Lafayette Crump has a big job on his hands, but he’s no stranger to that. He was serving the DNC host committee as deputy chief of staff and chief diversity, vendor and engagement officer. Earlier this summer, he was unanimously confirmed to one of Milwaukee’s most powerful posts, commissioner of the Department of City Development. In that role, which has a huge impact on how and where Milwaukee invests in itself, he plans to improve racial equity, housing fairness and development opportunities beyond downtown, among other things. Lafayette has been involved with equity issues for other organizations as well, including the Wauwatosa Equity & Inclusion Commission. Previously, he was COO of Prism Technical Management & Marketing Services, which has consulted on major projects including Fiserv Forum and the new BMO Tower. Prism, a company his parents founded, helps developers hire a diverse workforce and focus on fair contracting practices for projects funded by taxpayers. Lafayette, a graduate of Duke University School of Law, has also had a private practice and has been an adjunct law professor at Marquette University. He’s the past board chair for Safe & Sound and also has been involved with the Salvation Army, Artists Working in Education and the Black Child Development Institute. He was honored this summer by University School of Milwaukee, his alma mater. Past honors include the Milwaukee Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” and the Milwaukee Times’ Black Excellence Award.