Her Story
About Linda
Linda Wade serves as the leader of Above the Clouds Milwaukee, a nonprofit arts education program she founded over 25 years ago. The organization offers free instruction in disciplines such as ballet, martial arts, and theater to children in Milwaukee and has expanded to Fort Worth, Texas. Without a college degree, Wade credits her faith and relationship with Christ for guiding her through the challenges of managing staff, securing grants, meeting with funders and families, and overseeing budgets. She is the board chair of Dance for Hope, which unites dance groups for free community events to bring healing and unity to Milwaukee, and she chairs another board focused on children with special needs in Georgia. Wade's commitment to her work stems from her prison ministry background, where she visited women's prisons and sought to provide children with positive, faith-based opportunities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Linda
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success is based on several things. First, my relationship with Christ which has leaded and guided me through this whole journey. Second, is it's my strong work ethics.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't take it too seriously.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Trust in her vision, and don't let anybody distract her from it. And for me, it was praying a lot. And putting everything before the Lord and saying, is this what I should be doing?
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge that I have noticed is that there are not a lot of women of color in my role. I would like to see that change in the near future.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my personal life is my relationship with Christ. It gets me through some of the hardest things that I've had to go through. For work, it's seeing the children, you know, experiencing the arts. Because our arts are free, you know, so many families can come, sign them up.
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