CHRISTOPHER BOSTON, SENIOR PASTOR, LAMB OF GOD MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

Reverend Boston was installed as the Senior Pastor of the Lamb of God Missionary Baptist Church of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in September 2012. Previously, he served as the Director of Sustainable Communities for the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) Milwaukee office. Before joining LISC, he was the youngest Lead Organizer/Director of Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH) at the time of his tenure. Rev. Boston is frequently called upon to speak at conferences and workshops on issues relating to community organizing, civic engagement and leadership development. He has led workshops and trainings across the country helping individuals and organizations develop strategies that foster community transformation. Additionally, he has participated and presented at the Aspen Institute Roundtable’s Community Change Seminar on Racial Equity and Society and was recognized by the Congressional Black Caucus as an Emerging Leader at the request of Congresswoman Gwen Moore. In 2013, Rev. Boston was selected to the 20th class of the Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” profile of Milwaukee leaders.

ELLEN GILLIGAN, CEO, GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION

As President and CEO since 2010, Ellen has amplified the Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s role as a leader, convener and catalyst, bringing community together around a shared vision for a vibrant region.  Serving Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties, the Foundation is Wisconsin’s largest community foundation and was among the first in the world.  Since being established in 1915, the Foundation has awarded more than $862 million in grants supporting a wide variety of nonprofits and initiatives that advance a higher quality of life in greater Milwaukee and beyond. Ellen is board chair of CFLeads, a national network of community foundations leading change. She serves on the national board of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).

Locally, she is on the executive committees of Milwaukee Succeeds and the MKE United Downtown Action Agenda. She is a board member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee and has co-chaired its Creative Placemaking Committee. Ellen is a mayoral appointment to the City of Milwaukee’s Black Male Achievement Advisory Council and is a past board member of the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado.

JOE’MAR HOOPER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SAFE & SOUND INC.

Joe’Mar Hopper has a long history of community leadership. He serves as the Executive Director of Safe & Sound, a nonprofit dedicated to uniting residents, youth, public safety entities and community resources to build safe and empowered neighborhoods.  In this role, he oversees all organizational strategy and programs that operate in 10 priority neighborhoods in Milwaukee to build partnerships and create opportunities for resident engagement and advancement.  He previously served as the Wisconsin Market Leader for CommonBond Communities, one of the largest non-profit providers of affordable housing with services in the region, overseeing their growth and expansion in Wisconsin. Prior to this, he created and directed the Department of Business, Community, and Family Partnerships for Milwaukee Public Schools where he led community outreach efforts including strategic partnerships, volunteering and alumni engagement, and family engagement initiatives.

Hooper serves as a board member of the Wisconsin Policy Forum, Milwaukee College Prep boards, MENTOR Greater Milwaukee, and the City of Milwaukee Board of Review.  He was a recipient of the 2018 Milwaukee Business Journal 40 Under 40 honor, and holds a BA in Secondary Education and Master’s Degree in Public Administration from UW-Milwaukee. 

BRIANNA SAS-PÉREZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LAYTON BOULEVARD WEST NEIGHBORS

Brianna Sas-Pérez is committed to the flourishing of just, equitable neighborhoods where people are healed, whole and thriving. She works toward this, in part, through her work at Layton Boulevard West Neighbors (LBWN), a Milwaukee community development organization that is a partner in building strong, healthy neighborhoods where all of us can thrive. LBWN has leveraged and invested over $50 million in the past 25 years, primarily through a focus on housing, economic development and grassroots leadership development initiatives. Brianna also serves on the board of directors of the Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers and is a member of the City of Milwaukee Plan Commission. Born and raised in Wisconsin, she now calls Milwaukee's Sherman Park neighborhood home. Brianna graduated from Calvin College with an interdisciplinary degree in art and engineering, and without intentions of being an artist or engineer. Today she enjoys building relationships and practices that generate shared understanding, personal & collective healing, and an end to oppressive systems.

Tony Shields, President and CEO Wisconsin Philanthropy Network

In his role as President and CEO, Tony serves the Wisconsin Philanthropy Network (WPN), by leading all aspects of strategy and operations for membership, staff, programs, fundraising, expansion and execution of its mission. The Wisconsin Philanthropy Network is the state's only organization devoted exclusively to the profession and practice of philanthropy. As WPN’s leader, Tony serves a growing network of 130 member organizations contributing over $600 million annually to non-profits locally, regionally, nationally and globally. WPN’s mission is to support and promote effective philanthropy through education and research, best practices, enhanced partnerships and thought leadership.

Tony Shields, Prior to joining WPN, Tony served as Executive Director of United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee (UNCOM), a collaborative of Milwaukee Settlement House Neighborhood Centers and as publisher of the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Before UNCOM, he led Community Relations efforts for Harley-Davidson, Inc. In that role, Tony developed strategic plans and implemented outreach and programs for a number of factory-based and national efforts and directed community outreach to support major company sponsored initiatives and philanthropic efforts.