This is the second of a five-part series. Part One is here, Part Two is here and Part Three is here.
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.
Part Five coming tomorrow!
