Black Like Me

Dr. Karen Reece explains Justified Anger's innovative research and strategic approach to Justice centered systems change work. As Justified Anger took off as a movement, Dr. Reece gives insight into the funding of Black-led organizations and the struggle to create long term solutions and change.

Dr. Reece clarifies the difference between quantitative vs qualitative analysis for the kind of work that Justified Anger does. Though it can be harder capture the data, qualitative data gives a deeper understanding of the change that is accomplished.

Dr. Reece explains how she considers Ripple Effects as a way to show the impact of Justified Anger's work. Ripple Effects looks at how people who are learning and being changed by contact with the Justified Anger initiative are enacting change in their spheres of influence, whether it is at the interpersonal, business, or community level.

Learn more:

Justified Voices: What we've learned about racial justice in Madison

Justified Anger's Our Madison Plan

Article: Disparities in Funding for Leaders of Color Leave Impact on the Table

Collection of reports on racial equity in philanthropy

NCRP Report: Too Many Local Community Foundations Still Underinvesting in Black Communities

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On this special episode, Dr. Alex Gee and his sister Lilada Gee reflect on the passing of their mother, Ms. Verline Gee. They celebrate her memory with stories and insights from her life. For decades, Ms. Verline created a profound impact in the Madison community as a mentor to young leaders, social worker, poet, published author, family therapist, faith community leader, and, above all, a cherished mother and grandmother.

Through their mother's experiences, Dr. Gee and Rev. Lilada are able to explore historical and racial conditions in the period of her life. They reflect on the strength of her character and the lessons they learned, as well as her great intellectual sense of humor. Don't miss the heartfelt and honest conversation around the life of a powerful Black community mother.

Learn more about Ms. Verline Gee's story

Dr. Gee and Rev. Lilada invite you to make a donation to The Center for Black Excellence and Culture, allowing us to share Verline Gee's incredible story and continue her legacy of community building through a senior space and senior programming dedicated in her honor: https://givebutter.com/xieAH6

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Dr. Gee is joined again by his friend Kaleem Caire to look at the atmosphere around Justified Anger in the early years and how the initiative has created change over the last 10 years. They reflect on having breakfast together on the day that the original Justified Anger article was released and talked about how the truth of the article would be received in the community. The two thought leaders in the Madison community consider what it is like to speak boldly and be visionaries for racial justice. Kaleem is a champion of educational change that needs to happen to address disparities.

Kaleem Caire is the founder and CEO of One City Schools, the operator of One City Preschool and One City Elementary School. Both schools are focused on getting young children ready for school success. Prior to One City, Kaleem was the President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison in Madison, WI and chair of the National Urban League's Education Committee.

In 2001, Kaleem commissioned the nation's first comprehensive study of high school graduation rates in the United States, which resulted in graduation rates being embedded in the nation's No Child Left Behind law and forever becoming a measurement of the productivity of American education. In 2002, he was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige to serve on the Independent Rules Panel that advises the U.S. Congress on the evaluation and implementation of Title I (then referred to as No Child Left Behind). From 2002-2004, he led a coalition of education, business, philanthropy and community leaders in Washington, DC to secure the passage of landmark legislation that created the nation's first federally funded school voucher program and has since provided more then $900 million net new federal funding for school reform efforts encompassing DC's traditional public, public charter and private schools. In 2009, he was appointed by the administration of President Barack Obama to serve as an expert reviewer for his signature ""Race to the Top"" national education reform initiative.

Photo of Black Leaders at Justified Anger Event

Read Justified Anger's Our Madison Plan

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Dr. Gee welcomes Renee Moe (President & CEO at United Way of Dane County) and Joe Parisi (Dane County Executive) to dicsuss how they experienced the release of the Justified Anger article and aftermath. They reflect on how the original article caused a stir in some of the civic and community arenas, displaying the racial disparity alive in these systems. Dr. Gee contemplates the cost of stepping into certain civic spheres and often feels like the desire gets quenched by his experience as a Black man.

Hear how the Justified Anger article gave a human face to the statistics of Race to Equity report that made people face the reality in their community. Together the group explore how we continue to address the racial justice present in their county.

Read the original Justified Anger article.

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Dr. Gee considers his career, relationships, and community impact as he reaches the age of 60. His life-long friend David Smith joins the conversations as they recall stories of their youth, beginning as community leaders, and how the world has changed in their shared 60 years. You can be sure that they bring plenty of stories, funny anecdotes, and real talk about their life experiences.

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Dr. Gee welcomes Paul Fanlund, editor and publisher of The Capital Times, and journalist Phil Haslanger to the show to discuss the publication of Dr. Gee's article, entitled Justified Anger. Hear the inside story of how Dr. Gee's groundbreaking articles changed the community and changed The Capital Times newspaper itself. The three men talk about the environment around the first Justified Anger town hall as a result of the response to the original article. Dr. Gee explores Black voices in journalism and how Black leaders shouldn't be expected to fix injustices themselves.

Read Dr. Gee's Justified Anger at 10 Years Article: Cap Times: Alex Gee says Black Madison is tired of fixing injustices itself

Read Dr. Gee's original Justified Anger Article: Cap Times: Justified anger: Rev. Alex Gee says Madison is failing its African-American community

Cap Times: Opinion | Assessing race in Madison 10 years after 'Justified Anger'

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Dr. Gee returns to the original article that started the Justified Anger initiative, as he reads the article in his own voice. Season 9 is exploring the ten years of system transformation that has resulted from the wake up call to the racial disparities present in Dr. Gee's local community of Madison, WI. This reading and Dr. Gee's introduction set the tone for the season and explore the impact of systemic change.

Justified Anger is an initiative of Nehemiah that cultivates innovative Black and non-black leaders through culturally grounded programs, dynamic educational experiences and collaborative partnerships that lead to transformational relationships, equitable systems and just solutions.

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Justified Anger Article

Are you ready for Season 9? Dr. Alex Gee is starting the season off with another mic check to set the tone for what is to come. Get a glimpse into what is on Dr. Gee's mind and heart for the new season.

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Dr. Gee welcomes his friends and fellow podcast host, Henry Sanders, back to the show for a honest conversation about real leadership. Dr. Gee explores how leadership vision is not a sprint, but a marathon from his own experience. They cover the value of visionary integrity over time, the mentorship of community elders, and investing in new partners. Henry Sanders asks tough questions such as: Is the Black church still the conscious of the Black community? What would be the name of the book written about Dr. Gee's life?

For nearly twenty years, Henry Sanders Jr. (CEO and Publisher) has been a force for community development, economic development and entrepreneurship in the Madison area, in Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest.He worked for the City of Madison and then-Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin before joining the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce as Vice President. In that capacity he started the Small Business Advisory Council, Latino Chamber of Commerce and the African wAmerican Black Business Association. Sanders is also the founder of the young professionals organization Madison Area Growth Network (MAGNET), Madison Network of Black Professionals, and Capacity 360, a government relations firm that brought more than $15 million to Wisconsin businesses.

Henry ran a statewide campaign for Lieutenant Governor in 2010 and in 2011 joined the Obama Administration as the Small Business Administration's Region V Advocate, speaking up for small businesses across six states. In 2018, Henry was named InBusiness Magazine's 2018 Startup Company Executive of the Year, was given the Amigo Award by LaMovida Radio and was named Outstanding Experiential Learning Host by the Madison Metropolitan School District for allowing students to attend the Wisconsin Leadership Summit. Henry is currently is Publisher and CEO of Madison365.

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Dr. Gee welcomes Annette Miller to the show to discuss Black leadership and equitable community development in their local community. They have an in-depth discussion around the development and impact of Justified Anger's Our Madison Plan among the Black community.

The early years of Justified Anger opened the door to the wider community to receive a convergence of attention on the state of the Madison Black community. The Black leaders had been seeing the state of things for awhile, but it wasn't until that moment that the non-Black community was ready to lean in. Our Madison Plan highlights so many of the Black leaders in Madison who are still doing the work and making it happen. Dr. Gee and Annette reveal how navigating the community as a Black leader is a balancing act, because really they are leaders who are Black.

Annette Miller is the CEO and founder of EQT By Design, LLC. Miller's passion is ensuring inclusion and engagement are front and center in her work. She brings 25 years of strong professional policy and analytic skills, and a wide network of community, government, and business relationships, especially with Dane County's diverse populations. Miller previously worked for Madison Gas & Electric as the Emerging Markets and Community Development Director, where she built partnerships in energy, sustainability, and inclusion of their emerging customer markets. Formerly, she was an aide to the City of Madison Mayor.

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