Community Shares of Wisconsin will honor local social and environmental justice leaders
Madison, WI – On September 19, Community Shares of Wisconsin (CSW) will honor local leaders and organizations who are advancing social and environmental justice in our community. The annual Community Change-Maker Awards event will take place at Union South and online. The public is invited to attend the event.
Tickets purchased in support of this event help Community Shares award $6,000 in donations to local nonprofits. Each of the six award winners will select a nonprofit to receive a $1,000 donation.
Tickets are a suggested donation of $50. To purchase tickets, visit communityshares.com.
Change-Maker Award Winners
Mary Berryman Agard, nominated by The Bayview Foundation
Winner of the Liesl Blockstein Community Leadership Award
Mary Berryman Agard is President of The Bayview Foundation and was fundamental in the $60 million redevelopment of Bayview’s housing and community center. Professionally, Mary taught preschool, performed in and directed youth theatre, established the nation’s first municipal support system for early education and care, and managed arts development programs. She consulted in strategic, cultural, and civic planning, philanthropic management, and nonprofit development. Mary served on the Madison Police and Fire Commission, the Madison Arts Commission, the City-University liaison committee, several committees for the public schools, the boards of two experimental schools, and numerous political campaign steering committees. She also founded the Monona Bay Neighborhood Association and is a board member of the Madison Senior Center Foundation.
“If community leadership is about elevating the voices of others, there can be no one more deserving. To Bayview, Mary is the very definition of a good neighbor, a community leader, and a friend.” – Katherine Davey, Development Director at The Bayview Foundation
Brandi Grayson, nominated by Urban Triage
Winner of the Sally Sunde Family Advocate Award
Brandi Grayson is a revolutionary leader who founded Urban Triage in 2019 to address issues such as state violence, mass incarceration, housing shortages, and police brutality. Under her leadership, the organization has grown to over 20 employees and secured major contracts to assist and support vulnerable communities in Madison. Brandi has been widely recognized for her contributions and transparent leadership style, rooted in her commitment to core values. Her ability to navigate complex challenges and her deep connection with the community she serves makes her a powerful community advocate.
“Through both her visible leadership and her less publicized, yet crucial, behind-the-scenes work, Brandi Grayson embodies the essence of a true change-maker, driving transformative progress within the community.” – Charnice Anderson, Executive Assistant to Brandi Grayson at Urban Triage
Maria I. Rodriguez, nominated by American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin
Winner of the Linda Sundberg Civil Rights Defender Award
Maria I. Rodriguez has been a dedicated member of the ACLU of Wisconsin board since 2021. With a 30-year career at Milwaukee’s Housing Authority and as Director of the Election Commission, Maria has worked to improve housing and ensure fair elections. She volunteers with United Way and the League of Women Voters, and has received the distinguished Gwen Jackson Community Service Award. Maria’s commitment to community service and family values continues to inspire many. Maria has also been honored by UMOS with the Wisconsin’s Hispanic Woman of the Year award in 1989 and by the Women’s Fund with the Lynde B. Uihlein award in 2009.
“Maria believes in a society where everyone’s rights are respected, regardless of their background or circumstances. Her advocacy spans issues such as transportation equity, healthcare access, and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. She champions the idea that true inclusivity requires active participation from all members of society.” – Peris X. Flagg, Development Project Manager at American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin
CSW Collaboration Award Winners
Tenant Resource Center and Legal Action of Wisconsin
In 2021, the Tenant Resource Center, Legal Action of Wisconsin, Community Justice Inc., and the UW Law School partnered to set up the Eviction Diversion & Defense Partnership (EDDP) with federal emergency funds distributed by the City of Madison and Dane County.
The EDDP improves housing stability for Dane County tenants by providing housing support, housing counseling, court navigation, mediation services, and rental assistance. The program also refers eligible tenants whose housing stability is at risk to partner attorneys who provide legal representation at no cost to tenants.
CSW Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Michele Erikson
Michele Erikson believes literacy is a basic human right and has been working to improve literacy for nearly 40 years.
Since 1985, Michele has worked in literacy at the local and state level. At Wisconsin Literacy she supported, developed, and advocated for 70+ community-based literacy organizations statewide. Under Michele’s leadership the statewide coalition steadily increased, and Wisconsin Literacy members now serve more than 11,000 adult learners.
Early in her time with Wisconsin Literacy, Michele began working in health literacy by directing small projects with local literacy agencies to improve health understanding. In 2010, after receiving additional funding, Wisconsin Health Literacy was launched under her leadership. That work continues in Wisconsin and beyond with a focus on improving health outcomes and reducing health care costs by educating providers and patients on effective ways to communicate through a health literacy and health equity lens.
“Michele’s leadership and commitment to literacy have not only raised awareness about the importance of literacy but have also inspired others to join the cause. Her collaborative spirit and ability to bring people together for a common goal have been instrumental in driving positive change in our state.” – Stephen Mundt, President of the Wisconsin Literacy Board of Directors
