For The Sake Of Aaron
Celebrating Our Black Men

"Men for All Seasons" by Charles Bibbs

 

"There’s nothing we can do for our kids today, but we can do a lot for them tomorrow and that starts today!"

Tyrone Dumas

by Patricia O’Flynn Pattillo
"I love Milwaukee! I moved away for a couple of years when I was at Miller, but I wanted to return. I’ve been able to see Milwaukee from the outside. We have unique issues and we need new people with new ideas, new passions, to view some of our problems without the jaded perspective that pervades. Milwaukee has more going for it than it has going against it."

Tyrone Dumas is a community advocate whose involvements are so diverse that he is often called "Mr. Diversity." His many contributions and interests cover the full spectrum of private, government, and social sectors.

A Milwaukee native, who remained and grew within the community of his birth, Tyrone Dumas represents a superb role model for young men desirous of becoming conscientious contributing citizens.

A graduate of West Division High School, in 1970; and a 1975 graduate, with an Associate Degree in Architectural Technology from Milwaukee Area Technical College, he, with assistance from the late Ernest Speights, professor in Education at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, graduated in 1977 from UWM, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture.

Architecture is a noble profession that reflects problems-solving outcomes, one that also entails designs and blueprints of buildings, furnishings, gardens, pools, and all of the various components. Perhaps it is that understanding of planes, lines, octagons, squares, triangles and hexagons, or, load bearing and efficiency concerns that gives Dumas increased sensitivity and a grasp on so many areas.

His resume speaks of his employment as a corporate engineer at Miller Brewing Company; a facilities engineer at Snap On Tools; an assistant superintendent of Bridges and Buildings with the City of Milwaukee; the director of Public Works for Milwaukee County; director of Career Technical and Trade Education at Milwaukee Public Schools and currently as project coordinator with Diversity and Community Engagement in the development and implementation of the new MPS school closing initiative. His foray into comedy, as a comedian, has helped him become a great motivational speaker.

And, Dumas has been a candidate for elected office, a mentor, counselor, and interim director of OIC-GM, during its transition. He valiantly led the 37-year-old nonprofit job training/W2 agency for four (4) months, with a multimillion-dollar budget, until it closed in February 2005, due to financial mismanagement under the prior leadership.

Dumas believes political will and leadership could have saved OIC, just as they were used for other agencies.

"I don’t know exactly how many people I have helped," said Dumas, "but I know there have been a lot. My goal has been to share with others as so many have given to me." Continuing, he revealed, "It took me years before I could really accept an honor. You know metal will deteriorate, words will obliterate, paper and wood will incinerate, yet, ultimately it’s what people remember in their minds, their actions and their deeds that matter."

He accepts his honors with a humble thank you and a reflection on what earned the acknowledgment. "Awards make me examine what I need to do to continue the support that merited the accolades," he said. "For example, my role as project coordinator in the MPS school closings has been a difficult job, but people know that I am going to be fair, objective and I will represent the interests of the community with dignity and respect.

"My years, in whatever I have done, have always been sensitive to the community. People might not like the outcome in the school closings, but they know my actions will not be contrived or disrespectful. We have a mandate to cut costs, to create efficiency. The administration believes in my professional capacity and the community has faith in my integrity," he shared.

"I love Milwaukee! I moved away for a couple of years when I was at Miller, but I wanted to return. I’ve been able to see Milwaukee from the outside. We have unique issues and we need new people with new ideas, new passions, to view some of our problems without the jaded perspective that pervades. Milwaukee has more going for it than it has going against it," Dumas believes.

The quality of life, in Milwaukee, is appealing to a lot of people who locate here. The geographic setting, along the lake, the major corporations downtown, the parks and facilities are assets for many newcomers. However, too many new residents "feel" the divisions. "We are more divided today than we were years ago," Tyrone exclaims.

"We need a cohesive electorate. People meet in houses, but we don’t seem to be able to forego personalities and see the big picture. We need a manifesto on police violence, parental concerns, educational challenges, crime, and teen pregnancy. We need to put 15 elected officials in a room, with them coming out saying, "these are the things we shall commit ourselves to make happen."

"We need to say, we shall not accept mediocrity in education from the school systems! We need to say, African American businesses employ, therefore, we have to have the tax incentives that encourage new community businesses to employ our own! We need to say, we will not always agree, but we know what we want to happen, so let’s get on the same train. Let us agree that there must be action," advocate Dumas expounds.

"I am a worker and a leader. A title is ‘not entitlement!’ Regrettably, we have too many people who feel that their idea is the only idea! We don’t need another study, when it is our kids who are failing, dying, being jailed, and having babies. We see it, we know it. So the question is, "What are WE going to do about it?"

So, who can lead us, in Tyrone Dumas’ opinion? "I like Michael McGee, Jr. because he leads in his district. He doesn’t just talk about it; he gets into the homes, the youngsters. I believe he is able to use their language and understand what many of the younger voters are saying and feeling. He now has to carry that into legislation that makes a difference for them. Great potential exists in all of our elected officials, and I hope it will be realized by us and for us, soon."

"Howard Fuller has long been an intergenerational leader. A lot of people dialogue with him on a regular basis. You know one-third of the Black population is under the age of 18 years. Another third is between 18 and 35 years; and the last third is above 50 years. That creates a major vacuum as far as leadership is concerned. We now have to begin the training process early, really early," our honoree said.

"Some of our youngsters want the car, now! They are unwilling to wait, to work, to seek the advice of the elders, as I did. We need to seize the moment and communicate love, respect, and intergenerational values. Until they understand how we have done it, they will continue to disrespect us and say, ‘Get out of my way, old man,’ further victimized by their ignorance."

"I have four grandchildren (Chazz, Thai, Collin, Camri and godson Tracy) now," Dumas shares. "They’re 2, 9, 11 and l4. We have two adult children (Maurice and Danielle) both professionals, and my wonderful, loving wife of 34 years, Ceciel, a teacher and leader in her own right. We are all involved in the children’s lives. Our kids, and their peers, must be able to grab the brass ring that leads them into productive lives and community citizenship. We are committed to make that happen. When you have your kids, grandkids and their friends learning in these schools, seeking their paths in this diverse community, you had better know it makes you ‘really committed.’"

Continuing, "our youngsters have to be freed from these false images of success. Success is not about things; it’s about substance. Freedom is about knowing your ancestral history, having pride and building on the achievements of those who built for you. Schools are again segregated but our minds need not be. We have to believe that we can do and will do! No one can take that away. If there are barriers, we have to be united in punching them out, breaking them down. One has to ask, ‘what do I really believe?’"

With such fervor, one wants to know who have been Tyrone Dumas’ role models. He quickly names his Mother, Darlene, who taught him to take risks and never accept no--that all is possible; his late stepfather, Augustus Elerby; late aunt Dolly Mathews; Mother-in-law the late Hagar Harrell; the late Dr. Ernest Speights, who got his financial help at UWM through the EPHE program; and the late Arvella Twine (McNair-Brazil-Scott Family Tree). Each played a special role in his development.

With warmth, he reflected upon his Grandmother, from Fordyce, Arkansas, who taught him how to make his bed, wash, sew, cook, and get to school on time. And, Aunt Dolly, gentle, loving who provided a place where he could hang out. "She would make ice cream. Her’s was the first home that all of the family used as they transplanted from Arkansas," he reminisced. My sister Sharon taught me how to dance and my brother Anthony made me step up my chess game.

Then there were the neighborhood models from Walnut Street, Burleigh, and Keefe Avenue, as he moved, who looked out for him. "I always respected them, he shared. I never had a hard heart. I loved my neighbors." In 1967, he was beat up by the Police but he never permitted the experience to make him bitter. I used it to benefit others. We cannot get locked in our past, to do so blocks our future. And there is always the hope that there will be a brighter future than our pasts. Young people have got to believe that. It really is true! Live, let live and you too will tell the same story," he chides.

Other role models, mentioned include Margaret Thompson who paid his first tuition at MATC, only $64 for eighteen credits in 1970, and O.C. McMurray, "Mac the Knife," who helped his mother feel more secure about him being a teenager. "He mentored me into young manhood," Dumas revealed.

Also helping Dumas in his journey were Harry Oden and the late Jack Gilmore who helped Tyrone see the importance of high school graduation by instilling discipline in what he called his "education walk at West Division High School.

"I want to especially thank the late Elsie Stinson for introducing me to my late father’s family in 1993. This completed my circle of family knowledge, since I had very limited information about his for most of my life."

There was also Dr. Sandy More, who was Dumas’ first and only African American professor in the School of Architecture during his time at UWM. "She said I was ‘talking loud and saying nothing,’" Dumas remembered. "This led me to understand the importance of taking a dream, task or idea to its state of completion."

A deeply spiritual man, involved in his beloved Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Elder Dumas spoke freely of his beliefs and his desire to fulfill his purpose. He uses his gifts to the benefit those whom he reaches, teaches and encourages. "God has always surrounded me with family, friends and people who guided and protected me. Thanks to Dr. Reuben Harpole for the Rights of Passage exposure and training. There was always another Mom, when my Mom was busy running her business. I think of people like, Big El, aka Savanna Jackson, and Mrs. Katie Carroll."

School days’ friends included Rufus Crawford, Chauncey Martinez; Rickey Jackson, Victor Smith, Tommy Webb; Michael Carroll; the late Michael Jones; Michael Artic, and the late Douglas Williams. The ‘Brotherhood’ during college was exemplary: Doug, Floyd, Butch, Frank, Tommie, James, Larry, Eddie, Carl, Andy, Al, Billy, Joyce, Kay, Lorretta and Linda.

Also instrumental was the late Gertrude Easterling, aka, Aunt Red, who got him back into the church. "And the church community has been with me, my family and my colleagues as we have needed spiritual support," Tyrone expounds. "Johnnie and Debra Fields are lifelong friends for me and my wife. We shared child rearing, vacations together and joined in loads of tours and travels. These friendships endure!"

Dumas also thanked former City Commissioner of Public Works John Bolden and former Milwaukee County Executive F. Thomas Ament for giving him the opportunity to be a leader in the public works arena.

Our role model truly models in all areas of his life! He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, but they pall when compared to his passion. He is community! He uses every skill learned from family, teachers, neighbors, friends, colleagues and peers to grow, and he shares his growth, freely, with those around him. Like his professional training that examines every line, plane, verticals and horizontals, Tyrone Dumas designs a new community. One based upon experience, love, respect and vision.

You, Tyrone Dumas, have mentored to many and you continue to mentor through example. You are Milwaukee and Milwaukee is You! We hope that some young reader will see himself in you and begin their journey to community citizenship.

You are the Best of the Best. We applaud your generosity and build upon your tenets of achievement "For the Sake of Aaron: Celebrating Our Men!" The Best is yet to come from our Bests.

"We cannot change today, but we can design tomorrow!" Thank you, Tyrone Dumas, the "Best of the Bests."