Faithe Colas

I attribute my success to identifying my passion work and knowing that community engagement is my true purpose in life. For 30 years, from the moment I walked into the Milwaukee Courier until today, I never woke up thinking that I had to work - everything was a joy. Not to say nothing wasn't challenging through all of my career, but to wake up with joy in your heart, and to be happy about what you're doing, because you know that you are providing information, or you're providing services, or you are reminding the community of the value of these legacies and the historical impact in the city that you live - that's been my most joyous moment. I am a woman of faith, and I know that faith is my superpower. I don't think when you're starting out that you really know that this is your purpose in life, but aligning with that purpose and understanding what life's assignments are has driven me the most. And honestly, motherhood saved my life - becoming the mother of my daughter, Paige Annette, was the moment that really set the tone for understanding what purpose and life's assignments are. Your whole life shifts when you see the face of that little person, and now I get what love really means.

Throughout her career, Faithe has been inspired by many leaders and community figures she has worked alongside in Milwaukee’s Black press and nonprofit sectors. Her experiences working with influential community leaders helped shape her vision and passion for service-oriented work.

Faithe encourages young women to embrace opportunities, trust their purpose, and not be afraid to step into leadership or visibility. She believes women should pursue meaningful work that aligns with their passions and values while remaining authentic to who they are.

I believe one of the biggest opportunities right now is in storytelling and creating platforms that will resonate with the public. I'm working on launching either a podcast or a radio show called 'The State of Faith' where I want to talk about how people of faith transform where they are in the marketplace, and how they transform the marketplace itself. I think that faith organizations and people of faith, whether they're in business or in a church atmosphere or in home ownership or in building the character of a community, all have relevancy, all have impact and extreme credibility in making a difference in the marketplace. I want corporations and businesses to hear more about that and understand the ROI on faith-driven work. The kind of story I want to tell is like the pastor and his wife who began to foster children in their foster care system in their town, then the congregation started doing it, then the community started doing it, and they emptied out the foster care system at that time. Those are the stories that show real transformation and impact.

Faith is absolutely my most important value - I am a woman of faith, and I know that faith is my superpower. Community is central to everything I do - I like being on the ground with people, I like connecting people one to another, and I'm not afraid to talk to people. Purpose and joy in my work matter deeply to me for 30 years, I never woke up thinking that I had to work because everything was a joy. I value preserving legacies and making sure that the impact and the transformative way that influential individuals have helped to shape Milwaukee, the city that I was born and raised in and love deeply, is never forgotten. I work hard and smart at making that happen. And motherhood becoming the mother of my daughter, Paige Annette, was the moment that set the tone for understanding what purpose and life's assignments are. Motherhood saved my life.