.07:19 - For me the inclusion is the secret sauce. It's where we find out where we came from, where we find out what we have in common, where we find out that we aren't so different.12:58 - I want to lift up neighborhoods and I want to lift up groups of people who said we aren't waiting on government anymore, we aren't waiting on organizations anymore.26:08 - That's why we practice self care because we know the emotional tax that goes along with this work and that's also why everybody has to take their share of it.37:56 - Definitely faith and God, we don't live as people without hope, I don't see myself being able to exist and function if I'm hopeless.Connect with Tammy Belton-DavisLinkedInConnect with Kenyatta SinclairLinkedIn

The theater has always been a powerful tool for social change. Tammy is joined by Chad Bauman, the Executive Director at Milwaukee Repertory Theater and discusses how theater can be used to ignite conversations about important issues, and promote positive change in society. Chad also explores how performing arts can be used to make a difference in the world through promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Highlights 04:43 Theater has a large role to play in that, to have us introduced to things that we normally wouldn't be exposed to otherwise. 07:37 We're doing this work so that we can make sure that not only people are welcomed in our theaters but that they're engaged and they're active in purpose and that we're seeking justice, and we're seeking the full human experience for everybody. 13:13 You're gonna constantly be learning and you have to be open to getting feedback. That's part of the process. 17:27 It's funny how as a father, I'm learning to see the world through the eyes of my son for the first time and what he is engrossed by and what he finds interesting. 22:46 I think the best learning comes from people and your circle that you already have a really good trust in.Connect with Tammy Belton-DavisLinkedInConnect with Chad Bauman LinkedIn

In today's episode, Kendra Ingram, President and CEO of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, shares her experience as a woman of color in the arts and culture industry and how she has used her platform to advocate for more diversity in leadership roles. She discusses how having more diversity in leadership positions can impact decision-making and how this can lead to more representative programming that meets the needs of the community.Tammy and Kendra talk about the importance of representation in leadership roles within arts and culture organizations, the role that arts and culture organizations play in serving their communities, and the challenge of creating more diverse and inclusive programming within arts and culture organizations. Listen to know more about diversity in the C-suite and the metrics used to achieve equity.Highlights 04:03 - And the biggest thing that I've learned in the two and a half years is Milwaukeeans tend to take for granted I think what they have here in Milwaukee. People always say, "Oh, why would you move here from this place or that place to Milwaukee?" There's so many benefits to living in a small city that has the amenities of a large city, and has the thought of, "I need arts and culture. I need sports entertainment. I need outdoor recreation." The people here care about all those things and it's reflected in the work that's happening here. So, it's been an interesting time, overall a positive one.14:26 - There are a lot of artists that are great, but it has to be something that is really – that's going to resonate with the community. And if I just booked shows based on what I like, I don't know if any would come because it's not about me and what I like. It's about we are in service to the community. 22:37 - For the Marcus Center, one of the things that we have done well is we have outlined specific areas to improve. And we've outlined those not just in yes, we need to improve in this area, but here is actually the benchmark and the metrics and the milestones that we want to reach when we know and how do we know we're actually achieving equity.Connect with Tammy Belton-DavisLinkedInConnect with Kendra Whitlock IngramLinkedIn

Thelma A. Sias, retired executive and the founder and president of the Sias Group, shares how her childhood and personal story influenced her capacity to lead and why she believes great leadership involves the ability to listen and follow other people. Sias discusses the importance of leading through critical conversations, as well as enabling others to grow as leaders themselves. Importantly, Sias reflects on the remarks she gave when receiving an honorary doctorate from Marquette University in May 2022, during which she charged the audience to create access and opportunity for others, which she believes is how individuals should define their success. Episode Highlights:03:56 - The challenge we are having in today's world, in my opinion, is the fact that we are still struggling with women being in powerful leadership roles. With all of the experience we've had of the success of how women lead, we still struggle with that. And we're still struggling with the issue of younger leaders, leaders that have a different lifestyle. And I think we all need to get over it and understand this message about the table having everyone there, the tent being big enough to include everyone, is significant. We're living in a world that has changed and it continues to change. And if we don't get ourselves ready forward versus constantly going backwards, we're going to delay the enormous progress in this community, in the state, in this world that we need to have.07:42 - My parents were probably the most significant leaders I've ever met in that they led. They took action. They made change happen. They raised 11 kids and sent us all off to college with a combination of athletic and academic scholarships. And they built a principle for us all to work from.17:00 - The resilience to be able to stand up when so many people are pushing you down and the resilience to still believe in yourself when so many people are saying it should not be. Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedIn Connect with Thelma SiasLinkedInGuest Bio:Thelma A. Sias is one of Milwaukee's most powerful women because of her leadership and commitment to serve her community. She is proud to be the fifth of 11 children of the late Roosevelt and Pauline Sias, raised on the family farm in Mayersville, Mississippi. Thelma joined Wisconsin Gas (now We Energies) in 1986. In 2003, she was appointed vice president. In 2015, she was named to the Milwaukee Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame; in 2016 to Savoy Magazine's list of Top Influential Women in Corporate America; and in 2017 to the History Makers' Collection at the Library of Congress with the Doug Jansson Leadership Award from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. In 2018, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Milwaukee Business Journal. In 2022, she received an honorary doctorate from Marquette University. Sias is a board member of the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee, the Sojourner Family Peace Center, and Cardinal Stritch University. Sias is a retired executive and the founder and CEO of the Sias Group LLC.

In this episode, Catherine Knipstein, the Vice-President of Strategy of Athena Communications, tells us why words matter to her. She shares a story of when she realized she was going to translate this expertise into a career. She emphasizes simplicity when crafting your messages when you can.Catherine talks about her mantra, "Write tight." She also shares her thoughts on the term “fake news” and how it is becoming difficult for us to filter out what is true or not with all of the information available. Listen to this episode to find out why you should always be careful with your words, why it is important to be honest in your messaging, to be open-minded, and to seek out alternative viewpoints, as well as why it is crucial to assume the best intentions of others and have grace with them.Episode Highlights:08:20 - Write tight. Be very simple. When you can use a one-syllable word, do so. Your sentences should be very short and concise. And that way, everyone understands what you're saying. It's a lot harder to do that.11:30 - We're under attack by words. It's factual that there are bad actors, foreign and domestic, that are using words to try to mislead us, to lie to us, to influence our elections, for example. It's a little scary quite frankly.17:02 - It's that simple, short messaging. It's being honest. I mean, you and I have done media training together, messaging training together. And that's always our number one rule. Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Catherine Knipstein LinkedInGuest Bio: Catherine Knipstein has more than 12 years of experience in public relations, working first for the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), a nonprofit professional association headquartered in Washington, D.C.Catherine also worked as a Senior Account Executive for a PR firm located in Milwaukee for more than two years. In July 2019, Catherine joined Athena Communications as the firm's Chief Strategist.Catherine has extensive experience in internal and external communications and has served an array of organizations across all types of industries, including nonprofits, municipalities, international banks, national retailers and schools.Before becoming a public relations executive, Catherine was a financial policy analyst for CSBS, worked in the Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and started her career working for U.S. Sen. Don Nickles (R-OK). Through these positions, Catherine gained knowledge of the federal policy creation process.Catherine has a Master of Arts degree in Communication from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in U.S. History from Sewanee: University of the South. She and her husband, Jeff, have a young daughter named Nan.

When the stakes are high, Dr. Alonzo Kelly has advice on how to navigate through, and succeed at, crucial conversations. As president and founder of the Kelly Leadership Group, Kelly recently was named a recipient of a 2022 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Service and shares his expertise on purpose, growth and evolution. Kelly lifts the three elements of a crucial conversation – high stakes, strong emotions and opposing opinions – but reminds listeners that just because a conversation is crucial to one person doesn't mean it's crucial to the other. Finally, Kelly gives us a short lesson on why animals can be helpful metaphors for understanding human behavior. You won't want to miss this lively episode!Episode Highlights:01:48 - Language is important to me. I believe in my experience, the more explicit I can be in my communication, in the words that I use, is likely … to predict behavior or expected outcome. And something I mean by that is, since we are in a learning space, I do find it to be important to acknowledge that there are six modalities of learning: Read, write, listen, speak, think, and role-play. 07:35 - It requires me to let go of me, look at the other person and be clear and check in. Here's what I'm understanding is happening. Here's my understanding of the resources you need to complete that task. Here's what I'm upset about. Here's what I want. These are the resources I need in order to get my goal accomplished. And then the most beautiful part. Here's what it sounds like we both want. Here's what it sounds like we're both upset about. Here's what it sounds like we both need to accomplish a goal. Let's have that conversation.14:29 - These conversations require mental, physical, psychological, emotional – for some, spiritual stamina and endurance. And we are not all in game shape for crucial conversations. This is a stamina and endurance conversation.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Alonzo KellyLinkedInWebsiteGuest Bio:A dynamic executive coach, professor, three-time best-selling author and radio host, Alonzo Kelly has gained international and global attention as a premier consultant and strategist. Alonzo is recognized as one of the nation's leading experts on leadership development, strategic thinking, planning and acting, which results in individual and organizational goal achievement. He has appeared on America's Premier Experts, which airs on major networks across the country, including ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX.Kelly has served over 1,000 individuals through personal and professional development, delivered training to multiple Fortune 500 companies, college and universities, institutions of higher learning, foreign countries (Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Guam), and nonprofit organizations. He is consistently retained as a keynote speaker at large and small events across the country.Kelly holds a bachelor's in Accounting and three master's degrees (Public Administration, Human Resource & Labor Relations, and Business Administration) and is nearing completion of a Ph.D. in Multidisciplinary Human Services. He is also in the process of obtaining his Doctorate in Business Administration.Kelly currently serves on the State Board of Directors for the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), National Board of Directors for SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted), and the Fire and Police Commission for the City of Howard.

In this episode, Ellen Gilligan shares the critical leadership lessons she has learned as president and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation as it works toward its goal of "A Milwaukee for All." Importantly, she shares, reimagining philanthropy means recognizing that the work is “more than money.” Gilligan discusses the need to shift from seeing people in under-resourced communities solely as recipients of philanthropy to seeing them as partners who can co-create solutions. She considers her work a personal journey to dismantle white supremacy.Finally, listen to the most surprising thing Gilligan has learned on her professional journey. Episode Highlights: 06:52 - As we look forward to moving the foundation offices onto Martin Luther King Drive, we are inspired by the fact that we will be embedded in a community where we have deep relationships that we have built over time, and we are building trust, I hope, and that we are real partners in this work. And I know fundamentally that this will change. It already has changed the way we do our work, the way we think about our work, the way we think about how we will invest our resources, the decisions we make. Everything about our work is fundamentally changing. And this is the beginning of a long term partnership and commitment to that neighborhood. As far as I can see, the best is yet to come. 11:47 - I think that the most surprising thing that I have learned, once I get past my own defensiveness and fragility, is that it awakens a true love and caring of my colleagues. You care about your colleagues. You care about their families. 18:56 - We have the power by working together to change that. And part of what makes Milwaukee worth it is that it is the size community that you can really make a difference. New York City, LA, some of the larger communities that are facing some of the same challenges have a much steeper hill to climb, I think.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedIn Connect with Ellen GilliganLinkedIn Guest Bio:As president and CEO since 2010, Ellen Gilligan has amplified the Greater Milwaukee Foundation's role as a leader, convener and catalyst, bringing community together around a shared vision for a vibrant region. She has advanced a new era at the foundation where racial equity and inclusion is the North Star that guides decision-making, investment and action across the organization. Her tenure has been marked by growth, collaboration and a deep commitment to strategies that foster access to opportunity, strengthen the community and improve lives. In 2020, Ellen led the launch of the Foundation's new strategic vision of A Milwaukee for All to focus philanthropy on mending the fault line of systemic racism that prevents individuals, families and the region from reaching their full potential. Serving Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties, the Foundation is Wisconsin's largest community foundation – managing more than $1 billion in assets – and was among the first in the world. Since being established in 1915, the Foundation has awarded more than $1 billion in grants supporting a wide variety of nonprofits and initiatives that enhance the quality of life in greater Milwaukee and beyond. Much of Gilligan's career has been dedicated to the community foundation field. Before coming to Milwaukee, she spent 12 years at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, most recently as its vice president of community investment

Civil rights activist and education reform advocate Dr. Howard Fuller shares his powerful thoughts about what being unbought and unbothered mean to him – and what does bother him. Dr. Fuller also shares his approach to having conversations with people with whom you fundamentally disagree and why words have such power, including importantly with the students who attend the charter school he founded, Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy. Tune in to this remarkable conversation with a once-in-a-generation leader.Episode Highlights: 02:20 - I've always tried to make sure that I represented what I believed in, no matter what the consequences are. And I've always tried to be both honest with myself and with the people that I represent and the people that I'm talking to. And so in that sense, I've never seen myself as someone who could be bought off, someone who you could tell me what to say, versus I'm going to say what I believe, and then everybody has to deal with it. I have to deal with it. The people who are listening to me have to deal with it. But I always wanted people to know that whatever it is I said, it's what I believe. 13:49 -The reality is no one wants to feel unimportant. I mean, in fact, sometimes when a kid is going off in a classroom or in a building, sometimes it's because they're trying to say, "Look at me." They're trying to figure out a way for who they are to become relevant. 16:22 - Never be afraid to make mistakes, the only way you cannot make mistakes is not to do anything. And so, in my view of the world, none of us are perfect. So, no matter what it is we do, there's the potential of mistakes. I've made a zillion mistakes in my life, but I'm never going to let the possibility of being an error stop you from pushing forward. 31:44 - What I'm trying to say to young people is success is not leaving the place that you came from. Success is leaving the place that you came from, and then coming back to that place and making a significant difference.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedIn Connect with Dr. Howard FullerWebsite Guest Bio:Dr. Howard Fuller is a legendary activist and reformer. Born in Louisiana, he was raised in Milwaukee and has centered his life's work in education reform and the school choice movement. Dr. Fuller's career includes many years in both public service positions and the field of education. He is the founder of the Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette University, whose mission is to support exemplary education options that transform learning for children, while empowering families, particularly low-income families, to choose the best options for their children.Immediately before his appointment at Marquette University, Dr. Fuller served as the superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools from 1991-95. His prior positions included: director of the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services 1988 -1991; dean of general education at the Milwaukee Area Technical College 1986 – 1988; secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Employment Relations 1983 – 1986; and associate director of the Educational Opportunity Program at Marquette University 1979 – 1983. He was also a senior fellow with the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University 1995 – 1997.He has received numerous awards and recognition over the years, including four Honorary Doctorate Degrees: a Doctorate of Humane Letters from

Speaker, trainer and professional coach Nick Dillon – the Believe Coach – shares how critically important a belief mindset is in our professional and personal journeys, importantly the need to disrupt patterns and thoughts that don't serve you. Dillon shares his daily mantras, the importance of expressing gratitude and the need for leaders to leverage their emotional intelligence. He places a strong emphasis on showing empathy and compassion and accepting the fact that humans are imperfect. Listen in to hear Dillon's wise counsel about the importance of belief. Episode Highlights: 01:33 - Life is all about beliefs and beliefs are what I call accepted truths. And so, when we are leading our lives very intentionally versus just living, then we're leading with a very intentional belief mindset. 09:24 - One of the things that I have is I have my mantras. And so, my mantra each morning is waking up, because I get on the treadmill, because I still got some health challenges. So, I try to get on the treadmill and I exercise. And I take those moments and in those moments, and I would encourage us to do this – those are moments of mindfulness. Those are moments of shining the flashlight in the corners of your mental mindset in search of things that you don't want in there. 18:16 - One of the big things that I often say is that if someone tells me they're stuck, if someone tells me, "I'm having challenges getting a promotion. I'm having challenges to get a job. I'm having challenges with my team. I'm having challenges in the relationship," any type of scenario I just gave you, and I can go on and on and on, it's always going to tie you back to some sort of belief and mindset that they're bringing to that situation. Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedIn Connect with Nick DillonWebsite Guest Bio:Inspirational, innovative and empowering are only a few words that define the character of Nicholas Dillon. An entrepreneur, Dillon is on a mission to pursue his passion and build a legacy of influence.Thousands of individuals from the community to corporate America have learned from Dillon's insights on leadership and professional development, entrepreneurship, and personal empowerment.“My dad always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and my mom encouraged me to be the best I can be in life because average will never get noticed or recognized,” says Dillon, who later in life took the leap of faith to pursue his education and the world of self-improvement to become a Certified Life Coach and counselor.A Milwaukee native, Dillon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Master in Adult Education from Marquette University and the University of Phoenix, respectively. He also completed an additional Master's degree in Counseling from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville and is enrolled in post-graduate doctoral studies in Behavioral Psychology.Dillon initially launched his professional career in the field of insurance and risk management. His career has placed him in front of business executives, which served as a launching pad for the multifaceted professional he has become.

Multifaceted Faithe Colas discusses the power of community engagement and connecting people, emphasizing the importance of trust when building personal and professional relationships. She also shares her thoughts about authenticity and why she enjoys supporting young people as they're coming up in their careers.Finally, Colas discusses community journalism in Milwaukee and how members of the Black press and broadcast media impact community engagement. Tune in for valuable tips about building and nurturing relationships! Episode Highlights: 01:48 - I think about community engagement being the heart and the soul of an organization. I also think about community engagement as being the heart and the soul of the community. Because when you connect people together, one to another, it grows the community. It can be organic or it can be strategic, but it is a plus for the community. 08:59 - I think you have to be genuine about sharing your gifts. Be authentic about caring, about what someone brings to you. I mean, you got to feel it in your heart. And as a woman of God, I feel it in my heart. I can see that this person is genuine, that they really care about the community. They care about this project. They care about what it is they're trying to do. 19:00 - You got to be willing to hold the hand of someone when they come and ask for help. They have dug real deep to come in and ask for help, whether it's generational or not. They are still digging deep to ask for help. And by you having the conversation, you put them at ease. You say, "I'm someone you can talk to. I'm someone you can trust. I'm someone that cares about why you came in. But I know if you came in for that, you probably need this, this, this. And we won't talk about at all today, but I want you to know that I'm thinking about you because I care about you." That's meaningful community engagement. Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Faithe ColasLinkedIn Guest BioFaithe Colas has a 33-year career in media and community engagement. Her sweet spot is connecting people and growing the community through public and community relations. She's passionate about empowering women, supporting Black businesses and changing the narrative about Milwaukee.Colas is the host and producer of “I'm Every Woman” and “There's Always Something Good to Talk About,” which air on 860Today.com. She's a member of the National Council of Negro Women-Milwaukee Section, NAACP Milwaukee Chapter, Wisconsin Black Media Association, Milwaukee Press Club, Public Relations Society of America-Milwaukee Chapter and WUWM Advisory Board. She's also a lead fundraiser for the WUWM Eric Von Broadcast Fellowship, which honors her late husband's legacy by fostering the next generation of broadcast journalists.Colas was born and raised in Milwaukee. She is a John Marshall High School graduate and holds a bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies from Midwest Bible College.In another life, Colas would have been a professor of African-American studies and the history of the Black press. If she ever gets free time, she'd fill it with reading books, going to lectures, attending author readings and watching documentaries.

In this episode, Lazonnie Belton, a member of the Athena Speakers Bureau who built her career through dedication, commitment and innovation, shares her thoughts on purpose-driven leadership. Belton explains the importance of self-reflection -- including accepting feedback and being humble enough to ask for help.Belton also emphasizes the belief that “Together Everybody Achieves More” (TEAM), shares why failure can be good and even necessary in some situations, and urges people to own their special gifts. You won't want to miss this reflective and candid conversation with Belton! Episode Highlights: 09:05 - I found that we grow mostly in a little bit of struggle, a little bit of resistance, a little bit of not so much smooth sailing. And then we have a time after we go through that, that we can kind of sail through life just a little bit. 17:26 - You need a team. That's one of the acronyms that we use, T-E-A-M: Together Everyone Achieves More. A lot of people use that. Absolutely. It's true. You can get more done. You can make your dreams come true when you have that team. And some people obviously need more team members than others, but you can't do it by yourself. 19:30 - Failure is good. Now, it might take a bit for you to wrap your mind around that, your brain even, your emotions, especially around failure is good. Well, I'm speaking from experience. I'm not speaking from a definition in a dictionary or nobody else's story. I have found that failure is good because it stops you in your tracks. 23:33 - It's impossible to change who you were born to be. It's impossible to change your purpose. Your purpose is God given. Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedIn Connect with Lazonnie Belton LinkedInGuest Bio:Lazonnie Belton is a trailblazer who has built her career through dedication, commitment and innovation as a business leader. For over three decades, she has serviced the greater Milwaukee area with excellence in cosmetology. She is the esteemed founder and president of Visions in Hair Design Institute of Cosmetology (VHD), the only African American-owned and operated school of cosmetology in Milwaukee. She also owns Visions II.In addition to Belton's iconic success in Milwaukee's cosmetology field, she also received a Doctorate of Theology from Grace Theological Seminary.She and her husband, Apostle Sam Belton, serve as the senior pastors of Spirit of Truth World Ministries. Lazonnie is also an aspiring actress and performer, entertaining anyone whose path she crosses.

Why is centering community in philanthropy critical to the success of the work of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation? For Ellen Gilligan, the organization's president and CEO, it's because it's imperative to lead with an asset-based approach that invests in people because they best know what they need.Additionally, Gilligan shares ideas about how individuals can make real and actionable change in communities, thereby improving the lives of others.Highlights 02:41 It is the greatest honor of my life to be able to lead this tremendous institution with a team that is just so committed to long-term change. 05:00 That is our special sauce that we have, it's centering on communities and residents first in what we prioritize. 11:40 Everybody is shaped by their parents. They are the first teachers and they teach their values. 17:32 We have a broader responsibility and part of our responsibility is making sure that the most vulnerable and the most distressed issues of people get some visibility and have investment followed. 22:03 Find your passion, volunteer, give, get involved and go to a neighborhood that you have never been to.Connect with Tammy Belton-DavisLinkedInConnect with Ellen Gilligan LinkedIn

In a wide-ranging conversation that chronicles his journey from educator to leader to pastor, Dr. Marcus Arrington shares how his faith has undergirded his life's work, in particular the key recognition that he believes that all individuals are made uniquely in the image of God and deserve respect and dignity because of this. Dr. Arrington also shares his thoughts about the importance of being a “person of purpose” and individuals fulfilling their full potential, equating his to being a farmer because of his ability to plant seeds and help bring about a harvest.  Highlights: 07:38 There's so many transferable skills, just learning the dimensions of leading from a facility standpoint, from a personnel and staff standpoint. 09:30 One of the beautiful aspects I believe about God and about the Bible is that it affirms the uniqueness of every person, ethnicity and so forth.  12:34 So, if I go into a specific industry, I still consider myself a farmer. If I'm in education, I still consider myself a farmer. Every day I have the chance to plant seeds. Every day I have the chance to speak life.  15:01 So much I think, the work that we do whether it is in the Ministry or in the marketplace or in our respective industries is about being present and being a representation. 18:00 When you view content, don't view it passively, but be an active observer. Begin to ask the questions, who benefits from the story being told this way, who's not present, who stands to lose if this is the only story told?    Connect with Tammy Belton-Davis https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammybeltondavis/ (LinkedIn) Connect with Dr. Marcus Arrington https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-marcus-l-arrington-93534032/ (LinkedIn)

With professional training as an engineer and in organizational behavior, Dr. Greer Jordan shares how she has navigated approaching equity, inclusion and belonging work from a systems approach, always seeking to understand how people best function together.  Dr. Jordan also explains why we must remember that we are mutually dependent upon one another – and that we may not always agree, but it's critical to work together to create a more inclusive world for all.  Highlights:  04:56 For some reason, I was a person who observed: What's the impact of the environment on people's behavior? We have our individual locus of control, of course, but we also have our context.  07:22 I was never an advocate for making diversity training mandatory because it's a developmental thing people need to do.  11:58 If you don't have that psychological well-being, if you don't feel safe in your environment, it's kind of hard to extend yourself to other people, frankly. You're in survival mode. 15:39 I know it sounds simple, but you need to talk with people and get to a certain point in a relationship with people where they are really telling you and really talking about what the actual need is, not what people's wants are. 22:32 If we don't agree that we need to coexist or that we're mutually dependent, it's hard even to get into the conversation in the first place.  Connect with Tammy Belton-Davis https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammybeltondavis/ (LinkedIn) Connect with Dr. Greer Jordan  https://www.linkedin.com/in/c-greer-jordan-ph-d-mba-5709625/ (LinkedIn) https://www.mcw.edu/departments/office-of-diversity-and-inclusion/people/c-greer-jordan-mba-phd (website)

In this episode, we're joined by Paula Penebaker, who is as busy as ever after formally retiring in 2019 from her role as president of the YWCA Southeast Wisconsin. In a career spanning multiple industries, Paula has long led and championed authentic and honest conversations about race among people who have different lived experiences. Ultimately, Paula strives to embolden others to read, probe and ask tough questions about racism and injustice, encouraging them to take action in their own lives. You'll love this thoughtful episode with one of Milwaukee's most prominent leaders. Highlights: 07:33 - I'm always trying to grow and learn. I'm a big reader, so I always do what I can to expand my own personal knowledge base. 08:55 - Being a Black woman is two distinctively different elements that impact our lives differently. We can't necessarily separate being a woman from being Black. And that's hard. 14:45 - As the leader of an organization with such a bold mission, eliminating racism and empowering women … there's a thin line to walk when you have responsibility to the enterprise. 34:31 - If they see some reputation, then that helps that company draw diverse employees. Keeping them is another challenge. Connect with Tammy Belton-Davis https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammybeltondavis/ (LinkedIn) Connect with Paula Penebaker https://www.linkedin.com/in/ablackwomanphd/ (LinkedIn) https://www.ubunturesearch.com/ (Website)

Dr. Monique Liston is authentic, transparent and real. She discusses growing up in what's considered the most nationally infamous ZIP code 53206, confirmation bias, measuring what matters and more. As the founder of Ubuntu Research and Evaluation, Dr. Liston highlights the importance of research-based accountability to create an equitable world. Dr. Liston further spotlights the burden of student loans, disproportionately owed by Black women more than any other race, through the movement #LoanLiberation. Tune in to hear Dr. Liston speak about her work as a “warrior scholar and joyful militant.” This can't-miss episode is filled with insight and authenticity! Highlights: 04:39 - The first one is my mama, my mama made no excuse for the way in which a black girl should show up in the world. She should understand herself as bold. 12:22 - For me that narrative change, that narrative shift, that let's actually have the people speak to their experiences instead of us telling us about them. 14:21 - I realize that data, science, research have been so white dominated that the language of data was racist and we don't even realize it. 32:42 - I wish I could say that like, I integrated things but that's not true it's just I never been without these things. Connect with Tammy Belton-Davis https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammybeltondavis/ (LinkedIn) Connect with Dr. Monique Liston https://www.linkedin.com/in/ablackwomanphd/ (LinkedIn) https://www.ubunturesearch.com/ (Website) Monique Liston -  Founder, Joyful Militant and Chief Strategist at https://www.facebook.com/ubunturesearch/?__tn__=kK*F (Ubuntu Research and Evaluation) (Milwaukee). Powered by a collective of unapologetic Black women, femmes, and non-binary people working as transdisciplinary strategist committed to resistance against anti-blackness. 

No matter your age, developing resilience is important. In today's episode, Dr. Brandon Currie discusses the organization he founded and leads, STRYV365, a Milwaukee nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals overcome trauma by fostering resilience through responsible decision-making, self- and social awareness, self-management, and strong relationships. Why are these skills so important? Because they're universally critical to navigating our world, especially for youth, in particular youth of color who are disproportionately affected by trauma. By equipping people of all ages with the know-how to be action-oriented and socially aware citizens, we can help create a more equitable world for all. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: 04:34 - You always have to adapt, problem solve, figure things out and hold yourself accountable. I think that's what drove me to play. 09:44 - One of our key values is that we focus on creating positive experiences. Toxic stress, trauma … those things are going to happen. We can't go into every house or every community to stop them from happening. 18:48 - We ask questions. We work with our partners to hear where they are, to hear what their needs are, and then we come up with a plan of action on how we can implement support to meet those needs. 26:25 - I think it's very important to have conversations, right. Talk to other organizations, talk to colleagues, talk to the members of the community. Ask them questions. The why. Why did they do what they do? Connect with Dr. Brandon Currie Dr. Brandon Currie is an athlete, coach, educator, guidance counselor, and business and community leader. He graduated from Wisconsin's Brown Deer High School, where he distinguished himself in athletics, leadership and academics and for whom he won two WIAA State High School tennis singles championships. He later attended Butler University, where he is the most celebrated tennis player of all time and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Science Degree in School Counseling and Psychology. He has a Doctoral Degree in Urban Education and founded STRYV365 in 2020.  https://www.stryv365.org/pages/dr-brandon-currie-reorg (Website) Connect with Tammy Belton-Davis https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammybeltondavis/ (LinkedIn)

In today`s episode, we are joined by Dr. Howard Fuller. He talks about how he is approaching his work from an equity perspective, removing personal agenda from the equation, and the importance of leadership and community involvement in achieving equity.  Dr. Fuller also shares his thoughts on how to create more inclusive environments, what he sees as the future of equity work, and why it is so important to continue the fight for equity regardless of the challenges. This is an episode that equity-minded individuals will not want to miss. Highlights: 03:12 - The pressure on people is unlike anything that I have ever seen in my life. You have teachers who walk and they just quit. They literally can't do it. You have kids who have gone through things that are even hard to describe. 13:40 - If we are not clear on what's actually happening, the solutions that we come up with will not be solutions that address the fundamental problem. It will address the manifestations of the problem but not the problem itself. 24:37 - You've got to figure out what am I trying to get out of my life, what do I want my life to represent? 34:06 - If the black community is going to get beyond where it is it's going to get there because of the strength of the institutions that we can build and what gives me hope is that we have people who understand that. Connect with Tammy Belton-Davis https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammybeltondavis/ (LinkedIn) Connect with Dr. Howard Fuller https://howardfullerca.org/about-2/ (Website) Dr. Howard Fuller Dr. Howard Fuller is a civil rights activist, education reform advocate, and academic. He is best known for the community organizing work he did in Durham, North Carolina as an employee of Operation Breakthrough, and as a co-founder of the Malcolm X Liberation University in 1969.

In this inaugural episode of On the Edge of Equity, your hosts Tammy Belton-Davis, Becky Dubin Jenkins and Dave Ratfelders share the impetus behind launching a podcast focused on diversity, equity and inclusion and what the name means to them.  What should you expect? Tough questions, raw conversations. Time spent being comfortable with discomfort. The Athena Communications team centers its work in diversity, equity and inclusion but knows that change doesn't come without action. This podcast is for everyone who wants to join Team Athena on their journey of creating a more inclusive world that showcases people and organizations often out of the spotlight. Tammy, Becky and Dave are thrilled to share this space with you! Highlights: 01:32 - This is the place where team Athena and I … we live and we speak our truths. We want to be authentic, and we will invite all of us to be uncomfortable in that process. 02:10 - Understanding that difficult problems don't get resolved easily, they are not happening and they are not changing with safe and easy conversations. There has to be a willingness to be open. 07:16 - We don't want to be uncomfortable. I don't ever want to be in a space where there`s strain or pain, but I also recognize that without that natural tension we are not able to grow. 12:10 - Making yourself uncomfortable is not only a natural process, but it is necessary for success. Connect with Tammy Belton-Davis https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammybeltondavis/ (LinkedIn) Connect with Becky Dubin Jenkins https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-dubin-jenkins-72b5238/ (LinkedIn) Connect with Dave Ratfelders https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-ratfelders-1b48144/ (LinkedIn) Athena Communications https://www.athenacommunicationsllc.net/insight/ (Website) Overview Athena Communications a full-service brand management firm headquartered in Milwaukee that specializes in public relations and government affairs. What sets us apart? We only work with clients who inspire us with their leadership, vision, skill and intention to transform our world.

On the Edge of Equity is a bold new podcast that features crucial conversations centered on equity, diversity and inclusion. But this isn't just talking the talk. It's about inspiring action… asking tough questions and getting honest answers – because that's the only way that real change happens.  So if you're ready to help move our communities from the Edge of Equity to a place of true justice and inclusion, join us on this journey. Let's share transformational ideas and stories that can lead to systems change - locally, regionally and nationally. Our podcast is powered by Athena Communications, where we manage transformational brands that impact lives and communities. On the Edge of Equity is hosted by yours truly, Tammy Belton Davis, founder and president. Each episode will feature a special guest that has an impactful - and transformational - story to share.  We hope you join us and please, make yourself uncomfortable. Please join our email list at info@athenacommunicationslls.comso you don't miss an episode of On the Edge of Equity. The link is also in the show notes. You can also support the show by sharing it on social media with your personal and professional networks; suggesting guests and topics for us to spotlight; AND engaging in crucial conversations about systems change.