Poverty Reduction Initiative

PRI Board of Directors

The board of the Kalamazoo County Poverty Reduction Initiative is a unique mix of public, private, and non-profit partners who first came together in 2003 to find answers to the increasing poverty in our community. Each of them brings a specialized focus that aids in fostering change in the region.

Board meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month in the library of  the Lewis Walker Institute. Download the 2011-2012 meeting schedule here.

Board members for June 2011-May 2012:

Name / Organization   

Personal Information

Chair
Donald Roberts
Managing Attorney
Legal Aid of Western Michigan
Vice Chair -
Barbara Young
Private Citizen
Community Action Agency – retired
Secretary
Catheryn Sirk
Private Citizen
Treasurer
Kennedy Fillar
Regional President
Comerica Bank
Kennedy has been with Comerica Bank since 1987 serving in varying capacities with the primary mission of helping customers get value out of their banking relationship. Though Kennedy has worked hard and made many sacrifices to earn his prosperity, he realizes more and more each day how much was given to him—mental and physical capacity, being born into the right country, not worrying about food or housing, having family support groups growing up, etc. Kennedy serves on the PRI Board to help surround those in poverty with the same supports to which he attributes his successes.
Jacqueline Cantrell
Director of Learning Services
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
“I am honored to represent Kalamazoo Valley Community College on the PRI Board. The College has a long history in its commitment of providing educational resources/opportunities to help Individuals, Families and the Community in the fight against poverty.”
Denise Crawford
President & CEO
Kalamazoo Family Health Center

Don Cooney PhD
Kalamazoo City Commission
John Dillworth
CEO
Goodwill Industries of Southwest Michigan
"Serving on the PRI board helps keep our organization connected with other like minded organizations in the Kalamazoo Community."

Dillworth has been with Goodwill for 11 years and spent 21 years with Kellogg Company in various sales and marketing positions. He holds an MBA from the University of Detroit and a BBA from Western Michigan University.
Ann Perry
Private Citizen
League of Women Voters
"I was born and raised in the Kalamazoo area. I am a retired social worker who retired from the Kalamazoo County DSS/FIA now DHS after 30 years. I serve on the PRI Board as a representative of the League of Women Voters of the Kalamazoo Area (LWVKA) because the League was invited to join the PRI and I, personally, feel a commitment to the welfare of all Kalamazoo County citizens and particularly those living in poverty. The LWVKA and the PRI seem to be a good fit."
Michael F. Rice PhD
Superintendent
Kalamazoo Public Schools
Michael F. Rice, Ph.D., has served as superintendent of the Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS), a district with 69 percent of its students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, since 2007. Prior to his service in Kalamazoo, Rice served as an urban superintendent in New Jersey. Rice serves on the PRI board in an effort to help educate the community about the level and effects of poverty on young people and their families and as an acknowledgment of the importance of poverty in the lives of many KPS children.
Steward Sandstrom
President
Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce
Steward Sandstrom has been the President and CEO of the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce since July 31, 2006. Since his arrival he has worked successfully with business support programs for over 1800+ businesses and members while also pioneering the Southwest Michigan Alliance, dedicated to federal advocacy issues in our region.
Sherry Thomas-Cloud
Private Citizen
Department of Human Services - retired
Jack Urban
Kalamazoo County Commission
Mary Beth Sarhatt
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church of Kalamazoo
Open Seat
Jeff Brown (non-voting)
Executive Director
Kalamazoo County Poverty Reduction Initiative
Picture
Picture
sign up for news
Community Partnerships

Affordable Housing Partnership

AmeriCorps

City of Kalamazoo

Comerica Bank

Community Action Agency

Eastside Neighborhood Association

Edison Community Association

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Michigan

Gun Lake Tribe

Housing Resources, Inc.

ISAAC

Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Kalamazoo County Commission

Kalamazoo County Department of Human Services

Kalamazoo Lend a Hand

Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes

Kalamazoo Public Schools

Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce

Kalamazoo Valley Community College

League of Women Voters

Lewis Walker Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations

Michigan Organizing Project (MOP)

Michigan Prison Reentry Initiative

Michigan Works!

Northside Association for Community Development

Open Door Ministries

The Michigan Building Trades

Upjohn Institute

West Michigan Construction Alliance

Western Michigan University