Photo: Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion & Community Engagement Surabhi Pandit, left; pediatrician, scientist, activist and author Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, second from left; Community Foundation trustee Dr. Glenda Price, third from left; and Community Foundation Chief Operating Officer Nicole Sherard-Freeman connect during a Women’s History Month networking event.
Community Foundation networking event features Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha
Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha
In honor of Women’s History Month in March, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan hosted a networking event to celebrate the ways women are central to the success of our region. The event featured remarks by Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, associate dean for public health and C. S. Mott endowed professor of public health at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine.
She’s the founding director of the Pediatric Public Health Initiative, an innovative partnership of MSU and Hurley Children’s Hospital in Flint. Hanna-Attisha and her team are reimagining how society can come together to eliminate infant poverty with a first-in-the-nation program, Rx Kids. Hanna-Attisha was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World, and was recognized as one of USA Today’s Women of the Century for her role in uncovering the Flint water crisis and leading recovery efforts.
Detroit Regional Workforce Partnership works to address health care talent gap
A coalition of leaders spanning business, government and philanthropy throughout Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties has united to launch the Detroit Regional Workforce Partnership, an initiative designed to create an equitable, future-facing talent pipeline that will support a thriving economy in southeast Michigan.
The regional initiative, which the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan manages, was developed with input from the Detroit Regional CEO Group and $3 million in initial funding from The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. Health care is the first sector to work with the partnership to address a critical talent gap. Currently, there are more than 4,000 job openings in health care throughout our region.
Artist Phil Simpson, left, poses with Project Play Southeast Michigan Director Pat Sharrow, center, and Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan President Richard (Ric) DeVore. They are seen with the artwork Simpson created on behalf of Project Play for DCLEATED, a citywide project featuring 5-foot cleats throughout the NFL Draft zone.
Youth sports initiative Project Play entrusted to leave NFL Draft legacy
As part of festivities surrounding the NFL Draft, the Detroit Sports Commission has committed $1 million to several southeast Michigan organizations — including Project Play, an initiative of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan — to ensure the event leaves a lasting impact on local youth. Project Play promotes equitable access to sports activities so kids in our region can live active, healthy lifestyles.
As part of the NFL Draft festivities, Project Play is also proud to participate in DCLEATED, led by the City of Detroit’s City Walls Department. The project amplifies the mission of local nonprofits during the NFL Draft through the installation of 5-foot cleats in the designated NFL Draft zone. Project Play partnered with Detroit artist Phil Simpson to create a cleat that uplifts youth sports. Project Play’s cleat is located near Huntington Place in Detroit. The 2024 NFL Draft will take place April 25-27.
Foundations on the Hill event connects philanthropy, legislators
Community Foundation Donor Services Vice President Randy Ross and Governance and Operations Director Matthew Lewis, together with representatives from 28 other Michigan foundation partners, participated in the annual Foundations on the Hill event in Washington, D.C., in January.
The event is the largest public policy and advocacy conference dedicated solely to the philanthropic sector. The purpose is to familiarize legislators with the work of many foundations and to share opportunities for offering support. Ross and Lewis met with the staff of every congressperson representing southeast Michigan.
This story was first published in the Spring 2024 REPORT newsletter.