Cecelia Gore

by Patricia O’Flynn Pattillo

The power of people as change agents is often under rated and definitely understated.  People empowered are capable of changing their communities and yes, their nation.

This can surely be said about and demonstrated by, our treasure, our jewel, this week, Cecelia I. Gore.  For in her position as Program Director for the Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation, Cecelia promotes the vision of one of Milwaukee’s most outstanding women and enshrines her legacy as a generous community leader and philanthropist.

Cecelia Gore, a Milwaukee native, knows Milwaukee!  She knows the hopes of the late Jane Bradley Pettit, and with knowledge, networks and passion, she melds change for the betterment of Milwaukee, in big measures.

Through small grants and large grants, she ensures that an added collective value is available for agencies that make a difference in Milwaukee.

The Foundation focuses on arts and culture, health, education, community and social development. Target populations include: low income and disadvantaged individuals, youth, elderly, women and girls.

The Foundation dollars are only given to projects with long-range value and life-changing impact. Cecelia’s goal is enliven Mrs. Pettit’s giving, now seven years after her death, so that the money, which was made in Milwaukee, stays in Greater Milwaukee.

Further, the Jane Bradley Pettit grants are of high quality and often leverage partnerships with organizations that have creative, talented, influential people involved. “The Board works to assure that the Foundation is highly solvent and a continual philanthropic force in the City of Milwaukee,” Gore shares.

Cecelia comes from a strong Milwaukee family; the surname has always represented strength and a deep commitment to the city. Her Mother, Dorothy Gore served as director of School Social Work for Milwaukee Public Schools before retiring. Her Father, William Gore worked for Milwaukee County over a thirty-year period. In his role as director of Psychiatric Social Work for the Mental Health complex and chairman of Milwaukee’s Fire and Police Commission over a fourteen-year period, community involvement was clearly a family characteristic.

Cecelia is a gradate of Messmer High School and matriculated and graduated with honors from Alverno College, known for its development of community thought leaders. She worked for 23 years at Wisconsin Gas Company and decided in 2001 to move on to the Foundation.

After many years of interacting with various nonprofit organizations, she was referred to the new position at the Jane Pettit Bradley Foundation and began in the role of Program Officer. She talked of the importance of establishing strong networks for career development. Her association with countless men and women throughout Milwaukee kept her attuned to openings that could be supported throughout the community. Her colleagues and peers have been helpful with value added information, recommendations and referrals that support her efforts. “I always had a high regard for Mrs. Pettit, she said. My joy has come from continuing to identify opportunities to maintain and promote her legacy. Fortunately the Foundation has broad areas of interest that are critical to our community.”

“My experiences in Milwaukee provide a unique ability to see the big picture. Lots of things are going on, yet I see gaps, which the Foundation can address. We look for ways to connect people who are known change agents. Leveraging our resources, creating partnerships, seeking best practices and working together to build and foster change becomes the goal.”

An example of one of the Foundation’s effective partnerships is the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation Life Impact Scholarship Program that began in 2005. Designed to break the cycle of poverty, the scholarships help student parents successfully access higher education. Selected participants are currently enrolled at the university and have demonstrated a desire to have a positive outcome for themselves, their family and the community.

“We have a unique model, Gore continues, “the dollars go to scholarships and program life coaches who help the student parents succeed in the higher education arena. This facilitates earlier graduations. We try to remove barriers. The sooner the student finishes school, the sooner they are able to provide financially for their children. Along with financial support, the program promotes other value systems like studying, obtaining good grades, evolving expectations, and most important enhancing the children’s personal aspirations. We hope to have 200 individual scholarships over the course of the grant.”

The Life Impact Scholarship program views the whole person knowing that many challenges can detract from a student’s success. The initiative also provides limited funds for emergencies that may occur that could potentially stop a student from moving forward with their academic efforts. The emergency fund has made a big difference for those that have needed the assistance.

Cecelia is a proponent of expanding education, even for herself. She is on track to graduate with her Masters in Business Administration in December 2008. She is in the inaugural program begun at her alma mater, Alverno College. The newly created program has been designed to offer innovative strategies for growth oriented, high potential, men and women to integrate knowledge and abilities needed to lead, create and compete in today’s global marketplace. To date, over 100 women and a few men have participated since its 2006 inception.

Lauding Milwaukee and the strength that the community has to offer, Cecelia shared “Milwaukee is too often under rated. We have a very strong network of women and men who support one another. I have been fortunate to benefit from relationships that offer significant support, a high level of trust and a sincere happiness for one another. My network offers a wonderful mix of love and respect; we often model ourselves after each other.

“I am aware of many people who left Milwaukee and made the decision to return. They recognize the city does have a lot to offer. I often tell those who are inquiring about leaving, go elsewhere, learn all that they can and bring it back! We need people who have experienced the world, and can bring that which is good back! There are great leadership opportunities in Milwaukee. We have countless examples of people who are stretching out and making a difference. That has to be our story”!

So to our young women, those following the Our Women, Our Treasure, Our Jewels” series, Cecelia Gore relates, “Expose yourself to as many positive experiences as possible. Go to the museum, the library, the theatre. Seek out individuals that support your efforts to be exposed, parents, teachers, girlfriends, a person from the church; connect with those that are active and engaged.

“The most important thing we can do is learn all we can, take chances and push ourselves to grow. We definitely benefit from exposure. Recognize the importance of good healthy friendships and relationships. Create a strong network for future job opportunities, travel, friendships and ultimately someone with a good ear for listening as you begin/continue to develop interests and need someone who has had experience to bounce off your ideas.”

As we prepared to close our interview, she reminded, “Always have high expectations for yourself. Imagine what you would like to do, or who you would like to be. Associate with the people who look, act, and are working to become who you most want to be like.

Choose good role models. I had the pleasure of reporting to Thelma Sias when I worked at Wisconsin Gas. She provided an excellent example of how to roll up your sleeves and get the job done. We both agreed that you could learn something from everyone and that all people deserved to be respected and dealt with in a dignified fashion.”

And getting the job done not only includes her Foundation job but a variety of community-based organizations, as well. “I am on the Board of North Milwaukee State Bank, the city’s oldest Black-owned bank. It is exciting to work with people that in some cases I have known all of my life. We recently hired a new president who comes with an impeccable record. The organization plans to continue growing and providing increased quality customer service. Collectively we want to add value to the city and advance the desires of our customers.

In addition, other board commitments include: Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library, City of Milwaukee Housing Trust Fund, Donors Forum of Wisconsin, Downtown Rotary and Local Initiative Support Corporation-Credit Committee.”

“I also have the distinct pleasure of being one of the founding members of the African American Women’s Fund Project. This initiative has taken on the goal of growing an endowment that will eventually provide funding for organizations that serve young African American girls and their families. Members hope to ultimately raise $ 1 million dollars to support their effort.”