Third Annual M.O.M.S. - Mothers of Milwaukee Symposium

Keynote Speaker
Dr. Shauntay Nelson

Dr. Shauntay R. Nelson is a nationally recognized leadership strategist, author, and executive with over 20 years of experience advancing advocacy, organizational development, and systems change. She equips leaders, coalitions, and mission-driven organizations nationwide with transformative strategy and leadership development. A Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, she is the author of Divinely Edited and Kitchen Chronicles, blending faith, wellness, and leadership. Dr. Nelson is known for empowering leaders to move from performance to purpose—aligning influence with impact and conviction with clarity.

Empty Nesters Workshop
Ava Morris

Ava Morris is a retired MPS educator and school principal. She owns Allure by Ava Boutique, a women’s apparel and accessories boutique, and she serves as a site supervisor for student teachers at Alverno College. She has been married to Victor Morris, Sr. for 35 years and is a mother to three adult children: Joshua, Moriah, and Jonathan. She is a grandmother of one, Noelle Morris. 

Mothers in Transition Workshop
Donna (Dee) Page

Donna Page is a real estate investor and developer, lifestyle and business strategist, and speaker with Chic Lifestyles. Through practical strategy and experience, she guides clients toward financial growth and personal fulfillment and is committed to helping others design intentional, elevated lives built on purpose, peace, and legacy.

Working to Create Work Life Balance Workshop
Chantell Sain

Chantell Sain is a certified life coach, minister, entrepreneur, and founder of She Builds Her Dreams, a coaching community for women seeking purpose and harmony in their personal and professional lives. As CEO of InSain Impact, she equips leaders with structure and strategy to build meaningful impact. Chantell is passionate about helping women create sustainable work-life harmony rooted in clarity, identity, and intentional living.

Navigating Relationships and Dating Workshop
Carmen McKinney

Carmen McKinney is an educator, speaker, and faith-driven leader dedicated to empowering women to walk in wholeness, whether married or unmarried. An educator in the classroom by day and Director of Education at World Outreach & Bible Training Center, she serves in discipleship and spiritual formation, guiding others in growth and transformation. As a woman who has experienced both married and unmarried seasons, Carmen brings wisdom shaped by life, faith, and personal journey. Her message inspires women to live with intention, walk in self-worth, and embrace every season with strength and grace.

The Journey of Child Illness or Mental Health Challenges Workshop
Alicia Smith

Alicia Smith is the Vice President of Development Operations, where she leads strategic initiatives that strengthen performance, deepen donor engagement, and support organizational excellence. A collaborative and values-driven leader, Alicia is known for creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to move meaningful work forward. Beyond her professional expertise, Alicia brings a deeply personal perspective to the M.O.M.s Symposium. She is the mother of a daughter living with sickle cell disease, a journey that has shaped her understanding of resilience, advocacy, and the complex balance of parenting a child with a chronic illness while building a career and caring for a family. Alicia speaks openly about navigating medical uncertainty, the emotional and logistical realities of caregiving, and the importance of community, compassion, and self-grace.

Overcoming Trauma Panel
Shantell Riley

Shantell Riley Consulting is a Black woman-owned consultancy rooted in the values of dignity, care, and equity. We specialize in grief-informed care, trauma-responsive systems, and culturally grounded healing practices. With decades of experience in community health, maternal wellness, grief counseling, and workplace wellbeing, our consulting services meet the unique needs of those navigating both personal and professional trauma.

Overcoming Trauma Panel
Dr. Kamesha Taylor

Dr. Kamesha Taylor is a faith-led entrepreneur, visionary leader, and community builder passionate about empowering women to walk boldly in their purpose. As the founder of Blessed by Design Enterprises, she seamlessly blends faith, fashion, leadership, and service to create impact-driven spaces that inspire, equip, and elevate women. Through mentorship, business development, and her transformative 7 Pillars framework, Kamesha creates safe spaces for growth, healing, and elevation—building legacy through collaboration over competition, sisterhood, and purpose-driven action.

Overcoming Trauma Panel
Cheri Lang

Cheri Lang is the visionary founder of Cheri Denise Events and The Etiquette Project. With a refined eye for detail and a deep understanding of brand storytelling, she transforms moments into immersive, unforgettable experiences defined by elegance, precision, and intention. Her passion for mentorship and personal development inspired the creation of The Etiquette Project, where she cultivates intentional spaces designed to strengthen confidence, elevate voices, and refine character. Cheri holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration and Leadership, bringing both strategic insight and purposeful vision to every endeavor.

Overcoming Trauma Panel
Laverne Badger

Co‑Founder of Exposed Inc. and creator of the No More Mean Girls Leadership Program, a youth initiative program that teaches teen girls and boys how to recognize healthy and unhealthy relationships. A dedicated advocate for empowerment, education, and emotional safety. With 22 years of distinguished service at the USDA Forest Service — including her management role as Regional Budget Analyst and most recently with the Regional Work Environment & Performance Office (WEPO) — she brings deep expertise in leadership, organizational culture, and strategic workplace transformation. She is also a proud thriver of domestic abuse, where she uses her lived experience to inspire resilience, healing, and change in communities, youth, and workplace environments. 

Overcoming Trauma Panel
Danielle Ramey

Danielle Ramey is an entrepreneur, creative visionary and community nurturer with a lifelong passion for uplifting and helping others. With a background in digital arts, creative design, independent fashion stylist, childcare and natural hair, Danielle has spent nearly 20+ years providing service and care for others. Today, Danielle is the owner of Purely Rooted Hair Studio, specializing in natural haircare and healthy natural haircare, and body products. She is launching an all-natural hair and skincare line rooted in holistic beauty and wellness. Danielle is a devoted wife, mother of eight, and a proud grandmother of five. Danielle's life was profoundly changed by the loss of her only son, Avery, in 2020. Through faith and healing, she has embraced a renewed purpose to nurture faith to help with the healing of minds, bodies, and souls while leaving a legacy of love, strength, and hope for all she comes in touch with.