Community Advocates is fortunate to have Natasha Dotson on our Board of Directors, now serving as Vice President. Natasha’s focus as Vice President is to raise the visibility of the work and programs offered by Community Advocates. Natasha is dedicated to attracting more people who want to help the mission that Community Advocates is founded on: providing people with advocacy and services to meet their basic needs so they may live in dignity.
“If I won the lottery, I’d still be doing this work,” Natasha says in reference to everything she does to help the community not just survive, but thrive.
Building Bridges for Fathers and Families
Natasha has been with Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative for 17 years. “That is my baby,” she says. Beginning as a volunteer, she now holds the title and responsibilities of Project Director. She’s been instrumental in the success of Real Men, Real Talk, a support group and forum for men to feel seen, heard, respected, and supported. Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative and Real Men, Real Talk feel more like a passion projects than a job to Natasha. She wants to be part of change and improvement in the community that she loves and lives in.
Much of her motivation comes from seeing her family not receive appropriate and adequate care and services. Natasha is the epitome of someone who sees an issue in the world and decides to do something about it. Recently, she opened up Cesame Street, a child development center for kids ages 4 weeks to 14 years old. She noted how important it was the center be structured with evidence-based curriculum and that she takes pride in offering parents time-off while their child is in the care of professional staff.
A Champion for Change
Natasha is always thinking about the person next to her and how she can contribute to a happier and safer existence for them. It’s no wonder that Community Advocates had an easy decision to make when asking her to be Vice President on our Board of Directors. The mantra that Natasha has always lived by and has instilled in her daughters is “Nobody can tell me the sky’s the limit – there’s people walking on the moon.” Natasha truly believes that through fierce dedication and passion, anything is possible.
