INPOWER
Gwen T. Jackson Community Service Award
This award was established in 1981 and is presented annually to the United Way volunteer who best exemplifies a spirit of volunteerism and dedication to one’s community.
INPOWER is a black, woman-owned social impact and good cause marketing and outreach agency based in Milwaukee's Harambee neighborhood. Established in 2018, the founding team is made up of three Milwaukee natives: Aziz Abdullah, Emani Taylor, and Raven Washington. With collaboration as one of their core values, INPOWER seeks to connect its partners with community members using INtergated solutions that emPOWER individuals to determine their own life outcomes. As an agency, they are proud of their recent work that has included focusing on challenges such as housing security, access to health care, and economic development. Leading with a heart-led approach, their daily mantra is "Today Will Be A Great Day." They are excited about future opportunities to solve social challenges and continuing to advance community wellness.
Their message to all: Live to INspire, work to emPOWER.
Diamond Herring-Rodgers
John A. Puelicher Award for Loaned Executive Excellence
This award recognizes the achievements of an outstanding Loaned Executive in honor of John A. Puelicher.
Jack Puelicher gave generously of both his time and charitable dollars to United Way and other civic and cultural institutions. He served as the 1963 United Way Campaign Chair and as a member of the Board of Directors from 1955 to 1963.
Diamond Herring-Rodgers is a Milwaukee native with corporate sales and marketing experience from her time at Pepsi Beverages, Milwaukee Bucks, and Northwestern Mutual. She is a proud Alverno Alumna, holding a bachelor’s degree in business marketing and a master’s degree in business administration.
Diamond started with United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County as a Loaned Executive, making strides until she transitioned in 2022 to Engagement Manager, managing our LINC and Emerging Leaders networks. She’s excited for the future and plans to bring groundbreaking networking opportunities and key initiatives to volunteer experiences. She enjoys traveling, having studied abroad in Spain, and even backpacked to 13 countries in Europe! Diamond is looking forward to continuing to be a leader and advocate for black and brown communities with United Way.
Danae D. Davis
Linda McFerrin African American Nonprofit Leadership Award
This award was established in 2018 by United Way’s Board Chair Cory Nettles and his wife Michelle Nettles. The award recognizes an outstanding African American nonprofit executive who has provided exemplary leadership in the community.
Like Linda, individuals honored through this award have made extraordinary strides in leadership, volunteerism, mentoring, and philanthropy in greater Milwaukee and Waukesha’s nonprofit community. Award winners are publicly announced on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and recognized at United Way’s Annual Meeting.
Danae D. Davis served as executive director of Milwaukee Succeeds, a citywide educational partnership that is dedicated to ensuring the success of every child in every school in Milwaukee, cradle to career, until she retired in November 2022. Davis previously spent nine years as CEO of PEARLS for Teen Girls, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit that uses a nationally recognized empowerment and leadership development model for adolescent girls ages 10-19. Her career also has included leadership positions in both corporate and government sectors, including Miller Brewing Company, Kraft Foods, and the City of Milwaukee.
She received her Bachelor of Science degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Davis currently serves on the national StriveTogether board, and local advisory boards for King’s Academy Christian School and Radio Milwaukee HYFIN. She formerly served on numerous civic and community boards of directors, including the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents.
Join us for our Annual Meeting!
Thursday, February 23, 2023
5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
U.S. Bank Center, Downtown Kitchen
777 E. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
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