Since our founding in 2015, these annual lists of Wisconsin’s most influential Black, Latino, Indigenous, and Asian American leaders have become the most anticipated thing we do. They are more than lists; they are celebrations of the diversity, strength, and resilience of our state.
My goal has always been simple: to shine a light on the people who are shaping Wisconsin’s future, often behind the scenes, and to give young people role models who prove that success is possible right here at home.
This week we shine a statewide spotlight on the dedicated leaders of Wisconsin’s Black and African American communities. These are richly diverse communities spanning small towns, big cities, and every corner of our state. The people we highlight this week are elected leaders, business leaders and community leaders, doing difficult, important work.
Of course, this list isn’t comprehensive. There are many more leaders who deserve recognition, and we invite you to share their names so we can include them in the future.
For now, I encourage you to get to know the incredible people on this year’s list. Reach out to those in your community, learn from their work, and share their stories with your network.
Henry Sanders
CEO, 365 Media Foundation
Publisher, Madison365
Christine Russell
Christine Russell is Director of Health & Wellness Programs with the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, a role she took on in 2022 after a decade as a client solutions manager at American Speciality Health. She also started and ran Rooted Wellness Services, providing health and exercise coaching, yoga, and interaction health education workshops. She is an alum of UW-Stevens Point.
Colleston Morgan
Colleston Morgan is executive director of City Forward Collective in Milwaukee, where he previously served as vice president of strategy and policy. A native of Milwaukee’s Sherman Park neighborhood, he began his career as a social studies teacher at G.W. Carver High School, where he was recognized as the school’s Teacher of the Year. Colleston then spent time working at the Louisiana Department of Education, and at New Orleans Public Schools, culminating in a Cabinet-level role as the district’s Chief Strategy Officer. While at the district, Colleston was a key leader in the development and implementation of the district’s plan to return to local governance of New Orleans’ system of public charter schools, after more than a decade of state control. He earned an A.B. in Government from Harvard University, a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Chicago, and is an alum of the Pahara Institute, Cambiar Catalyst Fellowship, and the New Leaders Council.
Tanya Hines
Tanya Hines is the CEO and Principal of consultancy Hines + Associates, a company she founded 16 years ago. There, she partners with organizations to achieve sustainable growth by strengthening commercial capabilities and transforming leadership cultures. Before founding Hines + Associates, she became one of the first Black women to serve as Vice President of Customer Business Development at Procter & Gamble and later played a pivotal role in revitalizing magazines Ebony and Jet as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Johnson Publishing Company. More recently, as Vice President Commercial Excellence at Johnson Controls, she led global growth initiatives and large-scale organizational transformation. She earned a degree in business administration at Marquette.
Maurice Thomas
Maurice Thomas is chief operating officer at Greater Holy Temple Christian Academy, a 4k-8th grade Christian school in Milwaukee. He got his start as a member of Teach for America, teaching high school history in Atlanta before becoming the program director of Teach for America in Atlanta and later executive director of Teach for America in Milwaukee. In 2015 he founded Milwaukee Excellence Academy, a charter school that he directed until it merged with Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy, where he stayed on as chief development officer until October 2025. He is also president and partner with Forward 48, a Milwaukee-based leadership development program. He was named to Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2019. He is an alum of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and expects to earn a master’s degree in education leadership from Harvard in 2027.
Dr. Damira Grady-Saffold
Dr. Damira Grady-Saffold is Vice President of Culture, Climate, and Community Impact at Madison College. Previously, she served as associate vice-chancellor of academic support for inclusive excellence and university diversity officer at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and director of student accommodations and interpreting services as Milwaukee Area Technical College. Dr. Grady holds a bachelor’s degree in educational studies and a master’s degree in educational psychology with an emphasis in community counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She earned a doctorate in the advancement of learning and service in higher education from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee.
Jerry Jordan
Jerry Jordan is a nationally-known painter working in the style of contemporary realism. He counts the unsung artists of the Harlem Renaissance as his artistic role models. His work has been shown in galleries and exhibitions in Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago over more than a decade. He has also illustrated children’s books, including “Ida B Wells Marches for the Vote” and “Unstoppable John,” a biography of John Lewis. By day, Jordan is an academic and multicultural advisor with the UW-Madison School of Education. He holds a degree in art from UW-Whitewater.
Dr. Bashir Easter
Dr. Bashir Easter is founder of Melanin Minded, a company that aims to empower Black and Latino communities by culturally appropriate resources and support for individuals affected by Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. He developed Navigator Transportation, a transportation service specifically for people with dementia and their caregiver, and launched Bridge Youth Program to train and certify adolescent caregivers to equip them with skills and knowledge to support family members with dementia. He began his career in elder care nearly 15 years ago with Milwaukee County as an elder abuse investigator, human services worker, and dementia care program specialist, and later served as associate director of the All of Us Research Program at UW-Madison. He earned an associate’s degree at Milwaukee Area Technical College, a bachelor’s degree at Cardinal Stritch, an MBA and Concordia University-Wisconsin and a doctorate at Capella University.
Schonella Stewart
Schonella Stewart is Chief of Police in Beloit, the first Black woman to hold the position. Stewart has served in law enforcement for 19 years in Oak Park, Illinois. She started her career as a police officer and rose through the ranks at the department, ultimately serving as chief of investigations. Stewart worked as a patrol officer, juvenile investigator, detective, tactical officer, patrol sergeant, tactical sergeant, detective sergeant, patrol commander, community policing commander and investigations commander. She also served as a homicide task force member, Internet Crimes Against Children task force member, FBI hijacking task force member, and human trafficking task force member. Stewart holds a Master of Social Work degree from Chicago State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice graduating with Cum Laude Honors from Barber-Scotia College.
Robert Jackson
Robert Jackson is President of Raising The Bar, a nonprofit organization he established in 2019 with a mission to develop, educate, and equip youth to raise the bar in all areas of their life. He also serves as a Club Manager for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee, where he has worked for more than 10 years. Mr. Jackson graduated from Marquette University, where he played basketball on the 2003 squad that made the Final Four. After graduation, he played basketball overseas.
Dr. Daryl Fairweather
Dr. Daryl Fairweather is chief economist at Redfin, a Seattle-based national real estate brokerage. Prior to joining Redfin, she worked as a researcher at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston studying why homeowners entered foreclosure during the 2008 housing crisis. She was also a senior economist at Amazon, working on employee engagement and managing a team of analysts. Her insights have been featured in “60 Minutes,” The New York Times and The Washington Post. Her 2025 book “Hate the Game” offers “cheat codes” for some of the most common dilemmas in life and business. She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master’s and Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago.
Deshea Agee
Deshea Agee is the Vice-President of Emem Group, a Milwaukee-based design build real estate firm, where he focuses on development operations and serves as Owner’s Representative on housing, commercial, and neighborhood-scale projects. His role supports developing viable project structures, managing development teams, and keeping projects accountable from planning through completion. Before joining Emem Group in 2021, he was Executive Director of Historic King Drive Business Improvement District No. 8 (King Drive BID) and Director of the King Drive Main Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At King Drive BID Deshea oversaw implementation of the organization’s annual operating plan, property owner relations, business engagement and recruitment, and community outreach. Earlier in his career with the City of Milwaukee, Agee worked on redevelopment transactions and Tax Increment Financing districts, helping ensure public investment was used where it could make the greatest diƯerence. He continues to serve on civic and nonprofit boards and remains deeply committed to advancing equitable economic development throughout Wisconsin. He earned a bachelor’s degree in at Marquette and a master’s from UW-Stout.
Dr. Earlise Ward
Dr Earlise Ward is faculty director for the Cancer Health Disparities Initiative (CHDI) and co-director of the T32 Primary Care Research Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She conducts community-engaged clinical intervention research focused on African American adults’ mental health and culturally competent mental health services. Her program of research focuses on developing and testing culturally tailored mental health behavioral interventions for African American adults with clinical depression. She has expanded her research on an international level; she is collaborating with researchers in the US Virgin Islands and Ghana, to develop and test culturally tailored behavioral treatments for clinical depression. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Baruch College, master’s degree in counseling from Brooklyn College and PhD in counseling psychology at UW-Madison.
Donald Dantzler
Donald Dantzler is an alder for the City of Fitchburg, candidate for Dane County Board, and a Survey and Research Specialist for the Madison Metropolitan School District. He was previously faculty and adjunct faculty for UW-Whitewater, and has also worked as a research associate at Wisconsin’s Equity and Inclusion Laboratory and a project assistant for the UW System Administration Office of Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Success. He earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UW-Whitewater and is a doctoral candidate in the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis program at UW-Madison. He serves as chair of the Board of Trustees for Madison College, the Board of the 100 Black Men of Greater Madison, the Program Committee for the Goodman Community Center, is the Mentorship Coordinator for the MKE Fellows Program, and Chair of the Policy & Procedures Committee for the Urban League Young Professionals of Greater Madison. He is also the Board Chairman of Communities Learning to Invest and Mobilize for Business (CLIMB).
Troy Dean
Troy Dean is currently a Village Builder at Mendota Elementary School. The Village Builder project in Madison Metropolitan School District, Village Builders reinforce early literacy and social-emotional learning in the district’s full service community schools. Before coming to Madison, he worked in Marshall as a special education paraprofessional, where he earned a Crystal Apple Award from WMTV in 2023 (and for which he received 51 nominations). He cofounded DAZE Entertainment Basketball in 2004 to build community through basketball. The organization holds basketball events as fundraisers for local nonprofits, and Dean established a scholarship in the name of Marshall firefighter Marcos Dominguez, which he funds through an annual basketball event. He is also an assistant football coach at Madison LaFollette High School. A native Madison east-sider, he attended East High for three and a half years and graduated from the School Within a School at LaFollette.
Derek Gebhard
Derek Gebhard is a forward and midfielder for Forward Madison, the city’s professional soccer team. He is the club’s all-time leader in appearances (158) and goals (29). The 2026 season will be his sixth with the team. His first Forward Madison goal remains one of the most iconic in the team’s history – a last-minute winner against North Carolina in the first game back at Breese Stevens Field after the pandemic. Born in Maine, Gebhard played one season with Florida Gulf Coast University before going pro with the Jacksonville Armada in 2015. He joined Forward Madison in 2021 after stints with El Paso Locomotive, Charlotte Independence and OKC Energy.
Dora Drake
Dora Drake represents Milwaukee’s north suburbs in the Wisconsin State Senate. She won a special election in July 2024 to replace Lena Taylor, who was appointed as a circuit court judge. Drake then won a full term in November 2024. Prior to joining the Senate, she served two terms in the State Assembly. Before jumping into elected service, she was employed by the Center for Self Sufficiency, which assists formerly incarcerated people with family support and reentry services, and JusticePoint, a nonprofit organization promoting reforms to the criminal justice system and supporting people through their interactions with the justice system. She is an alumna of Marquette University with a degree in social welfare and justice.
Corey Whitmore
Corey Whitmore is an entrepreneur, educator, and audio engineer who has spent more than 17 years using music and media to create opportunities for young people and artists in Wisconsin. He is the founder and owner of Media 22, a Madison-based media company that operates a music studio and two audio and video podcast studios specializing in recording, mixing, podcast production, content distribution, and live streaming. Through Media 22, he has supported more than 20 local podcast projects, including past series Black Currency and Pick Up The Mic, which focused on financial literacy and the academic achievement gap. He has taught audio engineering, beatmaking, podcasting, and multimedia to grade school and high school students at the UW–Madison Summer Music Clinic and through Media Academy summer programs. In partnership with Madison Public Library, he has led podcast and music production classes in the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center, Dane County Juvenile Shelter, and the Madison Metropolitan School District’s Restore program for students facing expulsion. He previously served as teen programs coordinator at the Greater Milwaukee Boys & Girls Club and has coached grade school, AAU (15U and 17U), and high school basketball in the Madison area. His career began as owner and CEO of Duce Duce Entertainment, an independent record label in Milwaukee. He has served as musician-in-residence with Make Music Madison; board member, Mad Lit stage manager, and Level Up Conference coordinator with the Urban Community Arts Network; station manager at WWMV-LP 95.5 FM; and radio host on 103.5 FM The Sun. He holds degrees in Broadcasting and Electronic Communications from Marquette University and in Recording and Music Technology from Madison Media Institute.
Dr. Michelle Robinson
Dr. Michelle Robinson is the chief programs and partnerships officer for the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness. She previously served as the inaugural director of the Office of Health Equity at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, where she established the agency’s health equity vision and guided policy and program initiatives related to workforce planning, equity, inclusion, and internal and external health equity efforts. Before joining DHS, Robinson was director of the Office of the Inspector General at the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families and served as the agency’s Equity and Systems Change Research and Policy Officer. In those roles, she oversaw strategic equity initiatives, created an internal review team, and established the department’s Enterprise Risk Management program. She also served as vice chair of the Governor’s Health Equity Council and was the primary author of its statewide report, Building a Better Wisconsin. Earlier in her career, Robinson worked with the Race to Equity Project at Kids Forward, contributing research, policy analysis, and community engagement related to racial disparities. Her recognitions include awards from Church Women United, the Progress Center for Black Women, the Urban League of Greater Madison, the State Council on Affirmative Action, and UW–Madison’s Outstanding Women of Color in Education honor. Robinson holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a B.A. in sociology from the University of Texas at Austin.
Torsie Judkins
Torsie Judkins is the Head of School at Wingra School in Madison, where his leadership centers on fostering community and belonging, and on creating a school environment where every child feels seen, supported, and able to thrive. Originally from North Carolina, Judkins has served in a variety of leadership roles at independent schools in North Carolina, the New York City area, and Pennsylvania before moving to Madison in 2023 to lead Wingra. Judkins also serves on multiple nonprofit boards and is an active member of the broader educational community. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from North Carolina Wesleyan University and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Manhattanville University. He is pursuing his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at Manhattanville University, where his research examines the academic and social experiences of African American students in independent schools, drawing on his own journey and his commitment to creating more equitable, supportive environments for students of color.
Steven Robertson
Steven Robertson is Associate Director of EOP and Pre-College Programs at Marquette University. In that role, he is the project director and principal investigator for Marquette University’s Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math & Science, and Educational Talent Search programs, which provide academic support and college-access services for first-generation and low-income students. A Milwaukee native and graduate of Washington High School, he studied communications at Marquette University and previously worked as a high school administrator. He brings more than 30 years of experience in education, youth development, and nonprofit leadership. In his current role, Robertson oversees pre-college programming focused on advising, mentoring, and enrichment designed to prepare students for postsecondary success, and he has built numerous partnerships across educational and community organizations to expand opportunities for young people. He also regularly shares insights on leadership, student success, and educational equity through professional networks and community engagement.
Mark ShaH Evans
Mark ShaH Evans is a martial arts coach, motivational speaker, and hip hop promoter based in Madison, Wisconsin. He is the owner and head coach of The Blast Muay Thai, which he took over in 2018, where he trains students in Muay Thai, boxing, and mixed martial arts and has coached both amateur and professional fighters. Born in Broadview, Illinois, and raised partly in Richland Center, Wisconsin, he began boxing as a teenager and became active in the local hip hop scene before settling in Madison. Evans also operates M.E. Management and Consulting, is the creator of the Wolf Pack Mentoring Program with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, and is a cofounder and vice president of the Urban Community Arts Network, an organization that supports performance opportunities, professional development, and sustainable event spaces for hip-hop artists. He has worked as an independent concert promoter, collaborated with the Madison Arts Commission on entertainment best practices, and currently hosts the “You Control You” podcast where he amplifies stories of resilience. Evans also co-founded the Madison Hip Hop Awards to highlight local musicians and create youth opportunities through partnerships with community organizations.
Tamarra Coleman
Tamarra Coleman is the chief executive officer of the Racine Family YMCA, overseeing two branches in Racine County. Coleman spent 18 years as a project management director in the private sector before moving into public service in 2015, when she joined the Shalom Center as director of programs and operations and became executive director in 2019. She was elected to the Kenosha Unified School District School Board in 2012 and re-elected in 2015, serving as board president from 2014 to 2018. Coleman serves on several community boards, including the executive board of the Kenosha Area Business Alliance, Building Our Future, the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce, the Carthage College Nurses Advisory Committee, and advisory committees for Gateway Technical College’s Human and Health Services programs. She joined the Gateway Technical College Board of Trustees in 2025 and participates in local and state committees focused on advocacy for low-income and marginalized families. Her recognitions include the Susan B. Anthony Women of Influence Award, the Gateway Technical College Dr. King Humanitarian Award, and designation as one of Southeast Wisconsin’s Notable BIPOC Executives. In 2025, she received the Governor Evers Heritage Award. A lifelong resident of Kenosha County, she graduated from Bradford High School, attended UW–Whitewater, and is a certified project manager through the Project Management Institute. She is currently completing a degree at Herzing University, expected in 2026.
Pacal Bayley
Pacal Bayley, known professionally as DJ Pain 1, is a record producer and DJ based in Madison. He began producing hip-hop beats in high school and has built a career creating instrumentals for artists including Young Jeezy, 50 Cent, Ludacris, Rick Ross, Public Enemy, Lil Baby, and Polo G. His first major placement appeared on Young Jeezy’s The Recession, which received RIAA Platinum certification. Bayley has released multiple mixtapes and instrumental projects and regularly performs as a DJ at live events and showcases. He operates from a home studio in Madison, where he produces music, records artists, and creates video and podcast content. In addition to his production work, Bayley is active as an educator, sharing music production and industry insights through online tutorials and social media. He is also a member of the producer collective The Vintage Vxndals and continues to develop sample packs, educational resources, and collaborative projects for emerging artists and producers. He has been a board member of Urban Community Arts Network since its founding in 2010.
Deana Wright
Deana Wright is the director of older adult programs for MTZ Charitable Organization, Inc., where she oversees programming and services for nearly 300 Black older adults in Madison, and is the founder and president of The Wright Place, a nonprofit focused on culturally responsive, participant-centered programming for aging adults. She previously served as diversity and inclusion manager at NewBridge Madison, where she expanded access to culturally responsive programming, and later worked in outreach with the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Medicine and Public Health’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, supporting recruitment of Black older adults into brain health research studies. Before transitioning into community-based advocacy, Wright spent nearly 30 years in broadcasting as a radio personality, television journalist, and voice actor, working in major media markets including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and New York City and reaching audiences of more than 3 million listeners. Her media career included serving as a morning news anchor at WISC-TV (CBS) and as producer, writer, and host of Madison Magazine, and providing voiceover work for radio and television commercials and documentary projects. Wright is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and serves as an appointed commissioner on the City of Madison Equal Opportunities Commission.
DeAndre Martin
DeAndre Martin is the executive director of CEOs of Tomorrow Inc., a Madison-based nonprofit that provides entrepreneurship education, mentorship, and leadership development for youth. He assumed the role in 2024 after previously serving as the organization’s program director, where he worked closely with students, educators, and business leaders to expand programming and strengthen community partnerships. In his leadership role, he oversees strategic planning, fundraising, and program delivery, with a focus on creating pathways for students to develop business skills, confidence, and long-term career opportunities. Martin has a background in youth development, education, and workforce readiness, with experience supporting young people through mentoring, coaching, and career exploration initiatives, mostly in the Oklahoma City area. He earned his degree at the University of Oklahoma.
Garren Randolph
Garren Randolph is a political organizer and campaign strategist based in Wisconsin. He served as Wisconsin director for President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign and Vice President Harris’s presidential campaign in 2024. Randolph has previously held leadership roles in Democratic Party organizing and campaign operations, with experience in field strategy, coalition building, and grassroots engagement. His background includes work on campaigns for Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, US Senate Candidate Alex Lasry and others, as well as work on party infrastructure, focusing on mobilizing voters and strengthening relationships with community leaders.
Anthony Dodd Sr.
Anthony Dodd Sr. is Assistant Superintendent of the Milwaukee County Community Reintegration Center, where he has championed continuous cognitive-thinking courses, relationship-building curricula, and evidence-based programming designed to change thinking, strengthen families, and reduce recidivism long-term. He has cultivated partnerships with community organizations such as My Way Out, Project Return, MATC, the Milwaukee Bucks, BankOn Greater Milwaukee, UniteWI and others to bring real-world opportunity inside the walls and ensure support continues when residents return home. He began his career there in 1999 as a correctional officer, earning a degree from UW-Parkside along the way.
Wilkistar Otieno
Wilkistar Otieno is an associate professor and department chair of industrial and manufacturing engineering at UW-Milwaukee. Her research interests include data analytics applied to manufacturing, sustainable manufacturing particularly remanufacturing, reliability engineering and overall systems optimization. She has a passion for engineering education and is a principal investigator of an NSF STEM grant and serves as a long-term faculty mentor for the UWM Wisconsin Alliance for Minority Participation, also an NSF grant. She serves on the INFORMS (Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences ) DEI Subcommittee. She received the 2022 Tony Quinn Award from the Louis Stokes Midwest Regional Center of Excellence (LSMRCE), and the 2022 UW System Outstanding Women of Color in Education Award. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Moi University in Kenya, and two master’s degrees and a doctoral degree from the University of South Florida.
Clarence Crane
Clarence Crane is director of Student Success for the Appleton Area School District, where he leads districtwide efforts to strengthen student engagement, support systems, and academic success for students, staff, and families. With nearly 20 years of experience in public education, he has served in multiple district leadership roles, including Director of Pupil Services and Special Education for the Clintonville Public School District, overseeing comprehensive student services and instructional supports. Crane has a proven record of improving outcomes for students, particularly those who face systemic barriers, by building aligned student success structures and fostering environments where all learners can thrive. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Arkansas and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Lakeland University near Sheboygan.
Shuntia Lucas
Shuntia Lucas is the first Black woman to attain the rank of Sergeant with the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, to which she was promoted in June 2025. She has been with the DCSO since 2018 and now supervises a team of 15 deputies at the Dane County Jail. She ran track for the University of Wisconsin, where she at several school records and remains one of the top all-time performers in several events; she still holds the third-fastest times in the indoor 60 and 200 meter dashes, and second-fastest in the 100 and 200 outdoors. She finished her undergraduate education in criminal justice at UW-Platteville and later earned a master’s degree from American InterContinental University.
Ezi Adesi
Ezi Adesi is the director of Omega School, which helps adults finish their high school education and earn a GED or HSED. He began his career at Omega School as a GED Instructor. After five years, Adesi became the director of adult basic education at Literacy Network, where he remained for six years. He moved on to more roles in education as an instructor with the Employment and Training Association and the Department of Corrections, dean of students at The Lincoln Academy, and a director and advisor at Lakeland University. He graduated from UW-Whitewater and earned a master’s degree at American Public University.
Ayodeji Ogunniyi
Ayodeji Ogunniyi is the director and principal of One City School, a public charter school in Madison. He came to One City after a career in education in the Chicago are, including teaching in Thornton Township and serving in administrative roles at the University of Chicago Charter School, North Lawndale College Prep High School, Intrinsic Schools and CICS Wrightwood Academy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, a master’s in ethical leadership, and a master’s in instructional leadership from Concordia College in Chicago.
Who’d we miss? Who in your circle is doing the work? Email [email protected] so we can get started on next year’s list!
