 Serving all of Oakland County's 19 districts
MARCH 2024
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 Pictured left to right: Commissioner Angela Powell, Eisha Branner, Damany Ali Head, Myka Burley, Commissioner Linnie Taylor, Dr. Vivian Greenway, Christian J. Williams and Board Vice Chair Marcia Gershenson.
The Board launched its Black Excellence Award program three years ago and recently added five local residents to its list of recipients.
Nominations from the public for the award opened in late 2023 and were reviewed by a panel composed of Commissioners Angela Powell (District 10), Yolanda Smith Charles (District 17) and Linnie Taylor (District 18). Black residents who are selected for this award have taken strides to improve the community, made notable achievements or are otherwise worthy of recognition. This year’s recipients of the Black Excellence Award, who were formally acknowledged during the Feb. 29 Board meeting, are:
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Eisha Branner – A native of Pontiac, Ms. Branner has dedicated her efforts to building a more resilient community through empowering youth and parents. She is the founder and CEO of E-Community Outreach Services, which assists families in need through case management services, community resources and other support services. Earlier this year, she also unveiled the Women in Business Working Center, a space dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs and fostering their success. She holds a master’s degree in human services and has four daughters.
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Myka Burley – With work experience at Fortune 500 companies, Ms. Burley has long advocated for tech as a driver toward economic equity and facilitated more than $4 million in philanthropic digital inclusion investments and tech training programs. A resident of Southfield, she is an associate director for the skills team at Michigan Central and serves on NPower Michigan’s Regional Advisory Board, supporting the nonprofit’s mission of creating pathways to economic prosperity through digital careers for military veterans and young adults from underserved communities. She was also appointed to serve on Brilliant Detroit’s Engagement Committee.
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Vivian Greenway – Dr. Greenway has over 30 years of clinical experience and has championed healthcare case management’s role in healthcare outcomes. She helped secure a proclamation from Gov. Whitmer to recognize October 8-14, 2023, as Case Management Week in Michigan and currently serves on several national committees for the Case Management Society of America, including the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee. Dr. Greenway also serves on the Leadership Succession Committee for Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society and volunteers as a mentor. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®.
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Damany Ali Head – Founder, investor and mechanical engineer, Mr. Head of Pontiac has served as the chair of the Pontiac Regional Chamber since 2016. He is also principal officer for the Pontiac United Education Coalition, a nonprofit that brings together school district leaders, businesses and community organizations to improve educational outcomes for children in Pontiac. Mr. Head’s Pathways to Prosperity program promotes lifelong learning for residents and his service on the Oakland Literacy Council board helps advance literacy as a fundamental right throughout Oakland County. Professionally, he is the managing partner of Essential Recycling.
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Christian J. Williams – Mr. Williams, a resident of West Bloomfield, has made a significant mark on the career services field. He established CJW Consulting Group, an entrepreneurial professional development business that offers professional consulting for résumé development, cover letters, LinkedIn optimization and interview coaching. His firm has helped nearly 2,000 clients, ranging from individual contributors to vice presidents and C-suite professionals, from across the country develop their careers. Concurrently, he also serves as a supplier diversity consultant for Henry Ford Health, advocating for minority- and women-owned business enterprises. He is the recipient of 40 Under 40 awards from Michigan Chronicle and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
For more about this year’s Black Excellence Awards, visit https://bit.ly/BEAFeb24.
Each year, high school students from across the county have a unique opportunity to learn about the roles and responsibilities of county government through the annual Youth in Government Day. Hosted by the Board of Commissioners since the 1970s, the Board partners with Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) 4-H to give local teenagers an inside look at how elected officials and public servants work to support residents. Unlike state and federal government, county government is not covered in most high school curricula, making this event an important opportunity for students to gain insights into the workings of county government.
This year, more than 80 students from AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian School, Hazel Park High School, ITA Pontiac, Notre Dame Preparatory School, Oakland Christian School and Southfield Christian School participated in the event. The day consisted of Q&A sessions with county commissioners, including David T. Woodward (District 1), Ann Erickson Gault (District 3), Brendan Johnson (District 4), Angela Powell (District 9), Philip J. Weipert (District 13) and Yolanda Smith Charles (District 17). Students also heard from countywide officials including Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown, Undersheriff Curtis Childs, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Markeisha Washington, Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash, Treasurer Robert Wittenberg and Environmental Sustainability Officer Erin Quetell. Afterward, they visited circuit judges in their courtrooms to get a behind-the-scenes look at the judicial system.
Leaders from the MSUE 4-H civic program also led interactive problem-solving sessions during which students were challenged to step into the shoes of a county official and prioritize investments in sustainability efforts.
Read more about this year’s Youth in Government Day at https://bit.ly/YIGDayBlog24.
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Board Chair David T. Woodward (District 1) and Commissioners Brendan Johnson (District 4), Kristen Nelson (District 10) and Ajay Raman (District 14) recently joined Oakland County students, school officials and administrators to launch the Acorn2Oak mini-grant program.
Students ages 8-18 can apply to receive a grant of up to $1,000 toward their business or entrepreneurial ventures, community impact projects, educational pursuits, or extracurricular activities aligned with the program’s mission. Funds cannot be used for tuition, ongoing expenses, sporting equipment or team registration fees.
Acorn2Oak is designed to empower Oakland County’s youth to bring their dreams to fruition by offering hundreds of potential awards to those whose ambitions might otherwise be out of reach. The program is overseen by a committee of individuals from the Board, the Oakland County Executive Office and the Leadership Oakland Board of Directors.
The first award cycle is currently in progress. Applications for this round are open through March 15. For more information, please visit the Acorn2Oak website at acorn2oakgrant.com.
The Board regularly recognizes residents, community members, organizations and businesses with proclamations and certificates in honor of special milestones, contributions or achievements. See the list below for recognitions from last month.
- The life and legacy of William D. Lattimore, nightclub founder, union representative, Southfield City Councilperson and husband of former Oakland County Commissioner Janet Jackson, was honored – presented by Commissioners Yolanda Smith Charles (District 17) and Linnie Taylor (District 18), Feb. 2.
- Fifth-grade student Sally Huang was recognized for having her artwork selected as the cover for the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Kids’s Clean Water Calendar – presented by Commissioners Penny Luebs (District 2) and Ann Erickson Gault (District 3), Feb. 7.
- Joining with the entire Black community to reflect on their contributions to and sacrifices for our country and committing to the continued work toward justice, inclusion and equity for all residents, the Board proclaimed February as Black History Month in Oakland County – led by Commissioners Angela Powell (District 9), Smith Charles and Taylor, Feb. 7.
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Andrew Keilman, senior operations director at Pontiac-based Lee Industrial Contracting, received commendation for his nine years of dedicated logistics leadership on the Holiday Extravaganza parade in Pontiac – presented by Commissioners Brendan Johnson (District 4), Kristen Nelson (District 10), Karen Joliat (District 8), Christine Long (District 12), Philip J. Weipert (District 13) and Powell, Feb. 8.
- Firearm and ammunition sales and licensing training are available at the newly opened Armed in Michigan of Highland – presented by Commissioners Bob Hoffman (District 7) and Weipert, Feb. 23.
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Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® - Pi Tau Omega Chapter; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. – Southfield Alumnae Chapter; the National Congress of Black Women of Oakland County; Empowerment Church; the Southfield-Lathrup Village Optimist Club, Michigan; and the Western International Optimist Club were recognized as the six sponsoring organizations of “A Tribute to President Barack H. Obama,” a book about the historic 44th President of the United States – presented by Commissioner Taylor, Feb. 29.
Below is a schedule of meetings this month. Full Board and standing committee meetings are open to the public at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac, and livestreamed on the Board’s YouTube channel. Visit our website for any schedule changes and follow the Board on Facebook and LinkedIn for the latest updates.
Tuesday, Mar. 5
Legislative Affairs and Government Operations Committee, 9:00 a.m.
Public Health and Safety Committee, 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Mar. 6
Coordinating Zoning Committee, 8:30 a.m.
Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee, 9:30 a.m.
Special Committee to Study Road Commission Operations, 10:30 a.m.
Finance Committee, 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, Mar. 12
Majority Caucus, 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, Mar. 14
Majority Caucus, 8:30 a.m.
Full Board, 9:30 a.m.
Healthy Aging Ad Hoc Committee, 10:00 a.m.
Monday, Mar. 25
Oakland County Transit Committee, 11:00 a.m.
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As Women’s History Month begins, we celebrate the work and dedication of the 10 female commissioners elected to serve on the Board: Penny Luebs (District 2); Ann Erickson Gault (District 3); Karen Joliat (District 8); Angela Powell (District 9); Kristen Nelson (District 10); Marcia Gershenson (District 11); Christine Long (District 12); Gwen Markham (District 15); Yolanda Smith Charles (District 17); and Linnie Taylor (District 18). |
There’s a lot happening in Oakland County! Check out the latest news and upcoming events:
- The Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission (OCPRC) has released its 2023 Annual Report, which details park improvements, outreach programs, and other services made possible by the $15 million American Rescue Plan Act relief assistance. Learn more about the 15 current county parks, conservation efforts, events and educational opportunities provided by the OCPRC in 2023 here: https://bit.ly/OCPRCAnnualReport.
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Oakland County public high school students are invited to submit entries to the Financial Empowerment Arts contest. The Oakland County Treasurer’s Office is accepting 2-D (drawing, painting, photography, mixed media and illustration) and video submissions until March 15, 2024 at 11:50pm.
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Applications are now open for seasonal positions in departments and divisions including the Oakland County International Airport, Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center, Sheriff’s Office and more. For more information and to apply online, visit oakgov.com/jobs or one of the application PC stations at the Oakland County Human Resources department. For more information, call 248-858-0530.
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