Community Engagement
DIVERSITY INDEX FOR COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT
Age: 18-30 | Age: 31-64 | Age: 65+ | Race: White | Race: Black | Race: Latinx | Edu: < Masters | Edu: >Masters | Flint: North Side | Flint: South Side | Flint: East Side | Flint: West Side | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Criminal Justice | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
Finance | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
Healthcare | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
Housing | X | X | X | |||||||||
Education | X | X | X | X | X | X |
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS INDEX TOOL CAN BE USED
Our CBPR work adopted and employed the use of a diversity index for recruitment of Community Action Council (CAC) members. Our diversity index was created to recruit a diverse set of community leaders representing different geographic areas and community systems/sectors. All of these systems/sectors represent different social determinants of health, which contribute to the individual and population health. Decades of research have shown people of color are negatively and disproportionately impacted by those systems/sectors in comparison to Whites. The health consequences associated with the social determinants of health are referred to as health inequities. Health inequalities are unjust, unfair, and preventable health outcomes.
Community Action Council
(CAC) Members
Devin Bathish
Arab American Heritage Council
Devin Bathish is the Executive Director of the Arab American Heritage Council (AAHC) in Flint, MI. Devin directs the AAHC’s four primary functions: preserving & celebrating Arab culture and heritage, promoting understanding of Arab identity, uniting the Greater Flint Arab community, and providing immigration assistance. A Flint area native and a Palestinian citizen of Israel, Devin has an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University and a Bachelors degree in Political Science and International Studies, specializing in Middle Eastern history/politics and Arab & Muslim American identity, from the University of Michigan. Devin is an anti-racist community organizer working for better representation of the Arab American community and fighting racism and injustice within the community.
Canisha BelL
Black Girls Do Yoga,
Crim Mindfulness Initiative
Canisha Bell is a yoga instructor, mindfulness practitioner, and meditation facilitator from Flint, Michigan. She works for the Crim Fitness Foundation as a Mindfulness Educator. Canisha is passionate about bringing holistic wellness to the community as she leads yoga and mindfulness/meditation events through the Crim’s Mindfulness Initiative as well as her own organization, Black Girls Do Yoga (BGDY). The idea for BGDY was born after Canisha completed her teacher training for yoga and attended several mindfulness/meditation workshops where she was almost always the only person of color; the only Black woman in attendance. In an effort to change that, she founded BGDY to promote yoga, mindfulness, and meditation as a means of mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness in the BIPOC and Chrisitan community. An advocate for promoting women in business and entrepreneurship, Canisha is a member of the Flint Women’s Forum, a membership organization with a mission to increase the visibility and effectiveness of women in the community. She is also a part of the YWCA’s Vision 2020 Campaign Committee in the establishment of a Women’s Empowerment Center focused on providing women and girls important resources and racial justice training. Canisha is also committed to serving her community as she sits on the executive board of two local non-profits, Motherly Intercession and Serenity House of Flint. Both of these organizations serve marginalized communities with missions that are close to her heart. Canisha currently lives in Flint, MI with her husband and six children.
Karen ChurcH
President of ELGA Credit Union
Karen was introduced to the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People” working a co-op position at ELGA Credit Union her senior year in high school. Returning to ELGA Credit Union full time in 1978 she further developed her credit union career and was named CEO in 1993. Karen has seen ELGA Credit Union grow from a one branch, three million dollar credit union with five employees, to over a billion, 13 branch credit union employing 240 associates. She is especially proud of her associates as they are truly committed to serving others. They work to improve member’s financial well-being while building lifelong relationships. Karen is involved and encourages others to be involved in the communities served. Collectively, ELGA CU Associates provide over 3,200 personal hours each year of service to cover a multitude of community events. She serves as a director for the Michigan Credit Union League, CUSolutions Group, and Catholic Charities, Chairs the Finance Committee of St. Francis Xavier Church, is a member of Zonta Flint.
Percy Glover
Percy Glover is a passionate speaker, advocate, educator, and strong support for the offender population. He was recently sworn in as a Genesee County Deputy Sheriff and works as a Genesee County Ambassador. After spending slightly more than a decade in the Michigan prison system, Percy underwent a personal transformation that has transitioned well into his professional life. He has overcome his past experience with prison and uses his gifts to make a difference as a criminal justice reform expert. Percy has become highly skilled in workforce development, General Education Diplomacy, post-secondary education, prisoner reentry, admissions/recruitment, employment development, at risk youth services, mentorship, and is devoted to community advancement. Some of his past professional experiences include: The State Appellate Defenders Office, Oakland County Michigan Works/Pontiac, Mott Community College, General Motors, Elite Career Solutions, and working as a contractor for the Michigan Department of Corrections. Percy’s dedication to his community has made an impact not only on residents, but also local and state agencies like the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Genesee County Community Correction, Offender Success, Nation Outside, Michigan Liberation, New Paths, Project E.V.O.L.V.E., My Brother’s Keeper, YouthBuild, Project Safe Neighborhoods, The Boys and Girls Club, as well as many of the local churches. Percy is a member of the Big Brothers & Big Sisters Mentoring Taskforce, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and the author of a self-reflective collection of poems that were created while in prison, titled Concrete Lies & Abstract Truths. Mr. Glover has earned an Associate of Applied Science from Mott Community College as a Social Work Technician, a Bachelor of Arts in Relational Communication, with a minor in Substance Abuse from the University of Michigan-Flint, and a Master of Science Administration in Leadership from Central Michigan University.
Deputy Superintendent - GISD
Tricia Hill is a proven educational leader, with a passion for meeting the needs of underserved children. Having served as a classroom teacher for nine years, Tricia sought to expand her impact on children and their community, accepting the role of elementary principal. Mrs. Hill continued on this path in educational leadership, eventually serving the same district she once taught in as Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and ultimately, Superintendent. Under her leadership, the district’s high school was transformed from a persistently low performing high school to a Michigan Department of Education Reward School. Tricia served in the role of Executive Director for Countywide Programs at the Genesee Intermediate School District, where she was able to use passion and leadership expertise to benefit children across all of Genesee County until moving to the role of Deputy Superintendent this past fall. Mrs. Hill received her Bachelor of Science degree and elementary teaching certification from the University of Michigan – Flint, a Master’s in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College and a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Education from the University of Michigan – Flint.
Jiquanda
Johnson
.
Tricia Hill
Rev. Dr. Daniel E. Moore, Sr.
DMin COVID-19 Faith
Subcommittee Co-Chair
Shiloh Missionary Baptist
Church, Senior Pastor
Daniel E. Moore, Sr., D.Min, is the senior pastor of The Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church of Flint, and holds a Doctorate of Ministry in the field of Public Engagement. Shiloh Church has deep roots in the community and was the first church to provide water to the Flint School District at the beginning of the Flint Water Crisis, and the first church to offer Covid-19 testing in partnership with Genesee County Health Department, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and the Nation Guard Alpena C.R.T.C
Media
A powerhouse freelance creative director and social media manager that provides industry quality photography, cinematography, graphic design, script writing and marketing. Freelancing in the film industry on shows for BET, MTV, Disney, Netflix, Comedy Central, Animal Planet etc., while also lending a hand to major corporations and local businesses. With over 10 years of experience in film, education,leadership and marketing.
Artina Sadler
Huron - Clinton Metroparks
Mark nichols
Aurora
Sauceda
Community coordinator for Latinos United for Flint, which was created in response to the 2016 Flint Water Crisis. It was and continues to be comprised of several organizations, agencies, non-profits, faith based institutions, and community members who work together to assist the Latinx community, documented and undocumented, in Flint. The groups and individuals involved with Latinos United for Flint Have been in this community for many years and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table when they meet. LUFF’s current core members include El Ballet Folklorico Estudiantil, Latinx Technology & Community Center, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, & St. Mary Catholic Church. Aurora is also the coordinator for a grassroots public health navigator program for Michigan United, which trains lay community health navigators to provide education on COVID-19 to Flint and other residents throughout the state of Michigan. In 2018, Aurora was recognized as 1 of 50 Top Latinas in Michigan by the Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan for her long-term dedication and service to the Latino community. In 2019, she was awarded Special Tribute by the Governor's office for her service in the Latinx community.
Leon Skinner
Sheriff
Erica
Thrash-Sall
McFarlan Charitable Corporation
Erica Thrash-Sall, Executive Director, McFarlan Charitable Corporation, joined Presbyterian Villages of Michigan in September 2016. Erica graduated with a BA from University of South Carolina and a MBA Lawrence Technological University. Erica has worked in the non-profit sector for over 20 years, with 10 years focused on community health issues at an Ascension Health System in metro Detroit. Erica sits on the board of LeadingAge Michigan, and Genesee Community Health Center, a FQHC, where she chairs the Quality Committee. Erica is a member of the Tuuri Health Committee, which makes health related grants on behalf of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. She is a ember of the Public Health Advisory Committee with University of Michigan-Flint. As the 2020 Agho Award winner, Erica is committed to community-university partnerships that to provide meaningful experiences for organizations, students and faculty. Erica has been married to Issa Sall for the past 20 years and has three children Nafi (18), Amadou (16) and Zeyna (7).
Michigan United – Public Health
Navigator Coordinator
Latinos United for Flint – Community Coordinator
Todd WomacK,
MSW
UM-Flint School of Social Work
Central Church of the Nazarene, Pastor Community Roots
Community coordinator for Latinos United for Flint, which was created in response to the 2016 Flint Water Crisis. It was and continues to be comprised of several organizations, agencies, non-profits, faith based institutions, and community members who work together to assist the Latinx community, documented and undocumented, in Flint. The groups and individuals involved with Latinos United for Flint Have been in this community for many years and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table when they meet. LUFF’s current core members include El Ballet Folklorico Estudiantil, Latinx Technology & Community Center, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, & St. Mary Catholic Church. Aurora is also the coordinator for a grassroots public health navigator program for Michigan United, which trains lay community health navigators to provide education on COVID-19 to Flint and other residents throughout the state of Michigan. In 2018, Aurora was recognized as 1 of 50 Top Latinas in Michigan by the Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan for her long-term dedication and service to the Latino community. In 2019, she was awarded Special Tribute by the Governor's office for her service in the Latinx community.
In order to ensure youth voice was a part of creating a strategic plan to operationalize racism as a public health crisis. The Flint Public Health Youth Academy (FPHYA) led a series of youth dialogues to discuss racism and its impact on the health of a community. The FPHYA is an innovative “pathways to careers” concept in Flint, yet the program domains within the FPHYA are not new. The program is designed to engage and introduce urban youth into careers in public health, medicine and research. This program explores all dimensions of health: physical, mental, social, cultural, financial, spiritual and environmental. The FPHYA focuses on early exposure, mentoring/role modeling, and interactive engagement (internships, summer camps, and youth-led projects). There are several modalities of the FPHYA ranging from semester sessions, quarterly sessions, and summer camps. The FPHYA consists of three domains: 1) youth community assessment (using the photo voice methodology), 2) learning academy (a series of didactic interactive learning sessions), and 3) advocacy/policy training.