D r. Alexander Gee Jr. is the founder and CEO of the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development. Between 1980 and 1990, Gee noticed a significant increase in the population of Black people in the Madison area. However, the services agencies offered to this population were often not provided by Black people, leaving a small percentage of representation from doctors, nurses, teachers, and other working groups. Noting this disparity, Dr. Gee created the Nehemiah Center to help meet the social service needs of Black youth, families, and individuals across the Madison area. The center initially focused on education for elementary school children, youth leadership development, family empowerment, and economic development.
The organization now boasts significant growth, with nearly 30 years of community work. “We grew to offer family therapy, community organizing, and then re-entry and housing assistance services,” Gee said. The center’s former clients often returned to work as volunteers and then became staff. Gee and his team brought the needs of people transitioning from prison to community leaders, pastors, and governmental agencies to advance progress for criminal justice reform.
CONTINUED GROWTH
As the Nehemiah Center continues in its growth, Dr. Gee is now expanding his efforts to build a community project from observations that came from the Nehemiah Center and the people it has impacted. Though currently in its early stages of
Founded in 1992, the center began with the leadership of just Dr. Gee and his assistant.
Fostering BLACK Excellence
A Space for Success with Reverend Dr. Alex Gee
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