Earlier this month, our team gathered for our annual retreat at Madison’s new Center for Black Excellence and Culture. With community-making as our guiding theme, the setting added a special layer of meaning to our time together.

Team member Jamie Black reads a plaque honoring Dr. Gee’s ancestor, Anderson Gee, on our tour of the Center.

A highlight of the retreat was a conversation with Dr. Rev. Alex Gee, founder of The Center, community leader, UW alumnus, and former admissions counselor. Dr. Gee shared his personal story, his vision for the Center, and reflections on the role institutions play in creating spaces of belonging.

“The Center is a transformation space,” Dr. Gee said, describing a place dedicated not only to honoring history, but also to shaping the future through wellness, celebration, learning, and community.

Throughout his remarks, Dr. Gee reflected on the people and programs that helped him see himself as belonging at UW–Madison. He spoke about the influence of the African American Studies Department, the Academic Advancement Program (AAP), mentors who recognized and nurtured his leadership, and the campus community that supported his growth. 

His message was both personal and practical. As a former admissions counselor, he reminded us that our work extends to a student’s network of support, noting “when I recruited as an admissions counselor, I recruited the whole family.”

Central to his story was the example of his mother, the late Verline Gee, who came to Madison in the early 1970s and earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UW while raising her family. Dr. Gee described how the university connected her with a community of thinkers. The impact extended far beyond her own education, influencing generations of family members and helping shape a legacy of community leadership and service.

Dr. Gee also challenged institutions he loves, including UW–Madison, to continue growing. He asked us to consider the responsibility we have in recognizing the story each student brings with them to campus and to foster the conditions for growth and belonging alongside them.

Team member Payton Beverly studies a piece of artwork displayed as part of the Center’s art gallery.

The Center itself served as a powerful backdrop for these conversations. Built as a space to celebrate Black history, culture, innovation, and excellence, the Center embodies a vision of community rooted in both history and possibility.

One idea that particularly resonated was Dr. Gee’s invitation to “look back for the sake of looking forward.” By understanding the stories, relationships, and experiences that came before us, we are better equipped to imagine and build a more inclusive future.

Throughout the afternoon, we explored these themes as a team through a storytelling activity, a community art project, a tour of the Center, and by engaging in conversation about our fundamental purpose as an organization. 

As we return to the work of another recruitment cycle, Dr. Gee’s closing reminder continues to resonate: “The Center is a resource for our entire community. Stay connected to the work.”