Meet the Milwaukee staff

Paola Gonzalez (she/her) serves as the impact manager at Alexander Mitchell Integrated Arts School where she oversees the professional development of a team of AmeriCorps members and works with school leaders to continue to forge a strong partnership that benefits students. Prior to this role, Paola served as a first year AmeriCorps member for City Year Boston before going on to serve a second year as a member of City Year New York’s Civic Engagement Team. In New York, Paola was able to use her creativity and love for art to design mural projects and organize volunteer events with the goal of beautifying the schools in the community. She is a University of Wisconsin-Madison Alum with a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies and art history with a certificate in gender and women’s studies. Her experience working with a pre-college enrichment program while getting her degree inspired her to pursue her passion for education and equity-based work. Paola is a proud child of immigrants who instilled in her the value of education and helping others—values that have led her to seek opportunities to uplift and empower young people, including those who come into City Year!

Anthony serves as the impact manager for Bayview High School. Prior to working with City Year, he worked as a freelance media specialist and community organizer through his business YMD Media and Consultations. He is an alum of American University in Washington, D.C., where he studied public relations and strategic communications with a minor in audio technology and production. In addition to his work at City Year, he enjoys creating music, photography work and connecting creative entrepreneurs to resources to expand their reach.

Yaphet Morales serves as the Chief of Staff. Prior to this role, he was the service and learning director and before that he served as the impact manager on the Julia A. Uihlein Team at Alexander Mitchell Integrated Arts School. Before joining City Year Milwaukee's staff, he was a bilingual special education teacher in Milwaukee Public Schools and served six years in the U.S. Coast Guard. He is an alum of the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin with a bachelor's degree in sociology.

Ysel Nicholson proudly serves as our Community Partnerships Manager. In this role, Ysel creates and maintains partnerships with all 25 College and Career Centers in our Milwaukee Public Schools, community colleges such as, MATC, Wisconsin Lutheran, Carroll University, and Concordia, and multiple community-based organizations to generate a strong pipeline of prospective City Year AmeriCorps members to serve at our site. Prior to joining City Year, Ysel graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and served as a Public Ally with Public Allies Wisconsin.

Elia Peredo (she/her) proudly serves as the impact manager for Dr. George W. Carver Academy of Mathematics and Science. Elia is passionate about creating access and equal opportunities within the education system of Milwaukee. Prior to joining City Year, Elia taught elementary school in the South Side of Milwaukee for 5 years. Elia is a Teach For America Milwaukee Alum ('21) and holds a Master of Arts in early childhood education with a certification in urban education from Alverno College. Elia also attained a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience and psychology from Loras College. In her free time, Elia enjoys spending time with her two dogs, reading and writing poetry, trying new coffee shops, playing video games, and trying new foods.

Laura G. Perez (she/her/ella) serves as the senior community partnerships director, leading the Service Team and ensuring alignment in the AmeriCorps member experience from recruitment to training and into their post-service plans. Prior to returning to City Year Milwaukee, she was a sixth and seventh grade math teacher at Milwaukee College Prep. Laura also brings experience in the areas of talent development, local recruitment and campaign management for school board races. She is a proud mamá, partner, City Year Milwaukee alumna and Milwaukee local.

Mendoza Perez is the impact manager on the Rockwell Automation Team at Rogers Street Academy. They have a strong background in youth development, education and community engagement. They're a proud graduate of both City Year Baton Rouge '14 and City Year Milwaukee '18. Mendoza is humbled to get to do this work in the city they love.

Mina is the Senior Communications Manager. She is from Elmira, New York, and graduated from SUNY Geneseo, where she studied psychology and dance. She served as an AmeriCorps member ('19) and Team Leader ('20) at Roosevelt Middle School of the Arts.

Rivera proudly serves as the Senior Manager of External Affairs, driving impactful service initiatives for Milwaukee students. In this capacity, they empower both the Development Department and the Executive Director to foster vital relationships essential for the progression and expansion of City Year Milwaukee's mission. Prior to this role, Rivera served as a Regional Recruiter and Communication & Development Operations Manager at City Year.

Their journey with City Year began as an AmeriCorps Member at Rogers Street Academy ‘20 and later as a Civic Engagement Team Leader ‘21 in Milwaukee. Rivera's dedication to educational equity and immigration rights remains unwavering. Through their advocacy efforts, they strive to champion equality and justice for all communities.

Angela Steffens serves as the impact manager at Clarke Street School. She served as a City Year AmeriCorps member ('20) at Vincent High School and a Team Leader ('21) at South Division High School. Prior to City Year, Angela received a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and minors in Spanish and ethnic and racial studies at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Kayla Stephan is the impact director, supporting K-8 schools and their leaders. Kayla started her journey with City Year Milwaukee in 2014 as an AmeriCorps member and continued to serve as a Team Leader and impact manager at Alexander Mitchell Integrated Arts School. She has a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Minnesota and loves all things Packers!

Dia Vang serves as the impact manager on the Chavez Cardinal team at South Division High School. She served as an AmeriCorps member ('19) at Roosevelt Middle School of the Arts and as a Team Leader ('20) at James Madison High School. From the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Dia earned a Bachelor of Science in human services and minor in African American studies. During her free time, she enjoys trying new recipes, crafting and hanging out with her nieces and nephews.

Rose Wegner, a Milwaukee native, proudly serves as the Senior Operations Manager, overseeing both site and development operations programming. After graduating from Milwaukee High School of the Arts with a focus in Creative Writing, she completed two years of service with City Year Milwaukee as an AmeriCorps member ('17) at Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education and a Team Leader ('18) at Clarke Street School. She has obtained a certificate in Excellence in Leadership and Change Management, a Technical Diploma in Organizational Leadership, as well as an Associates of Applied Science in Leadership Development at Waukesha County Technical College.

Commodore serves as the data analytics manager after completing two years of service with City Year Milwaukee as an AmeriCorps member ('20) and Team Leader ('21). Originally from Plum, Pennsylvania, he received a Bachelor of Arts in African studies and a Bachelor of Science in international development with minors in French and city and regional planning from The Ohio State University. He intended to join the Peace Corps upon graduating from college, but his path instead led to domestic service. Working in analytics, he hopes to build transparency around data and deepen teams' impact with students by developing systems to promote data analysis and fluency within the organization.