This is the fifth of in a five-part series. Part one is here, part two is here, part three is here and part four is here.
Mohammed Bey heads diversity, equity, and inclusion at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay, a role he has held since 2014 — first as director and now as chief officer. WIth bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Marian University in Fond du Lac, he has also held diversity, equity and inclusion roles at Quinnipiac University and UW-Oshkosh.
Lydia Smith is the Director of Strategy for Social X MKE, a nonprofit young professional diversity and inclusion group. She’s worked for some of Milwaukee’s largest corporations in IT, Marketing, and Diversity & Inclusion. Currently, Smith leads D&I for Kohl’s Inc and is an adjunct professor for MATC’s Business & Management Program.
Kingsley Gobourne works to improve the culture and climate at UnityPoint Health-Meriter as the director of diversity, equity and inclusion, overseeing DEI in nine hospital regions across three states. Gobourne has applied his research and evaluation background with a 19-member committee that has divided into four sub-committees focusing on policy, education, engagement and workforce development. After growing up in the rural community of Blanchardville, Gobourne leveraged his relationships with family farmers to launch Artemis Provisions and Cheese, a wholesale food distribution business that supports small local farms and farmers in Wisconsin.
Dr. Cheryl B. Gittens was named interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Diversity & Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Wisconsin in the summer of 2020. She is an experienced academic and student affairs administrator who has successfully planned, implemented and managed programs and services designed to increase high school graduation, college enrollment and retention at the undergraduate and graduate levels. As interim Chief Diversity Officer, Gittens provides overall leadership for the university’s efforts to create a diverse, inclusive and successful work and learning environment for all students, faculty, staff, alumni and others who partner with the university. She works with schools, colleges and other administrative units across campus on diversity and inclusion initiatives while supervising the key diversity units that comprise the Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement (DDEEA).
Cavalier Chevy Johnson is president of the Milwaukee Common Council. As alderman in Milwaukee’s Second District, Johnson focuses on issues like public safety reform, investing in infrastructure, Johnson attended Bay View High School and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His professional experience includes serving as a staff assistant to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and working at the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee and North Avenue Community Development Corporation. At the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board (now Employ Milwaukee), Johnson served at-risk youth, youth entering the workforce for the first time, and adults retooling to enter the workforce for the last time. Johnson has also served on various boards including the Milwaukee YMCA, ACLU, and Milwaukee Community Brainstorming.
Melody McCurtis serves as the Deputy Director of Priorities/Organizer for Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, providing a variety of services to improve the wellness of the Metcalfe Park neighborhood. During this past presidential election, McCurtis, accompanied by her daughter, spent their time going door to door in northwest Milwaukee offering free food, household supplies, and information about how to vote. McCurtis is also one of four plaintiffs in a lawsuit pending before the U.S. Supreme Court regarding mail-in ballots. McCurtis is currently studying nonprofit business management at Cardinal Stritch University.
Jael Currie is the Housing Director at YWCA Madison and candidate for Madison Common Council’s 16th District. Currie is also the acting Vice President of the Dane County’s Homeless Services Consortium Board of Directors. She was one of 25 women selected as YWCA USA’s Inaugural Women of Color and Native Women’s Leadership Cohort. Currie describes herself as “a big-picture thinker who applies common sense and empathy into her practice.” Currie earned a BA in Social Work and Women’s Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and a Master of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Milele Coggs serves District 6 on the Milwaukee Common Council. She is the youngest woman ever elected to Milwaukee’s council and is the first African-American female to ever serve as chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee. She is known as a renowned youth activist and motivational speaker, according to her online biography. Alderwoman Coggs has worked with many programs including Girls Day at City Hall, the MKE Business Now Entrepreneur Summit, Bronzeville Week, the Sixth District Landscape Award, the Dr. James G. White Difference Maker Award, the Housing Resource Fair, AKA Day at City Hall, Office Hours In the District, Girls Shadow Day at City Hall, and the Freedom Essay Scholarship Contest.
LaNelle Ramey is the Executive Director of MENTOR Greater Milwaukee, an organization that aims to increase mentoring relationships by building the capacity of existing mentoring organizations matching a caring adult with children in need through safe, effective mentoring programs throughout Greater Milwaukee. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Ramey worked with organizations such as the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee, New Concept Self Development Center, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and Milwaukee Public Schools.
Who’d we miss? Email [email protected] and let us know who should be on the list next year!
