414.906.4616 info@sd-foundation.org

MILWAUKEE, WI, January 12, 2022 – The Social Development Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of new officers as well as the addition of five new directors to its Board of Directors. The new change of leadership includes four diverse women holding the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

New Officers

  • Alicia Smith-McCants is the new President of the Social Development Foundation Board of Directors. She is the Vice President of Development and Analytics for Advocate Aurora Health Foundations. Alicia joined the Social Development Foundation in 2018 and formally held the role of Vice President from 2019 – 2021.
  • Lisa Goodman has been appointed as the new Vice President of the Social Development Foundation. She joined the Social Development Foundation in 2017 and was the Acting Secretary from 2019 – 2021. Lisa Goodman is a voice actor and owner of A GoodWoman’s Voice, LLC.
  • Phyllis Clark is the newly appointed Treasurer for the Social Development Foundation. She has been a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2019. Phyllis is a native of the Milwaukee area and currently serves as the Senior Director of External Reporting and Controls at Northwestern Mutual.
  • Stanthia Grier is the newly appointed Secretary for the Social Development Foundation. She joined the Board of Directors in 2019, driven by a passion to eliminate poverty in Wisconsin. Stanthia currently works in mortgage banking at US Bank.

In addition to the appointment of new officers, the Social Development Foundation Board of Directors is pleased to welcome five new members. The new additions work across various fields, demonstrating excellent leadership skills, innovative thinking, and a commitment to improving the Milwaukee County community. These individuals are highly motivated and exemplify continued personal growth and integrity, contributing to success in their work and in the city.

 New Directors

  • Erica N. Bean is a proud Milwaukee native and Vice President at BMO Harris Bank N.A. She serves as a mentor, advocate, and supporter to those in her network and beyond. Erica is committed to servicing the needs of her community through volunteerism and charitable giving, and looks forward to her tenure on the Social Development Foundation Board of Directors.
  • Glenn Carson is the Senior Director of Teen Programming with the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee. As a lifelong Milwaukee native with a passion for the community, Glenn is excited to help move the work of the Social Development Foundation forward.
  • Shandowlyon Hendricks has over 25 years of experience in public, private, charter, and higher education. She brings extensive experience to the Board, including her previous positions as Education Administrative Director at the Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction and Director of the Office of the Governor. Dr. Hendricks was the first African American to appear on the ballot for Wisconsin State Superintendent during the 2021 primary election.
  • Shandowlyon Hendricks has over 25 years of experience in public, private, charter, and higher education. She brings extensive experience to the Board, including her previous positions as Education Administrative Director at the Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction and Director of the Office of the Governor. Dr. Hendricks was the first African American to appear on the ballot for Wisconsin State Superintendent during the 2021 primary election.
  • Gwendolyn Johnson is a Supplier Diversity Specialist with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) where she implements workforce development programs with a goal to increase procurement opportunities to underserved businesses of color. She joined the Social Development Foundation Board to continue and increase business development and growth within the community.
  • Bridget Whitaker is a Milwaukee native and currently serves as the Deputy Executive Director for Safe & Sound. In her Chief of Culture role, she works both internally and externally to coordinate overall strategy and create engagement across the organization.

The Social Development Foundation is looking forward to utilizing the wealth of knowledge of the newly expanded Board of Directors to continue to elevate and impact people living in poverty.

The Social Development Foundation provides vital funding to help low-income residents in Milwaukee County obtain their GED, job training for sustainable wage jobs including resume writing and interviewing skills, financial education, support for seniors and more.

Supporters of the Social Development Foundation include the Green Bay Packers Foundation, Marquette University, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, We Energies, UPS, and Ascension.

The Social Development Foundation was established in 2003 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for the sole purpose of providing support for anti-poverty initiatives. The mission of the Social Development Foundation is to generate awareness, identify resources, and secure support to advance the efforts of the Social Development Commission.

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