The board of Kids Forward, a statewide policy advocacy organization, has named Michele Mackey to be its next CEO effective January 1, 2021. Mackey succeeds Ken Taylor, who served in the position for 11 years, and co-led the organization with Mackey since 2017. The Kids Forward Board is deeply grateful for Ken’s eleven years of dedicated service to improving the well-being of kids and families across Wisconsin. We recognize and respect his role in fostering a transition to new leadership that enables Kids Forward to be even more effective in accomplishing our mission as we continue to center racial equity and justice. Taylor’s commitment, passion and vision has undoubtedly brought us to this moment.

Ken Taylor notes, “Michele, along with other members of our Leadership Team, are already leading Kids Forward, and this transition is just the next step in that progression. Those of you who know Michele, know that they are a fierce champion for racial justice and antiracist at their core. They will be the leader Kids Forward needs during this lattice of crises we are facing, in racial justice, in health, in the economy, and in our democracy. Those of you who don’t yet know Michele will quickly come to realize that they are the leader Kids Forward needs now, not just because of their racial justice expertise, passion, and lived experience, but also their expertise in systems and organizational change as well as research and advocacy. I am very excited about the future of Kids Forward under Michele’s leadership”.

“Our board members are grateful to Ken for his leadership developing Kids Forward’s commitment to center racial equity in who we are as well as in all our work. We’re 100% supportive of this ‘baton-pass’ to Michele’s leadership and are committed to our role in this needed work,” said Kids Forward board chair Jacquelyn Boggess.

Mackey brings a deep and diverse leadership background to this position as an attorney, program and operations officer, and innovation and change consultant, focused on leadership development and equitable rganizational strategy. As COO at Kids Forward, they have led the alignment of internal culture with the organization’s equity-focused policy advocacy. Mackey also recently served as loaned interim CEO for Forward Community Investments advising its transition from a founder CEO.

Michele shared, “I am excited and honored to continue leading Kids Forward into its future as a truly equity-driven organization. My vision for Kids Forward is to work in solidarity with our many communities across Wisconsin to identify, dismantle, and rebuild the systems keeping us all – especially children and families – from thriving, from experiencing justice, and from belonging. At Kids Forward, we are all dedicated leaders in the fight for racial and economic justice. We must do this for a better Wisconsin. I am looking forward to joining forces with current and future “friends in the work” across the state and country.”

Kids Forward is ready and excited for the leadership of Michele Mackey as we take on 2021 and grow for the future. At this time, we wish everyone a happy holiday season and cheers to moving forward in 2021.

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Kids Forward is a statewide policy and advocacy organization working for ALL of Wisconsin. At Kids Forward, we envision a Wisconsin where every kid thrives, especially children of color and those furthest from opportunity. Because policy matters, now more than ever.