VETERAN SPORTS PSYCHOLOGIST RAMEL KWEKU AKYIREFI SMITH, RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF TODAY'S LEADERS OF CHANGE
August 31, 2020
Ramel Kweku Akyirefi Smith is the best-credentialed and most outspoken authority on depression, suicide and mental health in Milwaukee. In the last 18 months, Ramel’s voice has become more crucial as social agencies, clinics, nonprofits and foundations have begun to coordinate for the first time to address an epidemic of psychological trauma and chronic post-traumatic stress in the city.
Since the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police in Minneapolis, Ramel has not only been marching in peaceful protest, but has been working behind the scenes to register people to vote and to push for durable change. Ramel embraces his prominence as “a mission, a ministry” and believes, “it’s time for us as a people to make sure that what they’re doing can be followed up in so many other types of matters. And that’s one of the things in which I’m trying to do right now. Making sure they have leverage.”
As part of his work, Ramel signed a letter sent to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, that called for a range of reform including in criminal justice, education, and housing.