By Shayna Mace
AFRA SMITH
Smith is founder of The Melanin Project, a business aiming to eradicate wealth disparities for historically marginalized groups. In January 2024, she launched The Melanin Project’s budget planner, “Bloom Where You Are Planted.” Her second annual Wealth Literacy Conference hosted 179 attendees in April 2024.
ANGELA WALLACE
Wallace is the executive director of Logan’s Heart and Smiles, a nonprofit that makes accessibility and safety modifications to the home of families with children with disabilities. In 2024, Wallace kicked off a legacy giving program for donors and also leased its first office space in its 22-year history.
LAURA LAHTI
Lahti is the founder of AMASIAN, an Asian networking and social organization. Its first Korean American Day in January 2024 was a success, with over 170 attendees and nearly $3,000 raised for the Madison Public School Foundation that went towards AAPI programs. In June 2024, AMASIAN became an official nonprofit.
SUSAN YACKEE
Yackee is the director of the UW-Madison La Follette School of Public Affairs. She says the Wisconsin Main Street Agenda Project, which was a series of dinner conversations and town halls held statewide that discussed topics that were important to voters, were very successful. Envisioning the new La Follette School building is on the horizon and they’re about to hire an architect.
QWANTESE DOURESE WINTERS
Winters is a certified doula and owns Oasis Maternal Care. In 2024, Winters served over 30 pregnant women who were low-income or experiencing homelessness with education, support and case management. She also launched A Bowl of Soul, a care package with meals, art and literature. In December 2024, she shot the next installment of cooking videos for her “The Food Doula” YouTube channel.
SARAH JACOBSON
Jacobson started ConfiDANCE, a dance program for kids with disabilities. In 2024, ConfiDANCE joined forces with Arts for All Wisconsin (AFA), a statewide nonprofit. Jacobson says this partnership has greatly expanded the program’s reach. New offerings include the AFA ConfiDANCERs dance team and an adaptive ballet class.
UCHENNA JONES
Jones is the founder of the Madison Gospel 5K Foundation, an organization that hosts an annual run/walk, health fair and other community events. This year’s July 2024 event saw an increased number of first-time runners. Jones will also graduate from midwifery school this year and begin her own practice.
ANNA STERN
Stern is vice president of Tri-North Builders. She’s also co-founder of Tequila for Tatas, a fundraiser for the UW Carbone Cancer Center’s stage 4 breast cancer research fund. The 2024 event raised the record-breaking amount of $48,153, says Stern. She’s also working on mentorship opportunities and connecting with schools for She Builds Wisconsin, a free, week-long camp for girls dedicated to exploring the construction trades.
JAZMYNN APPLETON
Appleton is the chief director of entrepreneurial growth and innovation at the Progress Center for Black Women. This past year, she expanded the center’s FOCUS programming for entrepreneurs and created new partnerships and has been working on implementing its youth entrepreneurial programming. She also facilitated several public speaking engagements on a variety of workplace topics.
SHANEY ANDLER
Andler is founder of Back Pocket, a five-session workshop designed to foster sixth through twelfth graders’ self-management and self-awareness skills. She continues to build toward her goal of having Back Pocket in 100 Wisconsin schools and 50 nationwide (she says she’s close). She also published her second book available on Amazon, titled “Back Pocket for Parents: Tools to Help Parents Nurture Their Teens’ Mental Health.”
