Success Stories

The Cohill Foundation

Lakisha Cohill, a 2021 CAN mini-grant recipient, is the founder of the Cohill Foundation. For the past 10 years, she has used her experience and creativity to connect and mentor at-Risk and disadvantaged youth. While mentoring, Lakisha learned that many youth struggle...

Jacarrie Kicks for Kids

The Woodson Center would like you to join us as we welcome our 2021 mini grant recipient, Jacarrie Car, CEO and founder of Jacarrie Kicks for Kids, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jacarrie is literally connecting souls through soles, by the model he developed that...

CAN STORY: RON ANDERSON

“I created a program that would have served me as a child.” Ron Anderson, a 2021 CAN mini-grant recipient, is the founder of Project Reclaim in Minden, LA. Ron’s non-profit that serves at-risk youth, was able to use the Center’s seed money to improve his...

CAN STORY: TONI MCILWAIN

Toni McIlwain is one of our veteran community leaders, who has been a part of the Woodson Center’s Community Affiliate Network for over 30 years.  Ms. McIlwain, one of our 2021 mini grant awardee, is using the seed money to transform lives in her community through her...

Where is the rage over killings of our children?

Grayson Matthew Fleming-Gray, was fatally shot last week in Atlanta at just 6-months-old. When you’ve lost a child, especially to violence, it’s easy for something to transport you suddenly back to the moment you found out your baby was gone. When I learned that a...

Violence program turns MPS students around

Earl Minley, 18, (left) credits Violence Free Zone and Charles Robinson Jr. (right) for helping him turn his life around. He was one of 18 Milwaukee Public Schools students awarded scholarships for their hard work. Credit: Karen W. Higgins In My Opinion. Author: James...