Learn about the Odyssey webinar series.
Antonia Maria Apolinário-Wilcoxon, EdD., is principal consultant of Equity Strategies, LLC. She provides direction and leadership in private, public and collaborative efforts working to improve the lives of disenfranchised and vulnerable people affected by inequities. Dr. Apolinário-Wilcoxon obtained her doctorate degree in educational leadership, focusing on critical studies informed by critical pedagogy theorists. An African-Brazilian, she brings experiences in education, corporate, private nonprofits and government to lead efforts that bring agency, voice and liberation in spaces where the presence of oppression, bias and other barriers silence the most valuable voices to find solutions to problems in their world.
Dr. Apolinário-Wilcoxon’s approach is to listen deeply and exercise inquiry to enable wisdom and insights to emerge. Her facilitation is participatory, inclusive, resourceful, caring and thoughtful.
She is a volunteer member of several advisory boards/boards of directors:
T. Jeff Bangsberg brings personal experience to develop public policies for people with disabilities and seniors due to a spinal cord injury he sustained nearly 50 years ago.
Bansberg is Board member of Trellis, formerly known as the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging. He also serves on the Board of UCare, a health plan company, and facilitates UCare’s Minnesota Disability Advisory Committee.
Since 1991 Bansberg has worked on legislative and regulatory issues related to Medical Assistance, Medicare and private health insurance. In 1999, he played a key role on securing legislation on work incentives for people with disabilities. Bansberg continues his community advocacy, addressing various issues including the workforce shortage faced by people with disabilities and seniors in need of home and community-based services.
Bansberg served in many leadership roles over several years, including:
Also, Bansberg contracted with the Minnesota Department of Health as a health care home site evaluator for clinics using the “patient-centered health care home” process (also known as “Medical Home”).
In 2006, Bansberg retired from the Minnesota Home Care Association where he worked as the government relations director. Before MHCA, Bansberg worked for Becklund Home Health Care and the Twin Cities Area Labor Management Council. As an intern at the city of Minneapolis he helped launch the labor management council under Mayor Don Fraser and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1985.
During the 1970s, Bansberg was a member of the Metropolitan Handicapped Coalition, which promoted legislation related to the initial development of the personal care assistance program and accessible transportation in the Twin Cities.
Michael Brindisi has enjoyed more than 50 years affiliated with the renowned Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (CDT) as an actor and director. This year is his 35th year as resident artistic director. In 2010, a group of passionate investors led by Brindisi purchased CDT. In addition to his directorial role at CDT, he also serves as president of the theatre organization. He directed his first Chanhassen production, “Private Lives,” in 1988. Since then, Brindisi has 115 Chanhassen productions to his credit. In 2007 he directed world premieres of two Rodgers & Hammerstein projects, “Midlife: The Crisis Musical” and “Irving Berlin’s Easter Parade.”
He spent several years as a freelance director, overseeing 40 productions in seven consecutive seasons and has guest directed several productions for the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, including “You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown” and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “A Grand Night for Singing.” Also, Brindisi got directorial acclaim for performances of “Hair” and “Grease“ for the Hennepin Theatre Trust in Minneapolis and had the unique pleasure of directing Elmo, Big Bird and friends in the Sesame Street Live national tour of “Can’t Stop Singing.”
Before directing, Mr. Brindisi had a successful acting career around the country, notably performing the role of Kenickie in the national tour of “Grease” and appearing in the Broadway revival of “Once in a Lifetime" starring John Lithgow and Treat Williams. Also, he made guest appearances as Moonface Martin in “Anything Goes” starring Sandy Duncan and in “Singin’ in the Rain“ at the Ordway.
Brindisi’s life in theatre is a family affair. He is married to professional actor Michelle Barber, and their daughter Cat is a professional actor/director/playwright who is married to actor/director/playwright, David Darrow. They all live in New York City along with Brindisi’s new grandson Henry Brindisi Darrow.
Sherrie Pugh’s career spans more than 35 years in philanthropy and community economic development. Her philanthropy work includes time with the Headwaters Fund in Minneapolis, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Chicago and Foundation for the Mid South in Jackson, Miss. As the executive director of Northside Residents Redevelopment Council, Pugh implemented an equitable development strategy that addressed environmental, cultural transition, transportation, housing and economic development issues in the Heritage Park development in Minneapolis.
Pugh’s extensive professional and volunteer accomplishments, including election to the Mound city council in 2018, are evidence of her leadership skills. She has worked throughout the United States in urban and rural communities and spent time in South Africa creating non-profit startups. Pugh also helped grow a California state membership organization from 30 members to more than 200.
Pugh has served on several national, state and local boards of directors, including the Rural Development Finance Corporation, the National Congress for Community Economic Development and the St Paul Urban League. Also, she chaired Rainbow Research and was a co-chair of the state DFL African American caucus. Pugh currently chairs the Governor’s Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota and is a member of s ACT on Alzheimer’s state leadership, the Minnesota State Arts Board grant review panel and Minnesota’s Legislative Salary Council.
