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 haven’t been in this field for long, so winning an award like this—it’s validating. It reminds me that everything I do comes back to the same goal: making the environment cleaner and our communities healthier. I don’t do this work for recognition, but it does feel good to know my efforts don’t go unnoticed.”
Julien has served as the Regional Engagement Coordinator for Milwaukee County Parks since 2024, following his Master’s in Sustainable Peacebuilding program from 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, he’s 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. He’s not just managing Milwaukee’s parks—he’s reimagining how people engage with them.
“The Startup Challenge directly taught me to think outside the box. There isn’t one perfect solution to a problem. If something doesn’t 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 with—residents, volunteers, community groups—has a different schedule. Some work nine-to-five, others do third shift. It’s tough to get the right people in the room at the same time, but that’s 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? There’s no single issue to solve when it comes to getting people out into the parks. That’s why he’s always thinking about partnerships and new ways to support the parks’ mission.
“You know, something like algae buildup is a big problem—it’s expensive to fix. But I started thinking back to a group I met through I-Corps at UWM. They were tackling the same issue from a different angle. I thought, ‘What if they could be part of the solution here?’ That’s 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 don’t realize what we have here—freshwater lakes, green spaces, parks within a 10-minute walk of most homes. In other cities, access to nature is a luxury. Here, it’s everywhere. I love helping people see that.”
Before we wrapped up, I asked what advice he’d give to someone who wants to make an impact.
“Hate to be cliché, but just do it—like Nike,” he said with a grin. “If you have an idea, don’t keep it to yourself. Talk about it. Find people who can help. The more you put it out there, the more it’ll come together.”
And if Julien’s 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, connect with Julien on Linkedin.
