Community Action Agency names new director

The Board of Directors of the Racine/Kenosha Community Action Agency (R/K CAA) announces the appointment of Sharon F. Schulz as its Chief Executive Officer of the agency. She will begin work for the anti-poverty  agency on July 6, 2009.  Schulz was appointed by a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors at its most recent meeting on May 28.

Marcello Covelli, Board Chair of the Racine/Kenosha Community Action Agency said “On behalf of the Racine/Kenosha Community Action Agency partnership of the Board of Directors, we welcome Sharon Schulz as our new Chief Executive Officer.  Her expertise will be essential as we move forward with our rooting out poverty campaign and developing solutions to ensure that all Americans achieve economic security on a local level.  We are delighted to have such a talented and dynamic individual to help implement our campaign to reduce poverty.”

Schulz said "I am very pleased to have the opportunity to work with this fine staff and Board.  It is with a high level of enthusiasm and humility that I take on the challenges of working to reduce issues of poverty in the Racine and Kenosha communities.  I am looking forward to meeting and working with the community and agency leaders, residents and government officials who share the vision of helping the children and families of Racine and Kenosha to be better off than they are today."

She has a distinguished career in public service in Wisconsin.  She is currently the Interim Executive Director of the New Hope Project in Milwaukee and from 1993 to 1997 served as its initial Executive Director.  Prior to Ms. Schulz current Interim position she served as the Executive Director of the Next Door Foundation in Milwaukee.  Earlier in her career, she served as Executive Vice-President of the Private Industry Council of Milwaukee County as well as Administrator of the Youth Services Division of the Milwaukee County Department of Human Services.

Schulz is recognized in Wisconsin and nationally as an expert in addressing issues of poverty as they relate to all ages including pre-natal, early childhood, youth, and adults.  She recently was a member of the keynote panel at the Governor’s Poverty Summit held in Milwaukee on May 4 and 5.  The overall Summit was titled “Building Bridges to Family Economic Success.”  The panel Ms. Schulz participated in was titled, “Picture of Family Economic Stability – Federal, State, and Family Perspectives.”

She has a B.S. degree in Early Childhood Education and completed the Fellowship program in Family Strengthening for Success from the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University.  She has served with distinction as a Board Member of many community organizations in the Milwaukee area over the last 20 years.  Currently she serves as Co-Chair of the Children’s Health Improvement Board in Milwaukee.  She is past Board President of the United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee.