By Shayna Mace | Photography by Hillary Schave
Christine Benedict
Benedict is executive director of Girls on the Run of South Central Wisconsin (GOTR), a program offering running-centered curriculum to promote mental and physical health. Last October, GOTR hosted a 20th anniversary celebration. In 2025, the nonprofit expanded to Richland, Grant and Lafayette counties.
Lauren Brinkman
Brinkman is founder and executive director of Underdog Pet Rescue and Vet Services. In 2025, Underdog increased the frequency of its free veterinary clinics to monthly for those experiencing homelessness. The Underdog Vet Services clinic, which caters to lower- to middle-class income families, expanded from two full-time veterinarians to three, with a fourth being added in 2026.
Augusta Brulla
Brulla is the cultural affairs specialist for Dane Arts. Using the Dane County Artist Directory, Brulla facilitated the display and sale of local artist’s works to area businesses. She’s working with a class of Beloit College marketing students who are using the directory for their marketing coursework. Dane Arts is also working to build out an arts platform that will be scalable statewide.
Prenicia Clifton
Clifton is founder of Seein’ is Believin,’ a nonprofit focusing on youth mental health. She released the first book in her Brain Superheroes series, hosted multiple youth mental health retreats and summits throughout Dane County, secured over $100,000 in grant funding to expand youth mental health programming, launched mobile mental health programming and introduced a youth-focused mental health web app.
Heather Lott
Lott is the former director of the Dane County New Teacher Project (DCNTP). At the end of the 2024-25 school year, Lott retired and she successfully onboarded her replacement. Lott planned to offer a summer workshop series based on research from Partners for Racial Inclusion, but due to a series of funding/ operations changes, she wasn’t able to kickstart the series — but she’s confident in DCNTP’s new leadership.
Amanda Marek
Marek is executive director of Active Youth Wisconsin, a nonprofit that promotes the physical and mental benefits of movement for kids. In 2025, the nonprofit partnered with 42 schools in Dane County — an increase from 2024. Active Youth Wisconsin also developed two new programs: Train like a Movement Pro and Inner Game.
Anne Michels
Michels is founder and executive director of Green Pastures Living, a nonprofit focused on affordable, independent senior housing. With a goal to break ground on up to two properties in 2025, Michels reports that due to leadership changes with planned developers, her developments didn’t move forward. “But with my BRAVA [profile], we were able to make new connections — and now we have new property proposals in the plans for 2026,” says Michels.
Heather Murray
Murray is an early childcare advocate, organizer, educator and owner of Arthouse Preschool LLC. In 2025, Murray organized a card drop to joint finance committee members to advocate for early childcare investment; attended and presented at the Public Policy Forum for the National Association for the Education of Young Children; spoke at the Wisconsin Early Childcare Association Advocacy Day; and was elected to the Waunakee School Board.
Rachelle Stone
Stone is program manager for Black Girl Magic Educational Services (BGM), an organization providing programming and mentoring opportunities to Black girls. In 2025, she completed her master’s degree and applied for a Women of Color Education Collaborative fellowship. Stone also revived the Black Educators Network with two events. BGM received a Sports 4 Life Grant and a City of Madison racial equity and social justice grant.
Courtney Willegal
Willegal is the owner and CEO of Keep Calm Tool Kits, LLC and The Sensory Zone. Both businesses cater to neurodiverse children. In 2025, Willegal redesigned part of The Sensory Zone into Imagination Town, filled with various businesses for kids to explore. She also added winter camps to its respite care options.
