Yimma Davila-Castro to Depart Milwaukee Succeeds
Yimma Davila-Castro, right, and Kristin Kappelman during the 2026 Week of the Young Child Community Gathering
After more than two years leading Milwaukee Succeeds’ early childhood education (ECE) work, ECE Manager Yimma Davila-Castro is departing the organization. Her final day will be Friday, October 2.
Yimma joined Milwaukee Succeeds in March 2024, bringing nearly a decade of lived experience as an ECE provider and owner of Yimma’s Bright Beginnings Daycare. She came to the role with deep connections across Milwaukee’s ECE community and a strong history with the MKE ECE Coalition, having served as a core member for years before joining the Milwaukee Succeeds team.
As ECE manager, Yimma led this coalition with care and authenticity while helping to strengthen collaboration across Milwaukee’s ECE sector. She also played a key role in bringing providers together around issues including educator well-being and mental health, culminating in the fully bilingual Cultivating Strength in ECE conference in the fall of 2025.
More recently, Yimma has focused on supporting providers as they navigate the new Get Kids Ready program, co-leading both our statewide Community of Practice and our local Milwaukee Cohort. Throughout her time at Milwaukee Succeeds, she also remained a trusted partner for individual providers, helping them navigate questions, find information and connect with resources.
“I feel very blessed and honored to have been part of this work – and part of this incredible team,” shared Yimma.
“It's been amazing watching one of our early care professionals lead and learn as Milwaukee Succeeds' ECE manager,” said Catina Harwell-Young, the organization’s deputy director. “Her commitment to making information and resources accessible to our Spanish-speaking partners served as a model for authentic inclusivity without excuses. Thanks, Yimma, for making the ECE sector in Wisconsin stronger!”
Following Yimma’s departure, Milwaukee Succeeds will continue its ECE Coalition work with Anna Smerchek, ECE community engagement manager, taking the lead in facilitating in partnership with fellow community engagement manager Sebastián Fuentes. The coalition’s workgroups will also continue with new leadership where needed.
That continued collaboration will be especially important as we look toward the 2027 state budget cycle. With advocacy planning already underway, the coalition will continue the momentum it gained under Yimma’s leadership, bringing providers and partners together to call for continued investment in Wisconsin’s ECE sector.
We’re grateful to Yimma for the experience, relationships and leadership she brought to this work and wish her all the best in what comes next!