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 conn...

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...

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 M...

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, interpersona...

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 digita...

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 larg...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 cent...

Storytelling and Gender Equity with Dr. Leah Flack Dr. 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 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 f...

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-l...

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 mak...

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 initiat...

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 e...

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 cultur...

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 th...

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. Oberlan...

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&...

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 feedbac...

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 understand...

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 Froedter...

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 commun...