My work in education began in 2006 when I started teaching spoken word poetry in an after-school club at East High School (my alma mater), a program which I then helped develop into an accredited academic class in partnership with UW–Madison’s First Wave Program. I facilitated the Spoken Word course for four years before partnering with Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) to create and host spoken word clubs at five Madison public high schools. 

I currently work at Women’s Medical Fund Wisconsin as the first Executive Director. Prior to that I was Co-Executive Director at GSAFE. At GSAFE I developed the curriculum for and facilitated Foundations of Leadership, a course based in the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth of color that recruits high school students from the entire Madison public school district to develop their capacities as leaders and earn Advanced Learning credit. In the spring of 2015, I launched GSAFE’s New Narrative Project in the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center, a program that provides incarcerated young people with clear channels to academic success, civic engagement, and self-determination. 

Madison has the tools to ensure that our children have access to the most relevant technologies. We have the drive to empower students to resolve conflict, seek solutions, and value each other. We have the ability to invest in our community by growing competitive public schools that nurture a new generation of innovative Madison leaders. 

We have the resources to help our children to imagine the future of Madison from inside their classrooms. 

I grew up in a multiracial family in Madison where identity was discussed at the dinner table and difference was celebrated. I am passionate about consent, freedom, learning, and human rights. I am committed to bringing innovation and love to all that I do. I know that we are not a district to be defined by our past; we are a community of learners willing to embrace the work needed to ensure that every student in Madison succeeds. We will address racial disparities relentlessly until our schools are places where students of color are recognized, valued, and provided with meaningful opportunities for success and inclusion. We need to seize the opportunity to cultivate our students’ creativity and intelligence, and support the educators in our community.

Our school board serves not only the students, but our entire community—our methods and strategies should strive to shine light on the part of every one of us that yearns to learn, that explores new ways of solving problems, and seeks out the good in all of us. In my leadership, I will empower all of us—students, teachers, families, and community members—to innovate Madison schools and give all students the chance to love learning. 

— Ali

Executive Director Women’s Medical Fund Wisconsin

Founder | The New Narrative Project, Dane County Jail

Member | Board of Directors, Fair Wisconsin Education Fund

Recipient | 2018 City-County MLK Humanitarian Award; 2017 Carola Gaines Collaborator of the Year Award at the Black Women's Leadership Conference; 2017 LGBTQ Advocate of the Year Award at OutReach’s 25th Annual Awards Banquet

Lifelong Madisonian

Graduate of MMSD

Parent of three children

Partner to an MMSD dual-language immersion teacher