January 20, 2022
Bi-Weekly Executive Newsletter
Dear Friends,
Led by the county’s Equity Council, nearly 100 employees commemorated the legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the holiday named for him by volunteering at a number of vital nonprofit organizations in Oakland County.
At the Hospitality House in Commerce Township, which provides free food for 550 households each month, employees helped people shop for their groceries, restocked shelves and helped organize the warehouse.
The same happened at:
- Oakland Hope, which runs a food pantry and thrift store in Pontiac, providing food to thousands of people each month.
- Lighthouse, which distributes emergency food assistance to 27,000 people last year at pantries in Pontiac and Clarkston.
- The Baldwin Center, which provides food, shelter and clothing to those in need.
- And the Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center, where employees walked the dogs, cleaned cages and even read to the cats.
I’m so proud of the county’s Equity Council for organizing this first-ever Day of Service for employees. As Oakland County’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Officer Harry Weaver said, “it’s so important to let both the county workforce and the community know that we’re not just talking about DEI issues once a month. We’re actually out in the community living our values and performing service.”
On this national holiday, though, it’s also important to remember the words of Dr. King when he came to Detroit 60 years ago to give an early version of the deeply inspiring “I Have a Dream” speech. His powerful words and sentiments all those years ago still resonate so strongly today.
Back then, he said, “The shape of the world today does not afford us the luxury of an anemic democracy.”
I couldn’t agree more. We only need to look at what is happening in our own backyard to know that we still need to wage the fight to protect our democracy, to protect the rights of every voter, to protect the rights of workers. There is still so much work to do on all those fronts. The struggle is not over.
I hope that those who volunteered this week will turn the “Day of Service” into a longtime commitment to agencies that are providing critical assistance to our residents. It is also my hope that all of us will adopt the Rev. King’s “Fierce urgency of now” passion.
He said it 60 years ago, but it should be repeated every day going forward. “In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. There is not time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”
It was considered a revolutionary agenda 60 years ago. It should be considered a necessity today.
With gratitude,
Dave Coulter Oakland County Executive
Madiha Tariq appointed Deputy County Executive
Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter announced this week that he is appointing Madiha Tariq as a Deputy County Executive.
In that role, she will oversee the Health and Human Services and Public Services departments, two of the biggest departments in Oakland County with more than 1,000 employees. Tariq will be the first Muslim appointed to as deputy county executive in Oakland County.
As the Public Health Director at the ACCESS Community Health and Research Center since 2011, Tariq has been at the forefront of the health issues and rights of underserved ethnic communities in southeast Michigan. She also is a faculty member at Wayne State University, teaching Public Health classes.
Tariq said she is excited to integrate societal factors, such as criminal justice reform, the need for affordable house and access to healthy and adequate food into the public health discussion.
“In order to have effective public health, you have to be able to address things that aren’t strictly health-related,” Tariq said. “To be working with housing, Children’s Village, the criminal justice system, or food insecurity issues, all of that is part of the fabric of our health. You can’t expect someone to manage their diabetes if they don’t have a roof to sleep under or easy access to healthy food. A person who is secure in their health and housing is less at risk of becoming involved with the criminal justice system.”
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County Executive Coulter names Jim Ellison new Chief of Older Adult Services
Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter named former State Rep. Jim Ellison as the county’s new Chief of Older Services.
In the position, which Coulter introduced in the 2023 budget that was approved by the Board of Commissioners last year, Ellison will coordinate and help expand and improve the services the county provides to older residents. He also will work with the county’s Senior Advisory Council and the Board of Commissioner’s Healthy Aging Ad Hoc Committee.
Ellison was a member of the State House of Representatives from 2017-22 and was the Mayor of Royal Oak from 2003-2016, a city Commissioner for four years and has returned to service to the city as a member of the Planning commission.
He began the new job on Tuesday, Jan. 17.
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Fire and Ice Festival returns to downtown Rochester
The Fire & Ice Festival is back in downtown Rochester after a two-year hiatus for a fun-filled family celebration of winter on Jan. 20-21.
Ice sculptures, Axe Throwing, fire pits, food and beer tents and food trucks will be at Third and Water for the free festival
The festival runs from 5 – 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20 and 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21. The fireworks are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The festival site is at Third and Water streets in downtown Rochester. Parking is available at Buffalo Wild Wings at 1234 Walton in Rochester. There will be a free shuttle running between the restaurant and the festival.
For more information, go to go to www.OakGov.com/FireAndIce or Facebook.com/FireAndIceRochester.
Coulter attends White House ceremony honoring Presidential Citizens Medal recipients
Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter attended the Presidential Citizens Medal ceremony in support of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. She was among 12 recipients honored by President Joseph R. Biden for their roles in defending democracy in the months before and during the Jan. 6, 2020 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
“On the second anniversary of one of the most brazen and dangerous attacks on our democratic institutions, I was extremely inspired to be in Washington D.C. to help honor the brave heroes who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our national leaders, as well as those like Michigan’s Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson for the tireless work she and other election officials did to defend the integrity of every vote,” Coulter said. “I can’t think of more deserving people to receive the Presidential Citizens Medal.”
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