12 on Tuesday: Best of Summer 2016

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    Here are some of our favorite answers to our favorite questions over the last three months.

    EricUpchurchCroppedYGB Cofounder Eric Upchurch: You are one of the key members of the Young Gifted & Black organization. What is the biggest misconception about YGB? One of the biggest misconceptions regarding the circle of leaders called the Young Gifted & Black Coalition is that we don’t know what we are talking about. It’s not a surprising disposition when you consider the value and importance given to anything Black – especially when it challenges the status quo. YGB organizes around state violence, race and gender equity, community power, social justice and Black liberation. All of its members have experienced state violence – some growing up in extreme poverty. All of the founders have touched the criminal justice system, and some, the mental health complex, and all have lived through the non-profit industrial complex which profits from the vulnerable as a failed social experiment. Most of the leadership are gender non-conforming feminists, and all of been social students and activists for years. We are the 350 – locked away for an empty stomach. We are also educated carrying several degrees from African American Studies, to Psychology, to Business, and even Chemistry. Not to mention, we study and – despite popular belief – we do seek out the advice of our elders and those with experiences from which we can glean. Don’t think so highly of yourself to assume that because we haven’t approached you, we must not know what we’re doing, or be learning. That’s the mistake that too many Madison “leaders” make – and that supports the disparities.

    Stan Davis

    Attorney and diversity consultant Stan Davis: You held the position of Deputy Chief of Staff & Chief Legal Counsel in Governor Doyle’s Administration. What are you two biggest takeaways from the job?Ironically, the biggest takeaway that I learned from that experience was about diversity and how to successfully achieve it. I learned it from a white man named Jim Doyle. We had to the most diverse cabinet in the United States, and it happened because Gov. Doyle was committed to diversity and made it clear to everyone who worked for the administration that it was a priority of his and that not succeeding was not an option. There was a purposefulness and focus that was impressive. Every hiring pool had to be diverse, or there would be a new pool. Once the pool was diverse, you just picked the best person for the job. There was no reaching or lowering of standards, it was about aggressively identifying and recruiting talented people and putting them in positions where they could be successful.

    The other thing that I learned in that role is the importance of having great people around you and treating them well. I had never really managed anyone before that job, and suddenly found myself managing a lot of people, many of whom were very young, in their first real job, and working in a very intense environment. I learned that it pays to say “please” and “thank you,” even when you are the boss, and to make the extra effort to make people feel that they are always part of what is happening. When you lead people by fear and intimidation, you get the minimum from them. When you treat them with respect and appreciate them, they will give you everything they have. I really enjoyed the people that I worked with and am proud of the things that Gov. Doyle achieved in his two terms as governor.

    mooreUW Assistant Basketball Coach (and former Badger player) Howard Moore: What is the biggest difference between playing in the Kohl Center vs the Fieldhouse? The biggest difference between playing in the Kohl and playing in the Fieldgouse is the crowd in the Fieldhouse was louder, crazier, and hungrier! No disrespect, but the Bleacher Creatures were crazier than the Grateful Red.

    MedranoLatino Chamber of Commerce President Mayra Medrano: If you were granted three wishes to have anything you wanted, what would they be and why? Immigration Reform– So that Latino immigrants don’t have to be threatened by the words “illegal alien” and “undocumented.” For students to feel welcomed to a college campus and have the normal college stresses of selecting a major and whose house party to attend and not about someone realizing that you don’t have the proper documentation for higher education. For immigrants to be able to apply for a driver’s license to prove their identity as law-abiding citizens who are worried about providing for their families.

    Time Travel- I would like to experience first-hand all of mankind’s milestones and the various empires. To be able to witness the Roman Empire as it developed and grew its influence throughout Europe and to see how the Aztecs dominated Central America and how it fell to the Europeans. Seeing history is much more impactful than reading it in a textbook.

    Multi-lingual – To be fluent in all the languages on this planet would be great! Imagine all the possibilities of accomplishments if language barriers were removed?!

    WalkerMadison365 Editorial and Technical Intern Amber Walker: What are the three things you hope millennials do better than Baby Boomers? I hope millennials continue to innovate the economic structure so that it values people’s unique gifts and talents. I think folks should be able to do what they love and sustain themselves and their families. I love being a creative, and I want to pursue my craft full time without going hungry!

    I also hope millennials continue to break down the barriers between people so our world is more inclusive for future generations. I would love for my kids to truly live in Dr. King’s dream where they are judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.

    I want us to pay more respect to the planet and realize how our lifestyle has a rippling impact. We live in a society built on convenience. It would be great to see us pull back on that a little bit in favor of doing what is right, versus what is easy. Recycle. Ride your bike to work every once in awhile. Give back. It doesn’t take that much.

    AldreteHispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee CEO Griselda Aldrete: You are going to law school, working as the CEO of the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee, and serving on numerous boards. How do you find work-life balance? I don’t like when people talk about work-life balance. This is my life…it’s a choice I make to be fully invested in my life and what I want to get from it. I choose to go to school to continue my educational and professional development. I choose to work for an organization that is working toward improving the lives of Hispanics across the region. I choose to serve on boards that make an impact in our city and the betterment of our communities. I choose to make time and make things I love a priority because that is what gives me joy. Working for something that is bigger than me and that will hopefully have a lasting impact for years to come.

    RobinsManpower, Inc Director of Operations Sabrina Robins: What is the role of businesses to support diversity in the community? Businesses are a major stakeholder in supporting and helping to facilitate in the efforts of building diverse communities. When recruiting candidates to come work for a company there is an understanding that they need to live in the surrounding community. As such many prospective employers, particularly top talent feel that diversity is important. Therefore, business will need to provide financial support to local and national diversity initiatives. Next, companies will need to continue to lend assistance to local non-profits, educational institutions and other organizations by serving on taskforces, board of directors, and other hands-on volunteer opportunities. Studies are showing that Millennials expect diversity not only in the workplace but in the community as well. Business leaders will be challenged to be more engaged and pay more than lip service to diversity.

    RasheidAtlas-croppedDesigner and developer Rasheid Atlas: Every time I see you, you have well-coordinated and colorful suits on. Why is dress so important to you? Impression is everything. It’s all we have to go on until we actually know someone. Beyond that, I have never seen my father or grandfather in anything but slacks and suits. It’s always been how I saw adult men in my family. Which commanded a great deal of respect because they always looked like they deserved it. I am committed to providing the same image for the four sons I have at home. I want them to understand the importance of self-respect and how it commands respect from others without any action. They see the difference in how we are treated based on how I dress alone, even though the same man resides under the clothing regardless what I wear.

    Karen_Tres ReyesCentro Hispano Executive Director Karen Menendez Coller: You came from Los Angeles. What are the top three things we could learn from your experience living in LA when it comes to the Latino community? That neighborhood movements can happen — some neighborhoods in LA were classified as problematic by some, but that wasn’t the case at all. These were not neighborhoods that needed to be fixed. Families in these neighborhoods, including Latino families, already knew the solutions, they figured out innovative ways to make it work in their neighborhoods. When encouraged to take the lead, voice their opinion and create their own programs and initiatives that would allow them to thrive, neighborhood residents made this happen. And these interventions were a lot more successful because they gave community ownership.

    Also, disparities need not be “urgent” before you start addressing them. Los Angeles is a place where turning back time is more difficult now — gangs, metal detectors in schools, and college rates for Latinos below 30 percent in some schools. Latino youth should feel engaged in Madison, see it as their city for the taking, see their future as wide open still, full of possibilities. At Centro, we firmly believe we can work with our youth to ensure they see their future in this way because we understand their struggles and their history in a very special way.

    Which leads me to my last point. The UW could learn much from what is done in other campuses when it comes to campus climate. A priority for me is how to advocate for easier college access for undocumented youth. Well, with all its faults – because no campus is perfect, UCLA has taken great strides to support undocumented youth achieve their dreams, in an open, supportive environment. It can be done if the leadership is committed.

    CooperNehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development Director of Re-entry Services Anthony Cooper: You are known as an expert in helping people who are just getting released from jail or prison to reentry into society. What are the top four things people need to do to create a good reentry program?

    1. Paid employment training that leads to permanent living wage jobs – some people returning from prison have financial obligations (such as back child support, current child support,restitution, court fees ) over all they need the funds.
    2. Supportive transitional housing – housing that will help with their needs AODA, family support and life skills etc. these things need to be at the housing facility.
    3. Accountability Support group – something similar to the “Man Up” program provided by Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership. These type of groups help returning citizens deal with day to day issues that may come up in life and give men an outlet to conquer issues that may occur by being a person who is returning from prison.
    4. Advocacy/Mentoring.

    BrownFirefighter and diversity consultant Captain Willie Brown: With all the challenges going on with relationships between police and communities of color, how do we start to solve the problems of mistrust each side has for each other? As the question implies there is room for everyone to make improvement! It is unfortunate that it is so difficult for everyone to see their own shortcomings, yet so easy to point the finger at others inadequacies. For example, I tell my children (now that they are a little older) if you do not like what was made for dinner…instead of complaining, you can get in there and cook dinner for everyone. So getting involved is one thing that can help. The other thing that always strengthens relationships is effective communication. Such communication involves active listening, being slow to be heard and quick to hear what others are saying and finding a way to meet them where they are as opposed to where we think they should be.

    I reflect back when I became a firefighter and all I had was a high school diploma. Today with some training and a few certifications, young people with a high school diploma can put themselves in line for an entry level job in the public safety services. You may not become a millionaire, but the compensation along with benefits package is more than what many people realize; especially if they have never been exposed to such an opportunity.

    On the other side of the coin these professions have not always been accessible to all segments of the community. It was not until the 1970’s that people of color and women were brought into these professions in numbers. Even when laws were changed to allow access, little if anything was done to prepare the institution for such a major cultural shift. Today only progressive departments seek out Cultural Literacy, Diversity and Inclusion, and Professional Development Training. While departments spend countless dollars and hours to train with ropes, technical rescue, and other specialty teams that are rarely used relatively speaking, little or no training is budgeted to help these professionals in the areas of Global and Cultural Effectiveness Competency when in fact we encounter and are called upon to use our social skills at a much higher percentage of the time. In fact, very few leaders and chief officers of these organizations are even trained in Intercultural Wisdom themselves. Training would go a long ways in starting to solve the problem of mistrust.

    Roberto Rivera

    Hip-hop Education pioneer Roberto Rivera: What does it mean to be Latino in Madison? To be Latino in Madison means to be the first and the last. It means to be the first because in many ways as a Latino man trying to actually do something “out of the box” means you might actually be the first Latino to do it. My dad Napoleon “Leo” Rivera wanted to start a citywide baseball team that was comprised of all Latinos here and he did, it was the first, and they were the first to win the city championship. My mentor, Juan Jose Lopez, wanted to run for school board here, he did, he was the first, and it showed me that I too could step out even if I was the first. I ended up being the first Rivera to graduate from college, I created my own major at UW-Madison, and I realized being in Madison and trying to walk in purpose meant being comfortable being first at some things.

    Being a Latino in Madison also means being the last. I remember when my wife and I were finally ready to buy our first home here. We decided to not hire an agent and we found dozens of homes we liked and called them ourselves. My wife Jennifer was called back immediately each time she left a message, but I was never was. Finally, I got ahold of an owner, I introduced myself as Roberto Rivera, and he told me right off the bat that he wasn’t “renting” his home he was “selling” it. I explained to him I was not looking to rent but buy and his response was like I was the last person on earth he could imagine selling his home to. I then conducted an experiment and when I left messages and said my name was “Robert” instead of “Roberto” I was called back immediately every time. I also remember presenting at a major conference here, I was setting up in the room and when people came in, a woman asked me “who is presenting this session”? When I told her I was, she laughed at me in my face as if I was the last person she could imagine having something to present at this conference. That is another reason I always bring my “A” game to conferences, I like to see stereotypes people assume about me at first get shattered at the end.