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Legacy Gala Overview
The Social Development Foundation’s Annual Legacy Gala is an elegant evening to honor individuals in the Milwaukee community who have made a significant impact for those living in poverty. During the first inaugural event, we honored the late legend Don Sykes. Learn more about Don Sykes.
The late Don Sykes is remembered as one of Milwaukee’s most prominent antipoverty activists. As part of President Bill Jefferson Clinton’s administration, Sykes served as director of the Health and Human Services Office of Community Relations. In Milwaukee, Sykes was executive director of the Social Development Commission for more than 20 years. He is celebrated for a career of service and his fight to empower people experiencing poverty.
Don Sykes passed away in 2017, but his work continues to inspire advocates working on behalf of people experiencing poverty. It is fitting that the Social Development Foundation, dedicated to the elimination of poverty, presents the Don Sykes Legacy Award each year. This distinguished award is given to members in our community who, like Sykes, work tirelessly to move people beyond poverty. In 2023, we are honoring the living legend Attorney James Hall.
Save-the-Date for the 2023 Legacy Gala
Date: September 16, 2023
Location: Hyatt Regency Milwaukee
222 West Kilbourn Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203
2023 Legacy Honoree
James H. Hall, Jr. is a 1979 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law. In June, 1979, he joined Charne, Clancy and Taielman, S.C.where he became a partner andpracticed until the firm’s dissolution in 1991. He and others then established the firm Hall, Burce and Olson, S.C. where he continued to practice until his retirement in October of 2022.
Attorney Hall has extensive experience representing cases involving discrimination in employment, housing, and education. He served as co-counsel in the class-action redlining lawsuit the NAACP brought against American Family Insurance that resulted in a record $16 million settlement in the 1990s, the class action settlement with the City of Milwaukee on behalf of African American Firefighters, and the lawsuit challenging the voucher program for students in the Milwaukee public school system. He has also provided counsel to the City of Saint Paul and the State of Minnesota in civil rights matters and most recently to the City of Minneapolis regarding reparations for American Descendants of Slaves.
Attorney Hall’s dedication to the betterment of those living in Milwaukee County includes serving as the past president of the NAACP Milwaukee Branch, where he worked to restore, reform, and revitalize the civil rights organization, co-founding 100 Black Men of Milwaukee, serving on both the Wisconsin and National Board of Directors for the Americans Civil Liberties Union, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
He served as legal counsel for the Community Relations–Social Development Commission (SDC) of Milwaukee County for more than 25 years and continued to represent SDC until his retirement in October of 2022, leaving a legacy of service, expansion, and creation of SD Properties and SD Foundation.
2023 Legacy Gala Co-Chairs
Celia Jackson and Don Cohen are the 2023 Legacy Gala Co-Chairs.
Attorney Celia Jackson is a dynamic leader with an exemplary record of service. Her family moved to Milwaukee in 1968 and shortly thereafter her mother, Harriet McCraney was named Director of Head Start with the Social Development Commission. Many of the SDC team, including Don Sykes and Rosemary Holley, became family and she grew up learning all about early childhood education and anti-poverty programs. After graduating from Messmer High School, she went to Hampton Institute (University) majoring in Political Science. It is there she would meet Attorney James Hall. Prior to retirement in 2022, Attorney Jackson held numerous high-powered positions, including Assistant District Attorney in Milwaukee County, Assistant Dean at Marquette University Law School, Director of Black Catholic Ministry at the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing, Director of the International and Intercultural Center at Alverno College and Chief of Staff for the Milwaukee City Attorney’s Office.
For over twenty-five years, Don Cohen has proven to be a successful businessman in the banking industry. He has worked for Landmark Credit Union, North Shore Bank, and Associated Bank. In addition to this, Don has served on 25 different community boards and organizations. Over this span of time, Don has received approximately 100 awards and recognitions for his community outreach efforts. This is a true reflection of Don’s character and impact on people. His hard work and dedication have gone far beyond his personal goals and career advancements. Don is a true community leader and advocate, serving as a catalyst for financial and social change. He has been a resource and support system for a vast number of diverse community groups. Don has also developed innovative programs and products to help serve the unbanked or underbanked individuals who may or may not have social security numbers.
Take a look back at the 2022 Legacy Gala
To become a 2023 Sponsor, please contact: Vanessa Claypool at 414.906.2858 | vclaypool@sd-foundation.org
Thank you to our 2022 Legacy Gala Sponsors!
Legacy Trailblazer
Legacy Leader
Legacy Advocate
Legacy Advocate
Legacy Ambassador
Dr. Shandowlyon LLC
We Energies Foundation
Legacy Tribute
Alicia Smith McCants
BMO Private Bank
Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation
Milwaukee County Area Technical College
Ossie & Deirdra Kendrix
Outreach Community Health Centers
Social Development Commission
Spann & Associates, LLC
The Business Council, Inc. and the African-American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Legacy Supporter
Ascension
City of Milwaukee
Chase Bank
Associated Bank
Milwaukee County
2022 Legacy Honoree
June Perry-Stevens is an ideal recipient of the Don Sykes Legacy Award. Much of her work was influenced by the late Don Sykes, the namesake of the legacy award.
June is the co-founder of New Concept Development Center, Inc. Her non-profit social service agency focused on critical community issues such as mental health, teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, employment and case management for HIV clients. New Concept often collaborated with Sykes who was then CEO of the Social Development Commission.
With her leadership at New Concept Development Center, June:
- Developed the first prenatal care program which became the model for Title XIX of the Social Security Act. Title XIX authorizes Medicaid programs that provide health coverage to people experiencing poverty – especially pregnant women, parents with young children, people with disabilities and the elderly.
- Developed Milwaukee’s first Fathers Resource Center and first-time juvenile offenders program that became a model for Milwaukee County.
- Authored a blue-ribbon report on teen pregnancy prevention for the City of Milwaukee.
- Launched the city’s first girls mentoring program at the Hillside housing complex in 1978.
- Created a youth motivation seminar for role models and youth, and developed its first youth-managed and youth-operated business through its youth entrepreneurship program.
Through her work, June has improved life for many Milwaukee families and individuals. When she retired, her organization had served more than 2,000 families a year with an operating budget of $2.5 million. June has worked tirelessly to make a difference in our community.
In partnership with her daughter, Krystle C.M. Perry, June is the owner of Best Ed Business, providing office design and furniture, office supplies, PPE and strategic sourcing. Through Best Ed, June and Krystle strive to deliver an intergenerational, minority and women owned business that paves the way for others and provides exemplary service. Their family motto is “if it is to be, it is up to me”.
2019 Legacy Honoree
In 2019 we were proud to honor a living legend, Ben E. Johnson! 
Ben E. Johnson was born January 31, 1937, the fifth child of Albert and Alma Johnson. He attended Milwaukee Lincoln High School and later graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. He is the proud father of three children: Jan, Paula and Jay.
Johnson had a diverse and esteemed career. He was a former district sales manager for the Milwaukee Journal Company where, in addition, he served as a member of the company’s Board of Directors.
Johnson was also a community organizer for the Walnut Way Improvement Council. Johnson identified residents experiencing poverty and helped them access critical services including health care and education.
In 1971, Johnson was elected to replace Alderwoman Vel R. Phillips to represent the 6th Aldermanic District. In 1976, he became the first African American Milwaukee Common Council President serving until 1980.
One of Johnson’s biggest accomplishments was the creation of a program affectionately known as the “$1 House” program. This important initiative made home ownership attainable for many Milwaukee residents who purchased and repaired dilapidated homes in city neighborhoods.
After serving on the Milwaukee Common Council, Johnson was appointed Milwaukee City Clerk. He served four years in the position.
Eventually, Johnson left government and worked as a management consultant. Later he accepted a position with Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) providing small business start-up assistance at the Milwaukee Enterprise Center. He has taught government and business classes for University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and MATC.
Volunteer and civic activities include chairing several boards and committees including: The Social Development Commission, the U.S. Panama Canal Treaty Advisory Commission and the White House Council on Economic Development.
He is presently on the boards of Urban Strategies Inc. and Northcott Neighborhood House. Ben Johnson is a life member of the NAACP.
Today Johnson is revered for his efforts to create vibrant, affordable subdivisions including Halyard Park, Richardson Subdivision and Lindsay Heights.
The Legend Don Sykes
At the inaugural Legacy Gala in 2018, the Social Development Foundation was pleased to honor Don Sykes. Narrated by radio show host Earl Ingram, watch this video and learn more about the legend Don Sykes.
On his pursuit for equal rights, Don Sykes inspired local, state and national politicians to take notice – not to mention the public at large. Don also made a lasting impact through his work as he mentored future leaders like Gwen Moore, hired low-income residents, and taught students at UWM. He truly created environments where everyone felt valued and empowered.
“All you can do is the best you can do. And you do it. It’s irrelevant to fret. Don’t waste your time fretting and crying. Put your energies into what you can do. Move at it.” – Don Sykes
