When I caught up with Julien Phifer this past week, he was still reflecting on what it meant to win the Rising Star Award at the 6th Annual African American Environmental Pioneer Awards.
“It feels great to be recognized!” he told me. “I havenât been in this field for long, so winning an award like thisâitâs validating. It reminds me that everything I do comes back to the same goal: making the environment cleaner and our communities healthier. I donât do this work for recognition, but it does feel good to know my efforts donât go unnoticed.”
Julien has served as the Regional Engagement Coordinator for  since 2024, following his Masterâs in Sustainable Peacebuilding ąč°ů´Ç˛ľ°ů˛šłžĚý´Ú°ů´Çłž UW-Milwaukee. But his journey into environmental work started long before college. He recalls spending long days at his neighborhood park, just minutes from home. Now, as an adult, heâs working to ensure more Milwaukee residents have access to and appreciation for their natural surroundings.
His path into environmental work is deeply tied to his experience as an entrepreneur. Heâs not just managing Milwaukeeâs parksâheâs reimagining how people engage with them.
“The Startup Challenge directly taught me to think outside the box. There isnât one perfect solution to a problem. If something doesnât work, you pivot. You experiment. That mindset has been huge in my role at the parks.”
One of the biggest challenges? Getting people together.
“Everyone I work withâresidents, volunteers, community groupsâhas a different schedule. Some work nine-to-five, others do third shift. Itâs tough to get the right people in the room at the same time, but thatâs where collaboration comes in. When groups share ideas, we can actually make things happen.”
Julien is determined to bring the right voices into the conversation because the best solutions are those shaped by the communities they serve. Another challenge? Thereâs no single issue to solve when it comes to getting people out into the parks. Thatâs why heâs always thinking about partnerships and new ways to support the parksâ mission.
“You know, something like algae buildup is a big problemâitâs expensive to fix. But I started thinking back to a group I met through I-Corps at 51ÁÔĆć. They were tackling the same issue from a different angle. I thought, âWhat if they could be part of the solution here?â Thatâs where the entrepreneurial mindset kicks in. You connect people, explore different solutions, and see what sticks.”
Despite the challenges, his favorite part of the job is selling Milwaukee to Milwaukee.
“People donât realize what we have hereâfreshwater lakes, green spaces, parks within a 10-minute walk of most homes. In other cities, access to nature is a luxury. Here, itâs everywhere. I love helping people see that.”
Before we wrapped up, I asked what advice heâd give to someone who wants to make an impact.
“Hate to be clichĂŠ, but just do itâlike Nike,” he said with a grin. “If you have an idea, donât keep it to yourself. Talk about it. Find people who can help. The more you put it out there, the more itâll come together.”
And if Julienâs work is any proof, putting ideas into action is how real change happens.
To learn more about how you can join a Milwaukee County Parks Friend Group, .
