On Monday, November 14, Athena Speakers Bureau, hosted an evening with Dr. Steve Perry, national speaker and educational advocate in the Rep’s Quadracci Powerhouse on the complex issues impacting boys of color through the lens of education. The Powerhouse theatre was filled with an audience of educators, students, parents, business and community leaders along with philanthropist and elected officials all hoping to learn and come up with a strategic framework to make a positive difference in the local educational system. The free community discussion was the Bureau’s first event since its launch in September.

Dr. Perry spoke to the audience about making sacrifices now for the successful educational future of our children. “We got to accept that at some point we have to be honest. And if we want our children to stand up and be bold and proud, we have to do it first,” said Dr. Perry, national speaker and educational advocate.

Tammy Belton-Davis, principal of Athena Communications, LLC, and event organizer shared her testimony about the challenges she personally faced advocating for her son in the Milwaukee educational system. “I salute everyone that works with young people every single day. So to every person that is committed to the young people in this city, this is my ‘why’ tonight, my son Lunden,” she said.

The conversation with Dr. Steve Perry was moderated by Kelly Leadership Group President Alonzo Kelly, followed by roundtable discussions with leading experts, Pardeep Kaleka, psychotherapist, Michael Morgan, principal, Milwaukee College Prep, Kwabena Antoine Nixon, author and community activist, and Dr. Ramel Smith, clinical psychologist.