By Shayna Mace
Christine Benedict
Benedict is executive director of Girls on the Run of South Central Wisconsin (GOTR). The organization uses running-centered curriculum to promote physical and emotional health, teamwork, self-esteem and more. GOTR serves eight counties and will add three more counties this spring. In October, GOTR will celebrate its 20th anniversary with an event. girlsontherunscwi.org
Lauren Brinkman
Brinkman founded Underdog Pet Rescue, a foster-based organization that pulls all-breed pets from high-kill shelters in other states. Underdog also provides veterinary services.
Brinkman’s 2025 goal is to grow their vet operations by 25%, which includes offering monthly pop-up vet clinics for those experiencing homelessness, among other services. underdogpetrescue.org
Augusta Brulla
Brulla is cultural affairs specialist for Dane Arts, which involves managing their grant program and working with local artists on their business acumen and community connections. This year, Brulla will launch an updated Dane County Artist Directory platform that will feature even more artists, in collaboration with 40 arts organizations across Dane County. danearts.com
Prenicia Clifton
Clifton founded Seein’ Is Believin’ to provide culturally-focused programming to promote mental health and resilience in children and teenagers. Her nonprofit has served nearly 1,000 Dane County youth through cooking classes, and this year she’ll host youth mental health retreats. Clifton is also releasing a children’s book series as well as a podcast. seein-is-believin.com
Heather Lott
Lott is director of the Dane County New Teacher Project (DCNTP), a consortium of 18 school districts focused on supporting beginning teachers through mentorship. This year, her goal is to offer a new summer professional learning series for superintendents and other leaders based off of Partners for Racial Inclusion, a DCNTP program to support teachers of color. dcntp.org
Amanda Marek
Marek is executive director of Active Youth Wisconsin, a nonprofit working to give kids accessible opportunities to be active and promote the physical and mental benefits of movement. In 2025, the organization will expand their after-school programming, increase participants in the Birdie Derby race (which they own) and fund more school grants. tri4schools.org
Anne Michels
Michels founded her nonprofit Green Pastures Living to develop affordable, accessible independent senior housing in small communities. Her goal for 2025 is to secure a developer agreement and municipal approval for her first property development. If all goes as planned, Green Pastures Living aims to break ground on one, possibly two, projects in 2025. greenpasturesliving.com
Heather Murray
Murray is owner and director of Arthouse Preschool and an early childcare advocate. She’s organized a number of advocacy efforts, including a Day Without Childcare last May to demonstrate the impact to working families, a card drop in February 2025 at the Capitol and speaking engagements with the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association in February and April. wisconsinearlychildhood.org
Rachelle Stone
Stone is an instructional coach at Leopold Elementary School in Madison, supporting teachers with curriculum, culture and building family relationships. She’s also the program coordinator for Black Girl Magic Educational Services (BGMES). This year, Stone will complete her master’s degree, expand BGMES’s after-school groups and aims to revive the Black Educators Network. bgmesinc.com
Courtney Willegal
Willegal is CEO of Keep Calm Tool Kits, LLC and The Sensory Zone, an inclusive indoor activity space with staff that are trained in working with kids with ADHD, autism, anxiety and OCD. Willegal is planning the development of a second The Sensory Zone, launching adult learning workshops and developing an app for parents and caregivers with neurodiverse kids. sensoryzone.org
