The Dominican Center’s new executive director is no stranger to Milwaukee’s Amani neighborhood. 

Britney Roberson, who joined the organization in May, has experience living in Amani and working at Dominican Center and with community organizations. She previously served as the community engagement coordinator at Froedtert Health. 

“I think she just has an incredible approach of building strong relationships,” said Robert Sullivan, president of the Dominican Center’s board of directors.

Sullivan said the board’s search committee wanted a candidate who understood the center’s link to the Amani neighborhood and could think creatively about continuing the Dominican Center’s mission of working with residents and partners to build a better future. 

“She really is looking at supporting people holistically and not just hyper-focused on one issue,” said Alisha Klapps Balistreri, assistant director of the Trinity Fellows program at Marquette University and Roberson’s friend and colleague. 

The leadership transition comes after Maricha Harris, who served as the organization’s executive director since 2021, left Dominican Center for another opportunity in late January. Dominican Center hired Shawna Muren to serve as the agency’s interim executive director for about three months. 

About the new executive director  

A Milwaukee native, Roberson spent some of her childhood years growing up in Amani and continued to visit her grandma in the neighborhood after Roberson moved near Sherman Park. 

She previously worked for Dominican Center as the community-based crime reduction coordinator for about three years. Roberson remembers the center’s first hydroponics system being installed before she left, which is now expanded to a whole hydroponics farm. 

“It is neat to just see in what aspects we’ve grown, and I’m looking forward to seeing what other areas we may want to grow in,” Roberson said. 

When Klapps Balistreri met Roberson while working at Dominican Center in 2016, Roberson helped her include resident perspectives in communication materials and collaborate with Amani United members.

“I can see her really listening, inviting people to share their perspectives and then also balance that with the data and the research that she’s come across over the years,” Klapps Balistreri said. 

Roberson earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Mount Mary University and has held positions with Near West Side Partners, Washington Park Partners and other Milwaukee community organizations.

While doing community work, Roberson said she’s learned that every voice matters. 

“No matter what scale they’re at, like every voice plays a part into improving neighborhoods, improving communities, improving our city,” she said. 

Plans and next steps

Roberson said she is still in the assessment phase and hopes to have a good understanding of the organization’s inner workings within the next two months. 

“I can’t have a plan until I fully understand what’s already taking place,” she said. 

She plans to get to know residents by attending meetings and events hosted by Dominican Center or Amani United and being available for introductory meetings. 

Kimberly Watts-Howell, vice president of Amani United, a resident-led group that works closely with Dominican Center, said she met Roberson briefly and is looking to see if she is as transparent and proactive of a leader as Harris. 

“We want someone who’s going to get in and roll up their sleeves and jump down in the dirt with us to make sure that the Amani area receives the resources that it should have to make it the way that it used to be,” Watts-Howell said. 

One of Roberson’s long-term goals is to develop a new strategic plan for the organization with community input. 

“One thing that community will do is hold your feet to the fire so you don’t make any promises you’re not going to keep,” Roberson said. 

What’s next

Dominican Center is working on establishing its annual budget ahead of the upcoming fiscal year, which starts in July. 

As of early June, the organization has no plans to alter programs or staffing, Sullivan said.

While Dominican Center is always looking for ways to secure income to support and expand its programs, it will continue to be focused on areas across housing, education and neighborhood security, according to Sullivan. 

“As with any interim time, there’s fear and uncertainty, and we feel that Britney provides a wonderful, wonderful path forward with us to ensure that we remain true to our roots and keep that strong community connection with the whole community to make sure that we have information flowing accurately both ways,” Sullivan said. 

Christal West, secretary and Housing & Economic Development chair of Amani United, said she has met with Roberson and is looking forward to Dominican Center and Amani making new strides. 

“She’s been more than willing to make sure that anything that Amani was saying that they needed or requested. From my standpoint, we have not had any delays,” West said.