Meet the Visionaries Helping Us Expand Our Impact: Welcoming Our New Executive Board Members
- Lu'Cretia Thomas
- Apr 8
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 21
At The Gray Matter Experience, we’ve always believed that exposure creates opportunities. It’s the driving force behind our mission to provide underserved and underrepresented youth with access to the knowledge, networks, and resources they need to unlock their full potential.
To continue scaling our impact and reaching even more young leaders, we’re excited to welcome four exceptional individuals to our Executive Board: Milissa McClaire Gary, Sara Wasserteil, Will Busch III, and Tristan Slemmons.
Each of these leaders brings deep expertise and a shared commitment to equity, education, and innovation. Their guidance will be critical as we work to close the opportunity gap and expand pathways to economic mobility for underserved and underrepresented youth across Chicago and beyond.
Why This Matters
Since our founding, Gray Matter has served over 2000 students, supported 150+ student-led business ideas, and partnered with over 80 companies and professionals. But the need for programs like ours continues to grow.
A recent study by the Brookings Institution found that children born into low-income families have just a 7.5% chance of reaching the top 20% of earners as adults. This is a stark reminder of the structural barriers that stand in the way of upward mobility. The work we do at Gray Matter helps change that trajectory by equipping youth with the skills, confidence, and connections they need to break through those barriers.
That’s where Gray Matter comes in and why this moment is so important.
Our New Board Members
Sara Wasserteil Sara has spent nearly two decades helping mission-driven organizations scale and raise over $160M in support. Her work building inclusive economies aligns directly with our vision of a future where all youth have a seat at the table—and the tools to lead.
Will Busch III A strategist with expertise in business transformation and data-driven operations, Will is helping us prepare for sustainable scale. His insights will support the integration of technology and systems that make our work more efficient and our outcomes even stronger.
Tristan Slemmons Tristan’s career in corporate responsibility and community partnerships is built on creating bridges between sectors. Her ability to align purpose with practice will help us form powerful partnerships that expand opportunities for our students in real-time.
Milissa McClaire Gary An educator and advocate for choice-filled lives, Milissa brings extensive experience in coaching, leadership development, and program strategy. Her insights will help us refine our entrepreneurship curriculum and ensure every student gains tangible, transferable skills to build the life they envision.
The Road Ahead
As we look to the future, these board additions reflect a broader moment of growth for Gray Matter. We want to not only prepare students for the future, but also build the future with them. To do that, we need the kind of bold, experienced leadership our new board members provide.
We’re beyond excited to have Milissa, Sara, Will, and Tristan as part of the Gray Matter family. Their leadership is an investment in the future of our youth, and we know the impact will ripple far and wide.
We invite you to join us on this journey. Whether through partnership, mentorship, or giving, you can be part of what’s next https://www.graymatterexperience.com/volunteer
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