West High class of 2011 alumnus Reuben Sanon joined Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway's office as deputy mayor in November 2020. He was selected for the position by Mayor Rhodes-Conway as a result of his "enthusiasm, background, experiences and love of Madison."
As deputy mayor, Sanon represents and assists the Mayor with planning, communication and outreach. His main focus is on connecting marginalized communities in Madison to resources and giving people the power to shape their communities and thrive.
“I’ve been able to thrive in this city but a lot of people who look like me have not,” Sanon comments. “As such my main focus [as deputy mayor] will be connecting our most marginalized communities to the immense amount of power and resources that we have here so that they’ll thrive in a community that serves them and is shaped by them.”
Prior to joining the Mayor's office, Sanon served as the Communications and Diversity Strategist in the City of Sun Prairie, working closely with neighborhood navigators to engage and empower underserved communities. Previously, he served as a Program Director at the Morgridge Center for Public Service, pairing students with community organizations, creating, managing and maintaining relationships with 90+ community partner organizations across Dane County and presenting at state and national conferences on civic engagement best practices.
Sanon received his bachelor's degree in political science and strategic communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2015. He speaks both French and Portuguese in addition to English, and has lived in New York, Pennsylvania, and West Africa.
Madison’s public schools are proud to count Reuben Sanon among their alumni!
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