Portraits of local leaders who are shaping our community
Daniel Kigeya
Principal, Madison West High School
Daniel Kigeya is the principal of Madison West High School, and he is changing how students learn, grow, and feel cared for. Growing up, he was shaped by education and college-educated parents who helped him navigate school — but he also experienced the pressures of immigration and not feeling like he belonged, in a school where Black students made up less than ten percent of the population. Those experiences didn’t discourage him; they drove him. As principal, he doesn’t just want students to show up and leave — he wants them to have access to success, whether through sports, academics, or opportunities to address racial and social justice. Daniel Kigeya is a changemaker because he turned his own struggles into fuel to make West High a place where every student feels like they belong.
Honorable Everett Mitchell
Judge, Dane County Circuit Court,
Branch Four
Honorable Everett Mitchell has served as a Dane County Circuit Court Judge since April 15, 2016, presiding over Branch Four. One of his most significant accomplishments is creating the voluntary program known as ATTA, designed to help young people earn community support rather than be sent to a correctional facility. The idea came after he visited a state-run boys’ correctional facility and saw firsthand that these young people needed help, not punishment. He believes youth deserve the chance to learn from their mistakes and be treated with dignity, so that they don’t end up back in the system. Judge Mitchell is a changemaker because of his dedication to justice and his belief that the people of Dane County — especially its youth — deserve better.
Michael Johnson
CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County
Michael Johnson has made a lasting impact on the Madison community through his leadership and dedication to helping young people succeed. As the head of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County, he has worked to create opportunities that support education, personal growth, and future success. He believes every young person deserves the chance to reach their goals, and under his leadership, programs have expanded to help youth build confidence, leadership skills, and academic achievement. His efforts have inspired many students to work hard, stay focused, and believe in themselves. By investing in the next generation, he has strengthened the community and opened doors for countless young people, demonstrating how leadership and service can create meaningful, lasting change.
Brandi Grayson
Founder & Leader, Urban Triage
Brandi Grayson is a changemaker who has made a positive impact on her community through leadership, dedication, and a deep commitment to helping others. As the founder and leader of Urban Triage, she works to support families and individuals by creating opportunities and providing resources that help people succeed. Even in the face of challenges, Brandi stays focused on solutions and on improving the lives of those around her. Her passion for serving the community has inspired many people to get involved and make a difference. Along with leading Urban Triage, she values personal growth, family, and building a positive future for others. Through her efforts, Brandi has brought people together and addressed important community needs, showing how determination, compassion, and service can create meaningful and lasting change.
Renee Moe
President & CEO, United Way of Dane County
Renee Moe has made a lasting impact on the Madison community through her leadership and dedication to others. As the President and CEO of United Way of Dane County, she works to improve the lives of people throughout the region. Renee began her journey with the organization as a college intern and worked her way up through hard work and perseverance. She is passionate about helping people achieve more than they thought possible and believes deeply in the power of community support. Throughout her career, she has guided her organization through challenges such as economic hardship and the pandemic, never losing sight of those in need. Her commitment to service has strengthened programs and resources that benefit countless families. By leading with compassion and a desire to make a difference, Renee Moe has become a powerful example of how one person can create meaningful, lasting change in a community.
Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings
Professor of Education • First Black Woman Tenured in Her School of Education
Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings is an influential education professor and the first Black woman in her school of education to earn tenure. Throughout her career, she has worked to make education more equitable for students of color. Noticing that Black students were not getting the support they deserved, she returned to research and studied the relationships between teachers and students. Her findings revealed that teachers often viewed Black students as problems to manage, rather than as individuals who needed guidance and opportunity. Dr. Ladson-Billings has written four books, edited twelve, published 49 articles, and contributed 65 chapters to various publications. She is widely respected and considered an important voice in education. Her work as a changemaker lies in her commitment to making education more accessible and equitable for Black students, so they feel less isolated and have a clearer path to success.
Lok Lau
Retired • Hong Kong
Lok Lau is a retired senior living in Hong Kong, and his story is one of extraordinary courage. As a teenager, he escaped the Chinese Communist Party during the Cultural Revolution by crossing a long river to reach Hong Kong — leaving behind family and friends to start his life from nothing. That decision changed everything. In Hong Kong, he built a new life from the ground up and gave his family a future full of possibility. He may not be a changemaker in the traditional sense — he didn’t lead marches or make speeches — but what he did changed the course of his children’s lives. He taught them that no goal is too impossible, and that the effort to reach it is always worth making.
Dr. Marcell Haddix
Dean, UW–Madison School of Education
Dr. Marcell Haddix is the Dean of the UW–Madison School of Education — one of the most demanding leadership roles in American higher education. Under her leadership, the School of Education has been ranked among the top programs in the country. Before coming to UW–Madison, she held several leadership positions at Syracuse University and earned the Karen A. Falk Distinguished Chair in Education. She is also the author of Cultivating Racial and Linguistic Diversity in Literacy Teacher Education: Teachers Like Me, which received a 2018 Outstanding Book Award from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. Dr. Haddix is a changemaker not just because of the position she holds, but because of the standard she sets in it.
Dr. Ruben L. Anthony Jr.
President & CEO, Urban League of Greater Madison
Dr. Ruben L. Anthony Jr. has served as President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison since March 2015. The Urban League’s mission is to ensure that African Americans and others have the opportunity to live, learn, and thrive as full members of their community. Before joining the Urban League, Dr. Anthony built an impressive career that included roles at RowJAC Consulting, the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee as an adjunct professor, Bloom Companies, and WisDOT. He is also the owner of Ruben’s Smoked Meats. Dr. Anthony is a changemaker because his work touches real lives — because of his dedication, people who once faced long odds now have a genuine chance to succeed.
Dr. Leslie Petty
Educator & Community Leader
Dr. Leslie Petty is a changemaker whose work has had a strong impact on her community through education and service. She is known for her dedication to helping others learn, grow, and believe in their own potential. Through her leadership in education, she has created supportive spaces where students feel encouraged, respected, and motivated to succeed.
Dr. Carl Grant
Professor, UW–Madison • Former President, National Association for Multicultural Education
Dr. Carl A. Grant is a professor at UW–Madison who has inspired four generations of students to pursue knowledge with curiosity and passion. Over his career, he has received numerous honors, including the Damen Award and the Distinguished Scholar Award, and has published multiple books on multicultural education. From 1993 to 1999, he served as president of the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME), an organization dedicated to ensuring equal access to quality education for everyone, regardless of background. Under his leadership, NAME grew its national and international presence, spreading its mission around the globe. Dr. Grant is a changemaker because he has spent his career fighting for the belief that education should not be a privilege — it should be a right available to all.
Dr. Kevin Lawrence Henry Jr.
Associate Professor, Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis, UW–Madison
Dr. Kevin Lawrence Henry Jr. is an award-winning scholar and Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at UW–Madison. His research focuses on race, racism, and education policy — particularly on how educational systems affect Black students and communities. He studies topics such as charter schools, school choice programs, and education reform to understand how policy shapes students’ opportunities and experiences. Through this work, he examines how anti-Blackness and white supremacy continue to influence education and fuel inequality today. Dr. Henry is a changemaker because he doesn’t stop at identifying problems — he works to find solutions. He centers the voices, leadership, and experiences of Black educators, students, and communities, showing how their perspectives can strengthen schools and improve policy. With over ten publications, six media contributions, and six awards and honors, he uses research in Critical Race Theory, Black Studies, and Political Science to inspire fairness, justice, and opportunity in education.
Leotha Stanley
Publisher & Editor, UMOJA Magazine • Retired Madison Firefighter
Through a lifetime of service and leadership, Leotha Stanley has made a meaningful impact on the Madison community. Originally from Milwaukee, he attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a track and field athlete and graduated in 1975. After college, he dedicated many years to serving others as a Madison firefighter, helping protect and support community members. Following his retirement in 2011, he took over UMOJA magazine as publisher and editor, using it to share important stories, highlight community achievements, and keep residents informed about local events and issues. He also served as a director with the Urban League, where he taught in the fatherhood program and worked to strengthen families. His commitment to helping others remained strong throughout his career and into retirement. Through his experience and leadership, Leotha Stanley has inspired many people to make meaningful differences in the lives of those around them.
Vel Phillips
Historic Trailblazer • Attorney, Activist & Public Servant
Vel Phillips built a career defined by historic firsts. She was the first woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin–Madison Law School, the first African American elected to the policy-making body of a major political party in the United States, and the first woman and first African American elected to the Milwaukee Common Council. During her time on the council, she fought tirelessly to end housing discrimination, pushing for fair housing legislation even when many people opposed her. Throughout her life, she took part in countless nonviolent protests against discrimination in housing, education, and employment. Even after being arrested at a rally following the firebombing of an NAACP youth center, her resolve only grew stronger. She proposed laws that would be passed both during her lifetime and after her death. Vel Phillips is a changemaker because she broke barriers, fought for equal rights without backing down, and showed courage and persistence in the face of discrimination. Her legacy lives on in her name — carried by Vel Phillips Memorial High School, streets named in her honor, and a place in national history.
Lane Melcic
Biology Teacher, Mission San Jose High School | Executive Board, FUDTA
Lane Melcic is a biology teacher at Mission San Jose High School and a member of the executive board of the Fremont Unified District Teachers Association (FUDTA). Through FUDTA, he helps build community among educators and advocates for decisions that improve the conditions of both teaching and learning. In his classroom, he guides students toward discovering their passions — whether or not they turn out to be science. He firmly believes that students deserve the best possible learning experience, and that teachers deserve pay that allows them to live with dignity. Lane Melcic is a changemaker because he goes above and beyond what’s required, fighting for a better environment for the students and teachers of Fremont simply because he wants the best for everyone.
Angela Ward
Associate Dean, School of Academic Advancement, Madison College
Angela Fitzgerald Ward serves as the Associate Dean of the School of Academic Advancement at Madison College, where she works to support student success and create opportunities for people from all backgrounds. She is also a researcher, television host, and community leader who builds spaces where students, families, and community members can share their experiences and help shape new solutions. Through her work in education, public media, and community organizing, she brings people together, encourages meaningful conversations, and helps turn ideas into action. Angela is a changemaker because she believes strong communities are built when everyone has a voice — and she works hard to make sure that happens, turning local ideas into real things: buildings, jobs, schools, and programs that benefit everyone.
Frances Huntley-Cooper
First African American Mayor in Wisconsin • Former Mayor of Fitchburg
Frances Huntley-Cooper is a true changemaker whose leadership has shaped Wisconsin history. As the first African American mayor in Wisconsin, she broke barriers and opened doors for future generations. Through her dedication to public service and education, she has made a lasting impact on many lives. During her time as Mayor of Fitchburg, she worked to bring people together and ensure that community members felt heard and valued. Her leadership showed that positive change happens when leaders listen to the people they serve.
Jessica Lee Stovall
Assistant Professor, UW–Madison
Jessica Lee Stovall is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison whose research is reshaping how we understand the experiences of Black teachers in America. Her most cited work argues that Black Fugitive Spaces — places of freedom from anti-Black sentiments — are essential for sustaining and supporting Black educators. The paper has been cited by 89 scholars. She is a changemaker because her research deepens our understanding of what Black teachers need to thrive, and her teaching inspires students to carry that work forward and shape the future of education.
Marlita Bevenue
Digital Marketing Specialist & Community Storyteller
Marlita Bevenue is a digital marketing specialist working to change how people share their ideas through visual storytelling, podcasts, social media, and more. She is a changemaker because she uses her voice, creativity, and leadership to make a real difference in her community. Through her work in digital media, she helps tell stories that inspire people, celebrate achievements, and bring attention to important issues. She has partnered with schools, universities, nonprofits, and community organizations to connect people, share information, and create positive change. Marlita believes that stories have the power to bring people together — and she puts that belief into practice every day. Whether she is mentoring students, teaching college classes, supporting community events, or using her talents to highlight the accomplishments of others, she is always looking for ways to help people feel seen, heard, and valued.
