Events

Rev. Dr. ALEXANDER GEE, a native Madisonian, is the Founder and CEO of The Center for Black Excellence and Culture.  The center will serve as a multifaceted transformational space where Alex and his team challenge systemic barriers to Black wellness and flourishing, while fostering Black excellence through Pan-African cultural celebration, innovation, leadership development, artistic and theatrical expression, as well as intergenerational programming. The Center broke ground in 2024 and is scheduled to open its doors later this year.

First sworn into office in May of 2020, DAVID CROWLEY became the youngest county executive in the history of Milwaukee County and the first Black leader elected to serve in the role. On April 2, 2024, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley was reelected to a second term. The fundamental tenet of Executive Crowley’s administration is to build bridges that bring people together, deliver prosperity for working families, and foster a safer, stronger and healthier Milwaukee County.

IAN ABSTON and our club president Jason Ilstrup created the Hoan Group—a private network of 160 civic-minded leaders focused on connecting the Milwaukee and Madison business communities.  Ian is a member of the Wauwatosa Rotary Club.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley  and Ian Abston will discuss the economic development opportunities and challenges that both Milwaukee County and Dane County are facing, and how partnerships will help create successful results for both communities, as well as the entire State of Wisconsin. As the two leading economic and educational engines of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Dane Counties share many of the same priorities. Addressing these shared priorities is critical in boosting economic development efforts, recruiting and retaining talented workers, and supporting small businesses, entrepreneurs, and contractors to grow Wisconsin’s economy. They will share their perspectives on how Milwaukee and Dane Counties can continue investing in innovation and leading the Badger State forward in building the Made-in-Wisconsin economy of today, tomorrow and beyond.

A former small business owner and Dane County Board Supervisor, MELISSA AGARD was first elected to the State Assembly in November 2012, and served five terms in the Wisconsin State Legislature. She was elected to the State Senate in November 2020 and was chosen unanimously by her colleagues to serve as Senate Democratic Leader in November 2022.  She was then elected as Dane County Executive in November 2024.  Agard will talk about renovation plans for the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

GRANT SOVERN is the president of the board of the Community Immigration Law Center, the second in the country public defender service for immigrants threatened with deportation.  While we all know immigrants at our workplaces, schools, and families, almost none of us understand how dramatically the US immigration system has changed from the welcoming woman with a torch in New York Harbor to today’s promises to deport millions of people.  The basis of the misunderstanding is the various words and statuses we use to describe the immigration processes and who qualifies, or doesn’t qualify, for what.  While that may sound basic, Sovern's presentation will provide the vocabulary and understanding to weigh in more effectively at a dramatic time for this issue.   

Book titled, "The Elements of Humor: The Tools of Comedy that Make You Funnier, Happier, and Better Looking"