The Kids Forward team is excited to announce the hiring of Alia Stevenson as Deputy Director. Stevenson joins the team right as Kids Forward launches Reimagine Wisconsin, an antiracist, community-informed policy agenda focused around four critical pillars for Wisconsin children and families: Protecting Children, Investing in Community, Ensuring Health, and Building Worker Power.

“At this pivotal moment in our country and in the state, I can’t imagine a better place to be than working to amplify the voice of Wisconsin’s communities most impacted by policy decisions, and furthest from setting the agenda,” said Stevenson. “Black, Indigenous, Latiné, Hmong, rural and other communities across the state know what they need to thrive, and I am excited to partner with them to ensure their needs are reflected in our policy agenda.”

Stevenson is not new to Wisconsin. Stevenson brings over 15 years of experience advancing health, social, and racial justice in non-profit, government, and higher education in Wisconsin including with Public Health Madison-Dane County, the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, and the University of Wisconsin’s School of Medicine and Public Health. 

Stevenson is also a longtime champion and partner in Kids Forward’s work, supporting the creation of Kids Forward’s community engagement tools and practices, and capturing community voice for the Race to Equity 10-Year Report. 

“Alia has demonstrated deep commitment to community-centered policy advocacy, research, and state investments in children and families,” says Michele Mackey, CEO of Kids Forward. “The relationships and frameworks Alia brings to her work perfectly align with the values of Kids Forward and the policy agenda we are co-creating within communities for a more equitable Wisconsin.” 

“Kids Forward has left an indelible mark on Wisconsin, raising the alarm on inequities, engaging our government, business sector, and local communities in naming and identifying racialized systemic root causes, and igniting action” says Stevenson. “I am excited to be part of continuing that legacy through a community-informed Reimagine Wisconsin policy agenda.”

Last month, Kids Forward announced the first pillar of the Reimagine Wisconsin agenda at ‘Workers Speak,’ in collaboration with the High Road Strategy Center, the Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Union, and Worker Justice Wisconsin. Pillar one of the Reimagine Wisconsin agenda—Build Worker Power—centers workers by calling on decision makers to raise the minimum wage to a living wage, ensure the right to organize and collectively bargain, criminalize wage theft and misclassification of workers, and provide driver licenses for all.

Leading up to the 2025 state budget session, Kids Forward will develop the next three pillars—Ensure Health, Protect Children, and Invest in Communities. Learn more about Kids Forward’s policy agenda and join the movement for the people at Reimagine Wisconsin.