26th Annual Women in Focus I Have a Dream
Ball:
Bearing Good Fruit
Ball:
Bearing Good Fruit
Ismael Ozanne, the Dane County district
attorney, was a recipient of a Women in
Focus scholarship. The I Have a Dream
Ball is Women in Focus’ main fundraiser
for the scholarships.
attorney, was a recipient of a Women in
Focus scholarship. The I Have a Dream
Ball is Women in Focus’ main fundraiser
for the scholarships.
By Jonathan Gramling
Women in Focus, a multicultural professional women’s service organization, has grown in
the breadth of its impact since it was founded in 1983 by approximately 25 women. Four of
them — Rose Brown, Virginia Henderson, Gloria Jones-Bey and Jan Studesville — are still
active with the organization today.
When they initially formed, WIF initiated several programs and activities.
“Initially we would have luncheons and invite prominent African Americans to come and
speak,” Jones-Bey said. “Then once a year, we did something that we thought was a gift to
the community. It didn’t cost any money. We would have artists come and perform and we
would just invite our supporters to come. There would be a poetry reading and other people
would come to provide some type of entertainment. But it got to be a little difficult. We
wanted to go for our non-profit status so that people could claim their contribution on their
income tax. So we felt we had to really focus in on what our mission was. That’s when we
decided we would just be for education and let go of the social things because education is
the most important thing that we can give our kids.”
One of the most important activities that WIF initiated were literacy programs. They began by
reading to children at the South Madison Health & Family Center-Harambee while they were
waiting for appointments. But the group questioned the impact they were having because for
almost all of the children, it was read to them once and then never see them again. So the
group turned their eyes to the YWCA and its Third Street residents.
“It is great because these moms are there all the time,” Jones-Bey said. “We could now not
Women in Focus, a multicultural professional women’s service organization, has grown in
the breadth of its impact since it was founded in 1983 by approximately 25 women. Four of
them — Rose Brown, Virginia Henderson, Gloria Jones-Bey and Jan Studesville — are still
active with the organization today.
When they initially formed, WIF initiated several programs and activities.
“Initially we would have luncheons and invite prominent African Americans to come and
speak,” Jones-Bey said. “Then once a year, we did something that we thought was a gift to
the community. It didn’t cost any money. We would have artists come and perform and we
would just invite our supporters to come. There would be a poetry reading and other people
would come to provide some type of entertainment. But it got to be a little difficult. We
wanted to go for our non-profit status so that people could claim their contribution on their
income tax. So we felt we had to really focus in on what our mission was. That’s when we
decided we would just be for education and let go of the social things because education is
the most important thing that we can give our kids.”
One of the most important activities that WIF initiated were literacy programs. They began by
reading to children at the South Madison Health & Family Center-Harambee while they were
waiting for appointments. But the group questioned the impact they were having because for
almost all of the children, it was read to them once and then never see them again. So the
group turned their eyes to the YWCA and its Third Street residents.
“It is great because these moms are there all the time,” Jones-Bey said. “We could now not
only support the kids with giving them books and getting them interested in literacy and excited about books, but we also worked with the
moms who wanted books to read and were excited about learning new things. Everyone was excited about this program because we
work with these women — and sometimes the dads are there — and families and see them get really excited about books. We give away
books every time we go.”
The mainstay of WIF, however, is the scholarships it grants from the proceeds of the I Have a Dream Ball, held on the Saturday of the King
Holiday weekend. What began as a dance with hor d’ouerves for about 100 people at the Edgewater Hotel 26 years ago has blossomed
into a black tie affair with a sit-down dinner attended by over 400 people at the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center. To date,
WIF has awarded over 200 scholarships worth $276,000.
“At one point, we gave $3,500 for our students,” Jones-Bey said. “Right now, we give $2,000 to our students. That $2,000 will help in the
short run to get them started when they first go to college. That is how we see ourselves. Education is obscenely expensive. If we can
help them with meal costs or whatever, we feel we are doing something. In addition, I think the fact that we are of the community and one
of the things that we’ve begun recently is contact the students after we have given them the scholarships to find out how they are after
their first semester. We just want to let them know that we are thinking of them and supporting them. We want them to know that there is
someone back here who cares about them besides their parents and their relatives. The students have said that it means a lot to them
and it is helpful to know that the community is behind them. It means a great deal.”
One of those scholarship recipients who has had an impact on Dane County as of late is Ismael Ozanne, the Dane County district attorney
who will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Dream Ball. Ozanne had a choice to make after he graduated from West High School back
in 1989. He could attend UW-Madison on a full athletic scholarship, accept all of the restrictions that come with an athletic scholarship
and focus almost entirely on academics and soccer. Or he could put together a financial aid package and work in order to pursue his
interests and have greater freedom of movement. The Women in Focus scholarship played a small part in Ozanne choosing Option Two.
And he ended up working in the State Capitol.
Although he came from a middle class family, Ozanne still needed the financial help to get through college. And although it is getting more
expensive every year, Ozanne still feels that it is worth the price.
“When you are looking at the rising costs of education nowadays, it is just amazing,” Ozanne said. “It’s almost to the point where I think
some people are actually questioning whether it is worth it. In my mind, it is unfathomable that you would even consider whether an
education is worth it or not, no matter how much it is going to cost you to get it. Education is the key that unlocks every door. If you don’t
have it, it is the door that you can’t open. If people want to look at it in those terms, then some of them might be put off by the cost of
education. That is something that we should work on getting down in terms of tuition and making sure it is affordable for all.”
After he graduated, Ozanne chose to go to law school over graduate school although he still had an eye on a master’s in city planning.
After internships and work at the DA’s office, working as the deputy secretary of the Dept. of Corrections under Governor James Doyle Jr.
and being appointed as the Dane County DA by Doyle, the rest is history one could say for Ozanne became the first African American to
serve as Dane County DA.
In their own humble way, Women in Focus has worked to help make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream of a Beloved Community a reality.
And they can’t help but smile when they see former recipients like Ismael Ozanne blossom and make the most of their educational
opportunity. The scholarships have borne good fruit.
moms who wanted books to read and were excited about learning new things. Everyone was excited about this program because we
work with these women — and sometimes the dads are there — and families and see them get really excited about books. We give away
books every time we go.”
The mainstay of WIF, however, is the scholarships it grants from the proceeds of the I Have a Dream Ball, held on the Saturday of the King
Holiday weekend. What began as a dance with hor d’ouerves for about 100 people at the Edgewater Hotel 26 years ago has blossomed
into a black tie affair with a sit-down dinner attended by over 400 people at the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center. To date,
WIF has awarded over 200 scholarships worth $276,000.
“At one point, we gave $3,500 for our students,” Jones-Bey said. “Right now, we give $2,000 to our students. That $2,000 will help in the
short run to get them started when they first go to college. That is how we see ourselves. Education is obscenely expensive. If we can
help them with meal costs or whatever, we feel we are doing something. In addition, I think the fact that we are of the community and one
of the things that we’ve begun recently is contact the students after we have given them the scholarships to find out how they are after
their first semester. We just want to let them know that we are thinking of them and supporting them. We want them to know that there is
someone back here who cares about them besides their parents and their relatives. The students have said that it means a lot to them
and it is helpful to know that the community is behind them. It means a great deal.”
One of those scholarship recipients who has had an impact on Dane County as of late is Ismael Ozanne, the Dane County district attorney
who will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Dream Ball. Ozanne had a choice to make after he graduated from West High School back
in 1989. He could attend UW-Madison on a full athletic scholarship, accept all of the restrictions that come with an athletic scholarship
and focus almost entirely on academics and soccer. Or he could put together a financial aid package and work in order to pursue his
interests and have greater freedom of movement. The Women in Focus scholarship played a small part in Ozanne choosing Option Two.
And he ended up working in the State Capitol.
Although he came from a middle class family, Ozanne still needed the financial help to get through college. And although it is getting more
expensive every year, Ozanne still feels that it is worth the price.
“When you are looking at the rising costs of education nowadays, it is just amazing,” Ozanne said. “It’s almost to the point where I think
some people are actually questioning whether it is worth it. In my mind, it is unfathomable that you would even consider whether an
education is worth it or not, no matter how much it is going to cost you to get it. Education is the key that unlocks every door. If you don’t
have it, it is the door that you can’t open. If people want to look at it in those terms, then some of them might be put off by the cost of
education. That is something that we should work on getting down in terms of tuition and making sure it is affordable for all.”
After he graduated, Ozanne chose to go to law school over graduate school although he still had an eye on a master’s in city planning.
After internships and work at the DA’s office, working as the deputy secretary of the Dept. of Corrections under Governor James Doyle Jr.
and being appointed as the Dane County DA by Doyle, the rest is history one could say for Ozanne became the first African American to
serve as Dane County DA.
In their own humble way, Women in Focus has worked to help make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream of a Beloved Community a reality.
And they can’t help but smile when they see former recipients like Ismael Ozanne blossom and make the most of their educational
opportunity. The scholarships have borne good fruit.
