Celebrating our Black Milwaukee Leaders
February is Black History Month.
During this month, and throughout the year, we acknowledge the achievements of historic figures of the black community and their central role in American history. For 2023, we reached out to a number of local black leaders who are paving the way for Milwaukee youth and a better Milwaukee.
LaNelle Ramey
What is your current leadership role?
I am the Executive Director of MENTOR Greater Milwaukee. I’m responsible for leading the push, charge and support for ALL things MENTORING for young people. My role is to ensure that EVERY young person has a positive mentor in their life committed to helping them reach their full potential and personal destiny for their lives.
What qualities do you feel exemplify top-notch leadership?
The true essence of leadership for me, is being able to see through all the negatives to find goodness. A true leader understands that part of their role is to also listen as much as they are heard. And most importantly a good leader knows when its time to follow and support from behind.
What motivates your personal efforts of leadership in Milwaukee?
What motivates me is I LOVE MY CITY. I think Milwaukee is a beautiful place that goes unappreciated. As a born and raised Milwaukeean, I believe it's my duty and responsibility to shine the light on our city’s greatness and possibilities.
What words of encouragement can you offer to Milwaukee's future leaders?
Don’t let anyone dictate your future and identity. You can choose greatness over mediocre. Your block and skin color doesn’t define who you are and what you can become. Chase your dreams you have for yourself and don’t let anyone else distract you from that dream.
Clintel Hasan
What is your current leadership role?
I am the Co-Founder and CEO of LiberatED Consulting; Milwaukee Succeeds Strategic Initiative Manager for the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.
What qualities do you feel exemplify top-notch leadership?
Top-notch leaders are grounded in their values and operate in alignment with them even when it's challenging. There will always be pressure to act in misalignment for a short-term win, but great leaders stay focused on the long-game. Additionally, leadership is about knowing the people around you and how best to connect, influence and serve them. Without authentic partnerships, one can't lead.
What motivates your personal efforts of leadership in Milwaukee?
I am motivated by doing work that helps others. I think it's important to give back to your community and support others whenever possible. It can be challenging, but it makes the highs and wins much more meaningful.
What words of encouragement can you offer to Milwaukee's future leaders?
Know yourself deeply. Know your passions, strengths, challenges - everything. Also be mindful when they change! I have felt most confident in my own leadership when I'm the most self-aware.
Ke'Von Hamilton
What is your current leadership role?
Golda Meir graduate ('18), Morehouse College graduate ('22), and current graduate student at The University of Georgia.
What qualities do you feel exemplify top-notch leadership?
Integrity, perseverance, and gratitude. I believe these words are three qualities that build the exceptional character that allows you into rooms talent or money cannot. I take pride in knowing that I will do the right thing when no one's looking. Over time I started to understand that someone is always watching, so make sure you are representing yourself in ways you want to be viewed and judged.
What motivates your personal efforts of leadership in Milwaukee?
No matter what anyone says Milwaukee, Wisconsin is home to some of the brightest youth this world has to offer when given the opportunity to grow. Coming from the northside of Milwaukee I understand the challenges and disadvantages we face everyday we step outside. It is my duty to become a man of substance that I wish I had in my corner growing up.
What words of encouragement can you offer to Milwaukee's future leaders?
Although Milwaukee is home, know that the world is so much bigger than the city. Always remember where you're from as you continue along your journey and know that we didn't come this far to ONLY come this far. Reach for stars and don't let anyone talk you out of your dreams just make sure you have a plan.
Emerald Mills
What is your current leadership role?
I am the Co-Founder of Turning Tables and Founder of Diverse Dining.
What qualities do you feel exemplify top-notch leadership?
Servanthood - only what you do for others really counts.
Faith - what you see must be brighter than what it looks like.
Integrity - who you are is always more important than what you do.
What motivates your personal efforts of leadership in Milwaukee?
My Faith motives me, it tells me that I can do all things through Christ and I dare to believe it. I faced many challenges as a young person and often felt alone and hopeless (now I'm on hope road). Christ transformed my life and I see miracles every day.
What words of encouragement can you offer to Milwaukee's future leaders?
I promise you, you can go as far as you believe!!!! No one else's beliefs or actions are powerful enough to change destiny. YOU GOT THIS - IM ROOTING FOR YOU.
Nate Deans, Jr.
What is your current leadership role?
Director of Black and Latino Male Achievement
What qualities do you feel exemplify top-notch leadership?
I believe that I exemplify top-notch leadership because of my willingness to serve. The highest degree of leadership is to show others how to be a servant of your community, your responsibilities, and your career.
What motivates your personal efforts of leadership in Milwaukee?
I am motivated by my experiences growing up in Milwaukee and being connected to so many people that have had chances to thrive. Our city is a wonderful place and I want the work that we are doing in Milwaukee to be on display nationally.
What words of encouragement can you offer to Milwaukee's future leaders?
Never forget that people in leadership are not there because they are just the “boss.” They are there because they have the heart and desire to see the people they are responsible for thrive in life. Being a leader means making tough decisions that’s in the interest of all people even when those you lead don’t always see the value in your decisions.
Odalo Ohiku
What is your current leadership role?
Founder of Ohiku Law Office and Deputy City Attorney in the Milwaukee Office of the City Attorney
What qualities do you feel exemplify top-notch leadership?
An uncanny ability to listen while concomitantly not taking critical feedback personally as well as an almost defiant insistence to serve and sacrifice for others are qualities I believe exemplify top-notch leadership.
What motivates your personal efforts of leadership in Milwaukee?
I internalize the pressure, the hopes, the dreams, the agony, the pain, the setbacks, the obstacles, the ridicule, the racism, the roadblocks, the history of our being, the history of our lived experience, in America and abroad, and I ponder and reflect on how I can best extract ultimate utility out of each and every leadership opportunity I am given.
What words of encouragement can you offer to Milwaukee's future leaders?
I encourage Milwaukee's future leaders to reject naysayers and embrace an unrelenting self-confidence and belief in themselves that the world is their oyster and they can accomplish anything they commit their minds to. Remember your mind is an extremely powerful ally. Harness its power by repeatedly telling it what you want to do. Now go get it!
Alesia Miller
What is your current leadership role?
Founder/CEO Soul Brew Kombucha
What qualities do you feel exemplify top-notch leadership?
Effective leadership is really proven by the culture you create amongst your team. Being able to give instruction based on the needs of your team is important but, being able to hear your team and adjust accordingly is priceless. A top-notch leader will lead by example and sow into the lives of their teammates. A true leader leads with empathy not sympathy.
What motivates your personal efforts of leadership in Milwaukee?
Representation is key! It's my desire to posture myself as a role model to other young men and women as someone just like them with dreams and aspirations who never gave up. I am motivated by the understanding that dreams never expire and I'm one great idea away from creating history.
What words of encouragement can you offer to Milwaukee's future leaders?
FAITH without WORKS is dead! In order to achieve any goal you must put in the work so, don't look for the reward, just do the work. It will come!
Lauren Nicole Feaster
What is your current leadership role?
What qualities do you feel exemplify top-notch leadership?
To me, leadership is the ability to inspire autonomy and empower individuals towards collective action that advances a world where all individuals can flourish. A top-notch leader is able to convene individuals to set a vision that advances individual and collective goals.
What motivates your personal efforts of leadership in Milwaukee?
Responsibility, and the people I get to lead with.
What words of encouragement can you offer to Milwaukee's future leaders?
When I'm winning, you're winning - and vice versa. You're never alone on this journey. The destination is the journey.
Holiday Fun for FUL Families
A review of our 2022 Holiday Party
Holiday cheer, music, activities, and fun filled the air on December 10, at our FUL Holiday Party! Nearly 200 people, nearly 50 FUL families joined us - making this our most attended event since 2019!
"It was really great to have such a strong showing from the community,” said Ross Romenesko, FUL Co-Founder/Development Director.
Our Parent Advisory Board did an amazing job planning an entire suite of holiday activities for our families to participate in. The event began with Kwanzaa bingo, a raffle, and a taco bar! Families then moved into our activity room which was filled with games and activities including gingerbread house building, a 360° photo booth, holiday ornament making, Kwanzaa candelabra decorating, holiday card making, and an ugly sweater contest! The entire event was surrounded with the sounds of holiday music. The event ended with announcing raffle winners and activity award winners.
We were so happy to see so many families join us and to be able to provide their entire families with a complete afternoon of holiday activities to enjoy together. A HUGE thank you to our Parent Advisory Board for making this event such a success! Thank you to everyone who joined us. Seeing the success of this event has us even more excited when we look to our 2023 events and goals!
A Night of Thanks
FUL Donor Appreciation Event 2022
To celebrate our amazing community of supporters, last month we hosted our Donor Appreciation event. Over 120 donors, volunteers, staff, parents of FUL, and current and past students joined us as we explored the achievements of the past year that were made possible by those in the room. These achievements include:
Hosting our first online fundraising event, Power in FUL
Taking 12 FUL high school scholars on our HBCU Trip out East to visit five different HBCUs
Opening up our Devil’s Lake Camping Trip to our younger scholars (4th grade and up)
Welcoming our new executive director, Darnell Hamilton
Revamping our website
Partnering with the Greater Life Community Center as the new location for our high school programming
FUL graduate, Maximus Bryant, spoke about his experience with FUL and how his years with us prepared him for his first semester at MSOE. We recognized a number of donors in different categories for their support of our programs, hosted live music by Caché MKE, enjoyed delicious eats from Turning Tables, and signature drinks by the No Studios Mixology Team. The event brought in close to $11,000 to support our scholars and programs goals for 2023!
It was a wonderful night that we were honored to host. Thank you to all who joined us and to ALL of our supporters.
FUL Leadership Speaks, Connects, and Networks with Like-Missioned Local Groups
In July of 2020, New Orleans Pelicans player, Jrue Holiday, and his wife Lauren boldly pledged the remainder of Jrue’s 2020 NBA salary as a progressive step toward combating systemic racism and socioeconomic inequality that continues to prevent Black communities from upward mobility.
JLH Social Impact Fund Boldy Creates Change for Black Owned Business Owners and Black Led Organizations
In July of 2020, New Orleans Pelicans player, Jrue Holiday, and his wife Lauren boldly pledged the remainder of Jrue’s 2020 NBA salary as a progressive step toward combating systemic racism and socioeconomic inequality that continues to prevent Black communities from upward mobility.
The Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund mission is to boldly create change for Black businesses and organizations.
Jrue and Lauren Holiday have since continued to support local Black-led non-profit organizations and city-wide initiatives through forming the Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund.
The Jrue and Lauren Social Holiday Impact Fund’s mission to boldly create change for Black businesses and organizations by providing funding to Black-led groups that seek to bring about equitable outcomes for Black and Brown communities, and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) of higher education in New Orleans, the Los Angeles area, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee.
“We look at all JLH Social Impact Fund recipients as part of our extended family and look to our community as a whole to join us in supporting the businesses and non-profits who need us the most.” -Jrue & Lauren Holiday
In 2021, Future Urban Leaders was a JLH Social Fund Grantee as one of Milwaukee’s Black-led nonprofits. This past month, our Executive Director, Darnell Hamilton was asked to speak on the impact of FUL in the Milwaukee community, and about the work they are accomplishing with the city's youth.
This event was an amazing opportunity to meet other Black-led, and Black-owned businesses in the Milwaukee area and to network with organizations with shared mission’s to ours.
““To be in a space with Milwaukee’s change makers in the black community was awe inspiring. FUL has the opportunity to tap into those sources for potential partnerships, making my attendance at the event all the more pivotal.” ”
Having the opportunity to be a part of such an inspiring class of grantees AND to meet a number of other individuals, organizations, and local businesses is essential to working towards the common goal of creating more equitable outcomes for Black and Brown communities. We are excited and inspired for what the future holds for our programming, our scholars, and their futures as leaders in our community and beyond.
Learn more about the Jrue and Lauren Social Impact Fund.
2022 Summertime Programming at FUL
Summer programming is essential for FUL, as it provides our scholars and our staff the open opportunity to deepen the bonds built through after-school programming. Here is an overview of FUL’s 2022 Summer Programming!
Creating bonds to empower scholars
School may not be in session during the summer, but for Future Urban Leaders summer is a time for us to: focus on providing our scholars with new experiences, build connections with fellow scholars, provide opportunities for them to learn more about themselves, and include fun in all of our activities. Summer programming is essential for FUL, as it provides our scholars and our staff the open opportunity to deepen the bonds built through after-school programming. Here is an overview of FUL’s 2022 Summer Programming!
June 14 - Scholar Showcase Event
Our Scholar Showcase Event is a culmination of FUL’s 2021-22 After-School Programming. Scholars have the opportunity to share what they have been busy learning about/working on throughout the school year’s programming. A few examples of what was shared by scholars;
Entrepreneurs pitched their business enterprises and sold their products to guests
Artists exhibited their individual work, while also debuting the group mural they collaborated on
Engineers showcased their knowledge of machination concepts through the use of Legos
Third graders led the audience in a few mindfulness strategies to clear our minds of outside stresses
Middle schoolers demonstrated for the audience how to center your body, soul, and mind through the practice of yoga
June 17 - FUL Graduation Celebration
FUL’s Graduation Celebration was for our 8th graders transitioning to high school as well as our two high school seniors transitioning to college. At the event, our high school scholars were able to write letters of advice and encouragement to the incoming ninth graders.
June 24-26- Kettle Moraine Camping Trip
Our high school scholars had the opportunity to collectively set up tents, build the campfire and prepare meals. During the weekend, scholars engaged in group discussions about high school, participated in night hikes, and experienced the peace and tranquility the outdoors provide a person's soul.
July 11-15 - HBCU Trip
We were able to take 12 FUL high school scholars on a week-long trip along the East Coast. We toured five historically black colleges and universities and visited a few historical African American sites across states.
Through all of the driving, our group experienced several "firsts", including experiencing Washington D.C.'s many wonders, and immersing ourselves in the Atlantic Ocean. Though we were drained upon our return to Milwaukee, the excitement from the experience with the scholars keeps us looking towards their endless possibilities.
July 20th - Devils Lake Hiking Trip
We were able to take a group of scholars ranging from incoming fourth to seventh graders on a camping trip to Devil’s Lake. The trip was a blast! We spent our weekend hiking, swimming, grilling out, and bonding as a group.
August 6 - Registration Cookout
Our registration cookout is a tradition for FUL to get our staff, scholars, and families together before the start of the new school year. This year we were able to introduce FUL’s new Executive Director, Darnell Hamilton, as well as reconnect with some scholars and their families.
Summer is a special time for Future Urban Leaders. We are very happy we were able to bring back a number of our summer programs this year, as they were canceled due to the COVID pandemic the past few summers. We are more excited than ever to begin a new school year with our scholars and to continue to watch them as they embrace and realize their full potential.