Meet the Director

 

La'Ketta Caldwell serves as the first Director of the Opportunity Academy at LUMIN Schools, where she leads the network's innovative career exploration program. In this role, she helps prepare scholars for bright futures by connecting classroom learning with career awareness, real-world experiences, and meaningful community partnerships.

 

La'Ketta brings more than a decade of experience in youth development, program innovation, and community engagement. Before joining LUMIN Schools, she spent 13 years with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, most recently serving as Director of the Arts Program. Her pioneering work using the arts to help young people process trauma earned both local and national recognition while securing hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funding.

 

Throughout her career, La'Ketta has been passionate about expanding opportunities for underserved youth. She has dedicated herself to ensuring young people have access to experiences, mentors, and resources that broaden their perspectives, amplify their voices, and challenge the stereotypes often associated with their zip code, race, or economic background.

 

Known for her ability to build meaningful partnerships, La'Ketta lives by a simple philosophy: "My babies deserve the best." That belief has inspired collaborations with organizations such as the Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Film, business leaders, elected officials, and philanthropic partners to create transformative opportunities for young people. Among these efforts was an educational trip to Washington, D.C., made possible through the generosity of former U.S. Senator Herb Kohl, who funded the experience for hundreds of Club members, including the opportunity to attend a presidential inauguration.

 

A respected speaker, educator, and performer, La'Ketta was selected to deliver a TEDx Talk in 2016 and served as a National Training Associate for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. She is a sought-after consultant and facilitator, providing training on leadership, team building, social justice, and social-emotional learning. She has also been featured as a performer on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee.

 

In 2020, La'Ketta published her first book, I Am Not Your Superwoman. She also serves as an adjunct professor at UW–Milwaukee and was recognized as one of the Milwaukee Business Journal's 40 Under 40 in 2015.

 

At LUMIN Schools, La'Ketta is helping build a future where every scholar can discover their strengths, explore career pathways, and confidently pursue their God-given purpose.