Community Development Involvement
I have been actively involved and passionate about community development for many years.
Following are some of the things I involved myself in for the sake of our community.
Following are some of the things I involved myself in for the sake of our community.
- Delta Strategy: a collaboration for community development and change involving all sectors of this
community, focusing on systemic change using basic principles of organizational management and
development. I have been involved in the community work sessions on economic self-sufficiency, education,
and basic human needs; workforce development being my primary focus and interest. "
- Community Transition Council (co-chair): a countywide systems-change initiative to improve employment and
community outcomes for students with disabilities. The council coordinates networking luncheons, transition
liaison training, and monthly planning meetings for parents, school staff, and agency personnel (non-profit and
government) that provide transition services. "
- Racial Reconciliation workshop: facilitated by staff from Grand Valley State University for the Council at
Madison Square Church. The purpose is to increase capacity for leading a racially diverse church with a high
priority of racial reconciliation and for relating to, listening to, and understanding each other as a very diverse
group, in order to increase effectiveness in decision making and problem solving.
- Summit on Racism: convened by the Racial Justice Institute of GRACE, with support from Delta Strategy and
GR Chamber of Commerce. Addressing racial justice collaboratively with the support and representation of
over 40 businesses as well as Community-Based Organizations, Public Institutions (police and schools),
Government (federal, state, and local cities), and Religious Organizations.
- Breakfast Club participant: the breakfast club gives structure and guidance to getting together people of
different races, one-on-one, to discuss sensitive issues of race. The purpose is to build relationships and to
foster a deeper understanding of those who are different from us. "
- Michigan Organizing Project: a grassroots community-organizing project to address felt issues of social
injustice specific to each community. Neighborhood organizations and churches are brought together for
needs sensing and to create a solution, then as a mass gathering, confronting those in authority with the
problem and the demands of the solution. The people with power are then held accountable by the group to
make these changes.
- Restorers Inc.: a grassroots Christian Community Development Organization, representing the Madison and
Hall neighbors. Investigate and give recommendation concerning referrals needing various types of crises
assistance.
- Madison Square Church: as deacons at Madison Square, we are the gatekeeper of the money the church
gives to assist the poor. We are in a change process of meeting more personal development needs leading to
long-term, sustainable change, not just crisis needs. Racial reconciliation, community development, and
social justice are among the highest of priorities. Also serve on the social justice committee.
- Experience Exchange summer internships for teachers, through Partners in Public Education: a strategic plan
to involve businesses in education by demonstrating to them the integral part they could have in the
educational process and by developing partnerships between teachers and businesses. School staff are
matched with a business and spend 24 hours in that business. A summary and lesson plan is then written to
bring back to the school. Experiences involved the following businesses: Associated Builders and Contractors,
Pioneer Construction, Pleune Services, and Brann's Restaurant.
- Career Pathways Design Team training by the Career Pathways Design Institute sponsored by the Grand
Rapids Partners in Public Education and the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. A countywide school
improvement effort to create tangible ways to incorporate the School-To-Work Opportunities Act and the
Workforce Investment Act into education and business.
- Service Learning Team Member training by Grand Rapids Public Schools. Service Learning is an experiential
learning method that connects community needs, community service and education, integrating the service
performed by students into the school curriculum.
- Wrap-Around Services training: An initiative by the State of Michigan to involve the community and families in
the support and therapeutic intervention plan of at-risk youth with intensive needs thereby developing more
sustainable and natural support systems.
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