NASW-Michigan Board President Fatima Salman chosen to serve on the Growing Michigan Together Council

On August 7, 2023 Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the individuals selected to participate in the workgroups for the recently formed Growing Michigan Together Council. 

The Growing Michigan Together Council (the Council) established by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in June 2023 will develop a long-term vision that addresses current and future challenges and sets Michigan up for success in the 21st Century.

The Council will advise the governor on specific policies to grow Michigan’s population, including identifying a population goal for 2050. It will also look at ways to successfully attract and retain talent, improve preK-12 educational outcomes and long-term funding solutions for higher education, and develop strategies for upgrading and modernizing our transportation and water infrastructure, including developing long-term, sustainable funding solutions.

NASW-Michigan is thrilled that our Board President, Fatima Salman, LLMSW-Macro, has been chosen to serve on the higher education workgroup. 

"I’ve been following the work and admiring the mission of the Growing Michigan Together Council ever since Governor Whitmer created it. To now be asked to serve on it is an honor and a responsibility," says Salman. "Through the collective work and findings from each represented sector and workgroup, it’s my hope we can collectively create deep change in Michigan. Let’s get ready to work!"

Read the full press release below.

August 7, 2023

Governor Whitmer Announces Selections for Workgroups to the Growing Michigan Together Council

LANSING, Mich. — Today, the Growing Michigan Together Council, through its Chairs Ambassador John Rakolta, Jr. and WSU Governor Shirley Stancato, announced selections for the workgroups of the Growing Michigan Together Council. The Council will utilize four workgroups, each with a specific focus area: 1) Infrastructure, 2) Jobs, Talent, and Economy, 3) PreK-12 Education, 4) Higher Education. Members of the workgroups were chosen based on a variety of criteria, including past and present professional experiences, volunteerism, and philanthropic involvement. 

“The diverse workgroup members of the Growing Michigan Together Council will be instrumental in our effort to grow our economy and population while protecting our natural resources,” said Governor Whitmer. “These members represent a range of professions, communities, and perspectives—all of which are essential to developing a comprehensive strategy for growth. I look forward to hearing from the council and its workgroups later this year. Let’s get to work!”

The workgroup members were selected among hundreds of extremely qualified candidates to broadly represent diversity among Michiganders and aims to encourage a bipartisan voice to make important recommendations for the future of the state. 

In addition to the workgroups, this fall, the Growing Michigan Together team will launch an ambitious public engagement plan with events across the state. The tour will include regional forums designed to discuss local challenges and growth opportunities in communities across the state. Additionally, many events will focus on collecting additional input from young people—at work, on campus, and online. Events in community spaces, workplaces, and on digital platforms like Instagram and Twitch will seek to include a broad range of perspectives. The tour will also meet college students where they are—on campus—convening both traditional students and adult learners with stops at universities, colleges, and community colleges.  Engagements include move-ins, on-campus listening events, homecomings, high schools, and other youth-focused events across the state.

Infrastructure & Place

• Rachel Gray, Executive Director, Hello West Michigan
• Ron Brenke, Executive Director, American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan
• Herasanna Richards, Legislative Associate for State & Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal League
• Melvin Henley, Policy Manager, Community Economic Development Association of Michigan
• Emily Thompson, Director of Economic and Community Development, Techtown Detroit/WSU
• Candice Miller, Macomb County Public Works Commissioner
• S. Evan Weiner, President & CEO, Edw. C. Levy Co.
• John Proos, CEO, JP4 Government Solutions
• Michael Alaimo, Director of Environmental & Energy Affairs, Michigan Chamber of Commerce
• Larry Filson, Assistant Vice President for Design & Sustainability, Walbridge
• Lottie Ferguson, Vice President of Development & Donor Services, Community Foundation of Greater Flint
• Ron Hall, President & CEO, Bridgewater Interiors, LLC
• James Hammill, Retired Wildlife Biologist, Michigan Department of Natural Resources 
• Kerry Duggan, CEO, SustainabiliD
• Rian English, Vice President of Government and Community Affairs, Olympia Development of Michigan
• Aidan Sova, Product Solutions Consultant, Google
  

PK-12

• Imani Harris, Communications Lead, 482 Forward
• Kevin Polston, Superintendent, Kentwood Public Schools
• Ja'Nel Jamerson, Vice President of Policy and P20 Partnerships and Executive Director ofthe Flint Center for Educational Excellence, Community Foundation of Greater Flint
• Donna Lasinski, Vice President, Michigan Future, Inc.
• Angelique Power, CEO, The Skillman Foundation 
• Dr. Tina Kerr, Executive Director, Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators
• Patrick Anderson, Principal & CEO, Anderson Economic Group, LLC
• Nancy Danhof, Former Executive Director, Todd Martin Development Fund
• Scott Koenigsknecht, Superintendent, Clinton County Regional Educational Service Agency
• Andy Johnston, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Strategic Engagement, Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce
• Terrence Martin, Sr., President, American Federation of Teachers
• Armen Hratchian, Executive Director, Teach for America
• Amber Arellano, Executive Director, The Education Trust-Midwest
• Beth Correa, Director of Corporate Responsibility, Flagstar Bank
• Alice Thompson, CEO, BFDI Educational Services
• Stephen Kircher, President & CEO, Boyne Resorts

Jobs, Talent & Economy

• Monique Stanton, President & CEO, Michigan League for Public Policy
• Jeannette Bradshaw, Recording Secretary, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 58
• Guillermo Cisneros, President & CEO, West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Dr. Alaina Jackson, Managing Director, Global Detroit
• Ahmad Nassar, CEO & Creative Director, Detroit 75 Kitchen
• Ken Horn, Executive Vice President of Strategic Development, Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance
• Randy Thelen, President & CEO, The Right Place, Inc. 
• Chad Bassett, COO, BAMF Health
• Stacie Bytwork, President & CEO, Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce
• John VanFossen, Vice President of Government Affairs, Meijer
• Ahmad Ezzeddine, Vice President of Academic Student Affairs and Global Engagement, Wayne State University 
• Kevin Prokop, Managing Partner, Rockbridge Growth Equity, LLC
• Eva Garza Dewaelsche, President & CEO, SER Metro-Detroit
• James Avery, Director of Talent Development, Flint & Genesee Group
• Adam Finkel, Partner, Orfin Ventures
• Abigail Baudry, Michigan’s Creative Coast Project Manager and Communications & Strategic Projects Coordinator, Traverse Connect

Higher Ed

• Bryan Barnhill II, Board of Governors, Wayne State University
• Kirsten Herold, President, U of M Lecturers Employee Organization and Secretary-Treasurer, American Federation of Teachers 
• Khary Turner, Executive Director, The Coleman A. Young Foundation
• Doug Ross, Partner, Diploma Equity Project
• Dr. Edward Montgomery, President, Western Michigan University
• Carla Bailo, President & CEO, ECOS Consulting, LLC and Vice Chairman, Kettering University
• David Nyberg, Executive Director of Business Engagement and Economic Development, Northern Michigan University  
• Dr. Jim Sawyer, President, Macomb Community College
• Dr. Richard Koubek, President, Michigan Technological University
• David Egner, President & CEO, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation
• John Walsh, President & CEO, Michigan Manufacturers Association
• Ryan Fewins-Bliss, Executive Director,Michigan College Access Network
• Kevin Stotts, President, TalentFirst
• Fatima Salman, President, National Association of Social Workers
• Emily Hoyumpa, President, Associated Students of Michigan State University 
• Alex Zhang, Partner, Zhang Financial
  

Workgroups will begin work immediately with the goal of submitting their reports to the Growing Michigan Together Council by mid-October.