Team
Learn more about the talented folks behind Urban Triage, Inc.
Urban Triage is hiring!
Learn more about our open positions here.
Urban Triage's Squad
Brandi Grayson
Founder, CEO
Brandi Grayson is the proud mother of 3 daughters, 28, 27, 22, and a 5-year-old son. She’s worn many hats over the last 20 years. From a treatment foster parent to an adoptive parent. To a community organizer, a comedian, and a radio talk show host to an assistant social worker. A list of her roles includes a Director of Programming, a Program Manager, a Business Manager, a Program Analyst, and a Realtor. And it doesn't stop there. She served as a Claims Adjuster, Field Inspector, and Field Manager for a construction company. Currently, she is the Founder, CEO, and President of Urban Triage, Inc, and Grayson Consulting, LLC.
Many know her work with the Young Gifted and Black Coalition (YGB), which she co-founded in 2014 in response to the murder of Mike Brown, and most recently, her leadership as CEO of Urban Triage following the murder of George Floyd. Ms. Grayson embodies what she stands for: supporting healthy Black families, transformative justice & education, integrity, breakthroughs, and Black liberation, bringing decades of experience working with Black families and children and program development and implementation while simultaneously experiencing the intersectionality of Black vulnerability. Leading her to found and ground her work in creating a better world and understanding that a better world starts with self: self-awareness, accountability, integrity, self-discovery, and the will to heal.
She takes pride in empowering, inspiring breakthroughs and transformation in Black people and Black communities. Her work reflects the attributes of Blackness that are rarely centered---Black excellence through healing, Black resilience, Black creativity, Black compassion, Black economic development, and most importantly, Black love.
Zandra Hagberg
Director of Marketing and Compliance
Zandra Hagberg is a results-driven marketing professional in the non-profit industry, currently serving as Director of Marketing and Compliance at Urban Triage, Inc. Zandra has more than five years in developing, managing, and leading demand creation, branding, and thought leadership strategies. She has a passion for building remarkable teams and campaigns and developing and motivating others.
Zandra is responsible for the marketing, communication, compliance, and business development efforts of the organization. In addition to strategic business development efforts, she directs media relations, branding, advertising, social media, and website development. She manages and oversees sponsorships, events, charitable contributions, and more.
Prior to coming on board with Urban Triage, Inc., Zandra served as Chief Operating Officer with Focused Interruption Coalition. She also operates her own consulting practice, JMC Business Solutions, providing logo and brand development for small business startups. Prior to joining the non-profit world, Zandra spent 15 years in the public sector, both in State government and the UW, and nearly 10 years in the private sector as a Real Estate Transactions Specialist and Community Development Consultant.
When Zandra isn’t working, she is enjoying her four grandchildren and six children. She is also a Certified Peer Support Specialist and volunteers her time providing court advocacy support, violence prevention efforts, and combating mass incarceration.
Antavia Grayson
Office Manager
Antavia Grayson was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, and is the daughter of Urban Triages’ CEO Brandi Grayson. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and studied Business Marketing. Antavia's role as Office Manager and Human Resources for Urban Triage has taught her a lot about the importance of community and the impact this organization has brought to the greater Madison area.
In her free time, Antavia loves relaxing, taking walks, and spending time with her daughter Nahla. She is very interested in home decor and has an eye for aesthetics. Antavia’s empathetic spirit makes it easy for her to build relationships and connect with people as she has been doing for the duration of working at Urban Triage!
Sharmecia Brown
Operations Manager
Sharmecia Brown has lived in Madison for 30 years now and has worn many different hats throughout her life. Mother, step-mother, grandmother, and last but not least, caretaker. She has two sons, two daughters, a step-son, a grandson, a granddaughter, and twin 1-year-old girls, who are extended family members.
Some nights and weekends she manages the home of her client, who is disabled, and ensures that she is receiving proper staffing and care in her home, to maintain, her healthiest and best life in the safety of her own home. She wears each hat proudly and unapologetically; putting her all into every role sympathetically and wholeheartedly.
All of her experiences have led her to where she is today, Operations Manager. She has discovered her calling at Urban Triage and is thrilled about this new rewarding, gratifying position to say the least. She is excited to get the ball rolling and go in swinging!
Ruthanna Hutton-Okpalaeke
Agriculture Program Manager
Ruthanna graduated from the University of Wisconsin River Falls with a BA in Bio-Medical Science in 2017. After completing her undergraduate work, she joined the Peace Corps where she worked as an Agriculture extension agent for more than 2 years. Ruthanna has worked in various laboratory and Animal Care settings since her graduation. As Agriculture Program Manager, Ruthanna handles all aspects of the agricultural programming at Urban Triage.
Cooper Talbot
Bilingual Agriculture Lead
Cooper hails from New Jersey and has been an eminent part of the Madison community for 10 years as Madison's Favorite Local Radio Personality. Her heart is based on community service and result-oriented motivation. She joined Urban Triage in 2022 as a Bilingual Rental support and Outreach Specialist. She now joins the Agriculture Team as a Lead and is ready to GROW.
Deneria Morris
Administrative & Program Support
Deneria provides support in the Administrative building and works alongside the CEO and her executive assistant. She also leads Monday tutoring sessions at Thoreau Elementary and 1st Saturday events each month for the kids and parents that Urban Triage tutors.
Deneria graduated from Madison Memorial High School and UW-Milwaukee. She has 1 biological son, 1 step-son, 2 step-daughters, and 3 step-granddaughters. She also has 2 dogs whom she loves dearly, Isis and Free. In her spare time, Deneria enjoys cooking, baking, shopping, traveling with her significant othe,r and spending time with her family and friends.
Deneria loves how Urban Triage helps the most overlooked people. She also loves how every day is a great feeling at work as soon as she walks through the door. She's super excited about where Urban Triage is headed and that she is able to be a part of the development and growth of the organization.
Destiny Persinger
Program Lead
Destiny Persinger is a creative, artistic soul who has never met someone she didn't love. She has lived in Madison Wisconsin for 24 years now. New to the non-profit industry, she is eager to be a part of this selfless organization. She recently was working for UW Health as a Medical Assistant and was ready to be in the community first-hand, as she has a passion for putting herself on the frontlines every chance she can to make a difference.
As the Administrative Support Specialist for Urban Triage, she is responsible for the administrative piece of our organization and supports all staff members. She also focuses on managing the final review process and processing checks for our Rental Support team.
When she is not changing the world as a rent abatement for Urban Triage, she is a reader of Black literature, a lover of Black people, and an influencer of makeup who always is learning new techniques! She also enjoys reading books, traveling to new places, and trying new foods. She doesn't have any children, but she has a niece and a nephew that she treats as her own. She enjoys spoiling them, and then sending them back home to their mom!
Frederick Foster
Homeless Outreach Specialist
Fred is a South Carolina native who moved to Wisconsin in 2021. He enjoys being out in nature and doing activities like kayaking, fishing, hiking, and camping. He also has a love for arts and crafts and spends some of his free time painting, sketching, and candle-making. If he is not doing crafts or outdoors, he is relaxing with his cat and dog, Simon and RJ. Fred came to Urban Triage with a passion for helping his community and people in need. He joined us as a Phone Specialist in rental support and is now a Homeless Outreach Specialist with our Unhoused Neighbors Initiative. Prior to joining Urban Triage, Fred worked in healthcare as a Medication Aide, Caregiver, and CNA. He is very outgoing and loves to make the people around him laugh. He also prides himself on his willingness to learn and grow as a teammate and individual.
Jennifer Pryor
Outreach Program Lead
Jennifer is an outgoing, bubbly, and dedicated member of Urban Triage! She leads the Outreach Program, providing support for those seeking food, shelter, and/or information. Jennifer has been part of the Madison community for 20+ years and enjoys being able to help those most vulnerable. Prior to joining the Urban Triage family, she worked for a nonprofit organization as a job coach and helped those with special needs find a work placement in the community. When she is not working, she is at home being a mother to her daughter, Jaeana, and their pup named Leo. Jennifer is looking forward to continually aiding our community!
Katrina Kane
Quality Assurance Specialist
Katrina has been with Urban Triage since September of 2021. She started off as Rental Support and switched positions to Quality Assurance where she coaches other staff on how to be great. She has 3 kids, 2 boys and 1 girl. Before Urban Triage, Katrina was in the childcare field for about 5 years then started working at Madison Metropolitan as a Special Education Assistant. In her free time Katrina loves hanging out with her kids, going shopping, watching movies and going out to eat. One thing she loves about Urban Triage is all the work they do to help the community.
Kimi Waller
Housing Coordinator
Kimi is the Housing Coordinator at Urban Triage and has been with the organization since October of 2021. Kimi started her career with Urban Triage as a Rental Support Specialist and was promoted in January of 2023 to Housing Coordinator. She is a mother of 2, her daughter Ja'Tavia and son Daki. Before joining Urban Triage, Kimi was a CNA at a skilled nursing facility for 4 years. Her co-workers describe her as a patient and kind person, and Kimi believes these attributes will be valuable with where Urban Triage is headed.
Mone'y McClarn
Rental Support Customer Service
Mone’y is a Customer Service Specialist where she helps assist tenants and landlords with rental support applications as well as inbound and outbound phone representatives. What she enjoys the most about Urban Triage is the incredible support it provides for the community and tenants. As well as the space the UT family creates for each other. Before Urban Triage, she worked as an insurance agent at Auxiant.
Mone’y graduated from LaFollette High School in 2014. She is the mother of a 3-year-old son and enjoys spending time with him as well as traveling, listening to music, and taking walks near the downtown area.
Tiara Smith
Program Lead
Tiara oversees the Rental Support Specialists to make sure the program runs smoothly. She started at Urban Triage in March of 2022. She graduated in 2016 from Deforest High School and moved to Madison from La Crosse in 2013. Prior to joining Urban Triage, she worked at Animal Cracker Inc. for two years and absolutely loves children. Tiara is completely selfless, so she takes great satisfaction in making others happy. When she is not working, she is taking care of her daughter and has a part-time job, so she doesn't have a lot of free time. She is, however, a big fan of traveling when she can.
Board of Directors
Brandi Grayson
President
Brandi Grayson is the proud mother of 3 daughters, 28, 27, 22, and a 5-year-old son. She’s worn many hats over the last 20 years. From a treatment foster parent to an adoptive parent. To a community organizer, a comedian, and a radio talk show host to an assistant social worker. A list of her roles includes a Director of Programming, a Program Manager, a Business Manager, a Program Analyst, and a Realtor. And it doesn't stop there. She served as a Claims Adjuster, Field Inspector, and Field Manager for a construction company. Currently, she is the Founder, CEO, and President of Urban Triage, Inc, and Grayson Consulting, LLC.
Many know her work with the Young Gifted and Black Coalition (YGB), which she co-founded in 2014 in response to the murder of Mike Brown, and most recently, her leadership as CEO of Urban Triage following the murder of George Floyd. Ms. Grayson embodies what she stands for: supporting healthy Black families, transformative justice & education, integrity, breakthroughs, and Black liberation, bringing decades of experience working with Black families and children and program development and implementation while simultaneously experiencing the intersectionality of Black vulnerability. Leading her to found and ground her work in creating a better world and understanding that a better world starts with self: self-awareness, accountability, integrity, self-discovery, and the will to heal.
She takes pride in empowering, inspiring breakthroughs and transformation in Black people and Black communities. Her work reflects the attributes of Blackness that are rarely centered---Black excellence through healing, Black resilience, Black creativity, Black compassion, Black economic development, and most importantly, Black love.
Alex Lindenmeyer
Board Member
Alex Lindenmeyer is the co-owner of Short Stack Eatery, a community-focused breakfast spot located in the heart of Downtown Madison. Alex and her Short Stack team focus on supporting Black-led organizations and anti-racist work in this community. If Alex is not in the kitchen slinging hot cakes, you can find her fixing bikes as a volunteer bike mechanic at Wheels for Winners or chilling with her dog Murphy.
Catherine Orr
Secretary
Catherine Orr is recently retired from a 20-year career as a professor in Beloit College's Critical Identity Studies Department. She is also co-founder/CEO of Reflective Justice LLC, a DEI consulting firm for higher education. When she's not facilitating conversations about what it looks like to decolonize the curriculum/pedagogy/culture/
Jessica Snyder
Board Member
Jessica is a graduate of Rochester Community and Technical College with an Associate Degree in Health Information Technology and of Madison College with an Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology. Jessica Snyder has been with UW Health since 2010. After a brief career as a Certified Veterinary Technician, she started in the Volunteer Services Department at UW Health coordinating volunteers. After graduating with her HIT degree, she started as a Medical Coding Specialist and three years later promoted to Coding Supervisor, a role she has held for more than seven years now, managing 25+ staff. Jessica is passionate about being a leader who places humanity first and models her management style on Servant Leadership.
Jessica has been an active volunteer for a number of organizations in the Madison area and has been with Urban Triage since its inception, with her main focus being co-facilitating the Urban Triage Co-Conspirators Workgroup and doing whatever she can to help that program and Urban Triage flourish and grow. In her spare time, she enjoys kayaking, gardening (but not weeding), reading, and spending time with her cats, dog, family, and friends.
Juan José Fonseca Angel
Board Member
Juan José Fonseca Angel is an attorney. He grew up in Bogota, Colombia, but has lived in Madison for over a decade. Juan obtained his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. He is passionate about immigration justice and pro bono work.
Kayla Conklin
Board Member
Kayla Conklin is currently serving as the Talent Management Officer at Park Bank, but her passion for seeking out talent and helping people find their purpose has been prevalent throughout her career. She began as a first-generation college student at UW-Madison in 2014, and immediately was eager to be a part of something on campus. Within one semester, Kayla made the cheerleading team and became a student athlete cheering on the Badgers at every football and basketball game of the season. Outside of school and cheerleading, Kayla supported herself throughout college by working part time at a local non-profit supervising a post incarceration re-entry home.
In 2018, Kayla graduated from UW-Madison on the Dean’s List with a B.A. in Legal Studies and a certificate in Criminal Justice. Kayla joined RISE Wisconsin working with at-risk youth and families to provide sustainability in the community and deter youth from institutions. In addition, she worked part-time at Briarpatch Youth Services serving homeless youth in the local shelter.
It is by no accident that Kayla transitioned to Park Bank, the bank that helps community members find their purpose and lead them to their achievements. Kayla was promoted to join the Human Resources team where she is responsible for recruitment, retention, and development of top talent with a diversity, equity, inclusion lens. With the skills obtained from her M.S., Kayla intends to continue bringing corporate activism and creating inclusive spaces at Park Bank to serve the Madison community more equitably.
Sage Weil
Board Member
Sage Weil is a technologist and entrepreneur focused on voting rights and strengthening democratic institutions. He previously worked with VoteAmerica on software and programs to register and turn out voters in 2020. In a previous life, Sage focused on building free and opens source software systems and communities. He was the co-creator and former project lead for Ceph, an open source distributed storage system based on his PhD research at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He co-founded Inktank in 2012 to productize Ceph for the enterprise and sold the company to Red Hat in 2014, where he worked in the Office of the CTO to shape Red Hat’s overall storage technology strategy.
Liz Herman
Advisory Board
Liz Herman, MSW, Family Advocate Early Head Start home-based program at ReachDane, has lived in Madison for over 15 years. She has been working with the Co-conspirator program since Cohort 2, and she supports Urban Triage by serving on the Advisory Council to the Board.
Amanda Riley
Advisory Board
Amanda Riley, Lead Elementary Guide, Isthmus Montessori Academy Public, moved recently to Madison after living in Milwaukee for seven years. Amanda is from Texas originally, and moved to the Midwest for the wetter weather. She loves to grow food in her garden, cook food in my kitchen, and collaborate with other people at nourishing ourselves and each other as well as raising trusting big-hearted children who will share in the work. Amanda has been working with the Co-conspirator program since Cohort 2, and she supports Urban Triage by serving on the Advisory Council to the Board.