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Growing up at 12th and Locust, Bridget Whitaker had a front-row seat to many of Milwaukee’s most pressing problems – and to the power of community. In fifth grade, after her family’s home was destroyed in a house fire, neighbor after neighbor showed up to offer condolences and support. “I had this idea that we were all in it together,” she says.
Whitaker has dedicated her career to bringing together Milwaukeeans. As the first Black woman to be executive director of the nonprofit Safe & Sound, she spearheads efforts to build safer neighborhoods in Milwaukee and Racine by uniting residents, young people, police and community partners to foster trust and connection. Through door-to-door outreach, youth programs and neighborhood organizing, Safe & Sound works to strengthen community bonds that help every resident feel safe.
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Whitaker’s love for community is only one part of her drive to better Cream City. After giving birth in eighth grade, she was determined to create the best possible life for her son – and kids like him. She graduated high school with honors and became the first in her family to earn a college degree, from Marquette.
Since she began leading Safe & Sound in 2023, the organization has expanded its reach. Whitaker has led trauma-informed community prevention and intervention efforts, launched youth-led advocacy campaigns and built collaborative networks with schools, community centers and neighborhood associations.
The same year, Whitaker lost her 30-year-old son to Crohn’s disease – a tragedy she says renewed her compassion for people who have lost loved ones. Safe & Sound has added programming that supports grieving individuals and mental health.
“I know I’m successful,” Whitaker says, “when I get more residents in a room saying, ‘I feel safe where I live, because there are enough people around me who care.’”
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