SEMCOG
Southeast Michigan Council Of Governments

Regional Leaders Show How to Make Lasting Community Impact

| community and economic development, regionalism

Amy Malmer

Amy Malmer

Amy has been with SEMCOG for over 25 years. Much of that time has been spent working the member relations beat. More recently she has added another role, becoming Vice President of SEMCOG’s partner organization the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC). Amy has a Master's degree in Public Administration from Eastern Michigan.

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I recently had the first-hand opportunity to experience some of the significant impact that three organizations are making in metro Detroit. Leaders from these organizations were honored at the Shining Light Regional Cooperation Awards last fall.

This spring, the Shining Light Impact tour gave the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition and Detroit Free Press another opportunity to shine a light on how honorees are creating opportunities for metro Detroit residents to reach their goals.

Wayne County Community College District Provides Career Pathways and Community Benefits

Neal Shine Exemplary Regional Leadership Award winner Dr. Curtis L. Ivery is Chancellor of the Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD), and we were hosted by WCCCD’s Senior Vice Chancellor and Northwest Campus President Furquan Ahmed for the first stop on the tour. The Northwest Campus is home to both the Health Science Center along with the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Center.

A group of medical professionals wearing blue scrubs and hijabs engaged in a clinical discussion or training session. One individual uses a stethoscope on a medical model or device, highlighting hands-on learning and teamwork in a healthcare setting.

The Health Science Center is doing an outstanding job of preparing students for in-demand jobs in the healthcare field – their registered nursing program boasts 100% graduation and job placement rates in a field characterized by high demand and opportunity. In addition to providing career pathways, the college serves the community by providing free services, including dental procedures.

The Culinary Arts and Hospitality Center is preparing future chefs and leaders in the hospitality industry. As stated on their website, the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Center’s “state-of-the-art educational facility goes beyond offering programs. It is a dynamic chef’s kitchen that provides students with hands-on training in today’s in-demand culinary field that encourages creative expression and innovation in all things food.” They also provide an affordable Wednesday Lunch Service, which is prepared by students taking culinary courses. 

WCCCD doesn’t stop at offering these education and training opportunities, as they make sure their students have the resources and support needed to overcome financial and personal barriers that would otherwise keep them from achieving their dreams.

How can you have an impact? Visit the restaurant at the Northwest Campus for Wednesday Lunch Service. Share the opportunities offered at WCCCD with a young person in your life.

Central Detroit Christian Supports Life Success from Early Childhood to Home Ownership

entrance to a building housing Central Detroit Christian Community Development and Taylor Street Primary Care Clinic, featuring a red awning with address number 1550. Signage includes logos and text in white, black, yellow, and teal colors, with a person walking down stairs toward the entrance.

The second stop on our tour was Central Detroit Christian (CDC), founded by Lisa Johanon, the Eleanor Josaitis Unsung Hero Award winner. CDC is focused on serving children in a low-income neighborhood of Detroit. Children are, and always have been, the focus of CDC’s work with pre-school and extensive after-school and summer academic, sports, and recreation opportunities. However, Lisa and her staff soon realized that to properly support the children would require supporting families. This has expanded the activities of the CDC to include providing meals, offering coaching on homeownership and repairs, and even developing affordable housing.

Illustration representing housing and neighborhood development themes, including homes and community buildings in Southeast Michigan.
large, open indoor space with exposed brick walls and high windows, set up for a group meeting or workshop. Multiple people are seated at tables arranged in rows, with a whiteboard and large screen at the front, indicating an educational or collaborative event.

How can you have an impact? Donate to support CDC’s Summer Dreams program.

Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters Building Regional Prosperity

The final stop on our tour was to visit the training center for the Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters (NMRCC), where the Dave Bing Young Leader Award winner John Perkins Jr. hosted us at the training center where many of the future carpenters, millwrights, and floor-layers who will continue the work of building our city and our region are honing their craft.

workshop with four workers engaged in metal fabrication activities, including cutting and welding steel beams. The scene features various equipment such as a yellow forklift, welding machines, gas tanks, and workbenches, highlighting an active industrial environment focused on construction or manufacturing tasks.

Applications to the training programs at NMRCC are available and open to all and offer “earn while you learn” opportunities and mentoring support. The organization offers four-year apprenticeship training programs for carpenters, floor layers, and millwrights. They work for union contractors and train throughout the year at one of five state-of-the-art training centers across the state. These lead to enhanced employment opportunities, higher wages and benefits, and career stability.

How can you have an impact? Share the opportunities offered at NMRCC with a young person in your life.

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