OUR TEAM
DR. CHANDRA COOPER, EdD, MS
Founder and CEO
Dr. Chandra Cooper, EdD, MS is the dedicated CEO and Founder of Grateful Girls, Inc., and stands out as a formidable African American leader combating human trafficking in Wisconsin. Dr. Cooper is a strong advocate for girls and women. In 2009, she established Grateful Girls, Inc. Dr. Cooper's vision extends beyond the borders of Wisconsin. In the summer of 2016, she expanded the organization's reach globally by creating a platform to serve the same population in the country of Kenya.
Her leadership continues to shine locally in Wisconsin as well, with Grateful Girls partnering with the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families and receiving multi-year grants to provide crucial services to human trafficking victims in Milwaukee County and in the southwest region of Wisconsin. In 2024, the organization also received funding from the Department of Justice to create a multidisciplinary team for human trafficking work in the Milwaukee area. Dr. Cooper has been sought out by national human trafficking organizations to advise, lead, speak, and be a thought leader about her work, experience, and leadership in this field. Her aim is to always use her national leadership lessons and apply best practices in her home city of Milwaukee. Under Dr. Cooper's guidance, Grateful Girls has established multiple impactful initiatives, including Milwaukee County's first specialized congregate care and aftercare housing facility for youth human trafficking survivors and those at high risk, called "Grateful Girls Safe Haven," in 2015. She also created a housing unit for domestic violence and sexual assault victims in 2022 for adult women. The organization has a community resource center and an innovative job training program called the "Queens Closet," which further demonstrate Chandra Cooper's commitment to inspiring and empowering at-risk and promising youth and women in the community.
Every year since 2017, Dr. Cooper has hosted the annual "Stay Out the Game 101" Youth Summit, a human trafficking prevention and awareness event. January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Local youth, girls and boys between the ages of 11 and 17, attend a day of free workshops and a self-defense class to learn about human trafficking and how to protect themselves from it. They also get to meet a survivor of human trafficking. For the Milwaukee community, Dr. Cooper gets the HOAN Bridge in Milwaukee lit up in blue every January 11, which is the national day for human trafficking awareness.
OUR BOARD MEMBERS
& ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Angela Kates,
Board President
Strategic and analytical financial professional with over 10 years of success in financial reporting, analysis, and project management. Angela has a straightforward approach that has proven successful along all stops in my career that includes data science, operations, product, sales and marketing, diversity & inclusion, communications, logistics, environmental services, business development, and philanthropy.
Angela has committed her life to equip women of all ages to live more genuine lives. In Angela’s leisure time she enjoys traveling domestically and abroad. Angela currently resides in Dallas, Texas.
Ericka K. Rush,
Board Member
Ericka K. Rush is a passionate advocate for minority youth, serving as a mentor and role model through various community programs. She owns The Hattie Daniels-Rush Institute LLC, providing educational and professional consulting, and is the Scholar Service Coordinator at HR Educational Complex, managing student enrollment and academic records. Additionally, Ericka owns Hyssop Diagnostic and Treatment Center, promoting mental health. With a Master's in Organizational Leadership and Administration from Marian University and a Bachelor's in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Ericka's leadership is recognized through her roles in organizations like the Christian Business and Professional Alliance, Grateful Girls, and the Boys & Girls Club of Milwaukee. Her commitment to community service and youth development is unwavering.
Kennedi Saunders,
Board Member
Kennedi Saunders is the owner and operator of Her Perfect Petal, a boutique floral studio nestled in the heart of Atlanta. As a full-time entrepreneur, Kennedi has spent the past two years bringing artistic vision and intentional design to life through floral arrangements.A proud graduate of Clark Atlanta University with a degree in Political Science, Kennedi is now pursuing her MBA at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. She has experience working with youth in the Milwaukee area serves as the Grateful Girls Community Impact Director. Saunders builds strategic partnerships, and helps develops trauma-informed prevention programs & initiatives.
Myra Wilson
Board Member
Myra Wilson is a Solution Architect at a leading construction technology company, with an MBA in Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University. Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she is passionate about mentoring women from diverse backgrounds who are pursuing careers in technology. Myra is actively involved in organizing community conferences for Salesforce, a globally recognized CRM platform, and currently leads social media and marketing initiatives for Grateful Girls, a nonprofit organization focused on empowering young women.
Megan Schwan,
Chief Financial Officer
Megan Schwan is the CEO & Founder of Sidekick Accounting Services. When she was a freshman in high school she discovered a passion for accounting. Megan went on to graduate Cum Laude with a Bachelor's in Accounting from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Her first job at the age of 15 was in accounting and now has over 15 years of experience. As a mother of four, her family is the driving force behind her business. She is proud of her several-year relationship with WWBIC, and partnerships with NARI, Scale Up MKE (SPARC), StartUP Wisconsin and several local chambers.
Amelia Sanders,
HR Coordinator
Amelia Sanders has more than 25 years working in the healthcare industry and with direct floor personnel. She is committed to ensuring that positive human relations and training is essential to the operation and overall success of the organization.
Katie Meylink,
Consultant
Katie Meylink has been working in non-profit management for more than 15 years in the City of Milwaukee. She is a lifelong resident of Milwaukee and graduated from Marquette University with a degree in advertising and marketing. Katie is passionate about the health and safety of the city’s most vulnerable children and finding ways to empower the improvement of their quality of life.
Dr. Vernique Mathis,
Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Vernique Mathis is an accomplished educational leader, organizational strategist, and consultant with over two decades of experience advancing strategic planning, leadership development, systems alignment, and stakeholder engagement. She served as an Administrator, Instructional Specialist, and Teacher in the Aldine Independent School District for over twenty years. Dr. Mathis brings her extensive expertise in organizational operations and community partnership to Grateful Girls, Inc., while also serving as the CEO and Founder of LITE Consulting (Lead, Impact, Transform & Elevate), where she partners with organizations to strengthen team effectiveness, build evaluative systems, and enhance strategic execution. In addition to her organizational leadership, Dr. Mathis is a national elementary curriculum writer and has served as an instructional materials reviewer at both the state and national levels.
Dr. Mathis holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from Alverno College—with a focus on parent involvement in early childhood education—an Education Specialist degree (Ed.S.) from Walden University, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) from Houston Baptist University, and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) from Texas Southern University. She is an active and proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Dedicated to action-oriented leadership and continuous improvement, she focuses on cultivating collaborative communities, empowering leaders, and driving sustainable organizational success.
