To empower and inspire youth to be catalysts for change in their communities.
A community strengthened through constructive youth engagement in all aspects of society.
Lead2Change is a career-readiness organization that engages young people in leadership opportunities and equips them with essential tools to be successful in college, their career and the community. Young people who experience our programs enter the post-secondary world confident and clear about their career interests and their position in the global workforce.
As part of a national movement, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation founded the Youth in Service Fund in 1996. The program was created to engage young people in youth leadership and philanthropy. After many years of success and granting nearly $550,000 to youth-led projects, in 2011, the Youth in Service Fund transitioned to Lead2Change, a career-readiness non-profit organization. Since 2011, Lead2Change has empowered more than 500 young adults, ages 16 to 24 years old, to be catalysts for change in their communities through interactive career-readiness classes, professional development workshops and paid internships.
Dionne Grayson, Executive Director
Dionne Grayson is a visionary leader committed to helping youth and young adults discover their purpose, believe in their potential, and boldly pursue their dreams. Serving as Executive director of Lead2Change, Mrs. Grayson, along with 22 youth, co-founded Lead2Change. To date, nearly 1,000 young people have successfully completed this program.
With a career spanning more than 25 years, Dionne has earned many accolades; in 2017, she was named a Woman of Influence by The Milwaukee Business Journal. In 2018, Mrs. Grayson was recognized as a Leading Woman in Business by O, The Oprah Magazine. Her greatest accomplishment, however, is the title “mentor,” given to her by small business owners and young people across the country.
Mrs. Grayson received her undergraduate degree in Clinical Psychology from Alverno College and a graduate degree in Social Work Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She resides in Milwaukee with her husband Vern.
Board of Directors
Board Chair
Marcus Taylor, Rockwell Automation
Board Vice-Chair and Maketing Committee Chair
Linda Hogan, Bader Rutter
Board Secretary
Christian Braverman, Colliers International
Treasurer & Finance Committee Chair
Kristiyan Trukov, R.W. Baird & Co.
Board Director and Community Volunteer
Mamie Roberson, Community Volunteer
Program and Community Engagement Committee Chair
Fran Sutter, GMR Marketing
People & Performance Committee Chair
Sam Smith, Capri Senior Communities
Board Director and Program Manager for Fund My Future Milwaukee
Ashleigh Edgerson, City of Milwaukee
Board Director
Suzanne Zwaska, US Bank
Executive Director
Dionne Grayson, Lead2Change Inc.
Board Standing Committees
Finance
Kristiyan Trukov, Chair, R.W. Baird & Co.
Amanda Aliperta, Momentum NonProfit Strategies
Brittany Eronson, RSM US LLP
Christian Braverman, Colliers International
Patrick Schulz, Robert W. Baird & Co.
Sara Anderson, Ascent Global Logistics, Inc.
Thomas Serafin, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, LLP
Marketing Communications
Linda Hogan, Chair, Bader Rutter
Aubri Wierzbicki, Bader Rutter
Hope Manuel, Milwaukee Public Schools
Liz Roberts, Bader Rutter
Manisha Nabke, Digitas
Merilou Gonzales, Bader Philanthropies
Taylor Dei, Pepsi Co.
Justin Liesener, Bader Rutter
People + Performance (P2)
Sam Smith, Chair, Capri Senior Communities
Leronica Shaw, Advocate Aurora Health
Melanie Shafer, SimpleLegal
Christian Bradford, Truity Partners
Carson Miller, Truity Partners
Program and Community Engagement
Fran Sutter, Chair, GMR Marketing
Daniel Bergen, MSOE
Ashleigh Edgerson, City of Milwaukee
Dane Siegenthaler, GMR Marketing
Avery Bable, GMR Marketing
Dorintha Robinson, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin
Marcus Taylor, Rockwell Automation
Stanthia Grier, US Bank
Administrative Staff
Dionne Grayson: Executive Director
Amanda Aliperta: Fund Development Consultant
Cheryl McMurtry: Accountant
Mark Briggs: Program Services Manager
Tanika Reesnes: Human Resources Consultant
Olivia Reel: Executive Assistant and Communications Consultant
Markesha Hilliard: Marketing Specialist
Program Staff
Katherine Polace: Lead Brick by Brick Instructor
Sherri Jordan: Lead Career Advancement Coach
Sheena Polachowski: Brick by Brick Instructor
Quinetta Britton: Brick by Brick Instructor
Yolanda Radford-Sartin: Brick by Brick Instructor
Jessica Parker: Brick by Brick Instructor
Jerrmond Walker: Career Advancement Coach
Brieanna Harris: Career Advancement Coach
Va’Na Barki: Career Advancement Coach
Monique Bates: Career Advancement Coach
Interact Club
Paige Hunt: Interact Coordinator
Anon Charitable Trust
Bader Rutter
Cardinal Stritch University
The Commons, WI
Ebony Esthetics
Goodwill Industries of Southeastern WI
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Innovative Fiber
Kohl Foundation
Marquette University Diederich College of Communications
Marquette University Education Opportunity Program – Talent Search
Milwaukee Public Schools Contract Compliance Services, Office of Accountability & Efficiency
Milwaukee Public schools Partnership for the Arts and Humanities
National Association of African American HR Professionals
Neo Soul Productions
Potawatomi Foundation
PumpFive Fuel Delivery
Rockwell Automation
Secure Futures
T.A.L.K. Publishing
Townsend Foundation
Union Pacific
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Helen Bader School of Social Welfare
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts
Department of Film, Video, Animation, and New Genres
Vibez Creative Arts Space
World Outreach Church