Friends of Rouge Park Board of Directors
Board members are elected at an annual election in March and serve one year. They provide strategic planning, financial oversight and budgeting, staff and organization management, and are advocates and ambassadors for the organization.
Board Job description
Board members are elected at an annual election in March and serve one year. They provide strategic planning, financial oversight and budgeting, staff and organization management, and are advocates and ambassadors for the organization.
Board Job description
Board of Directors
Sally Petrella, President
Arthur Edge, Vice President
Rachel Meeker, Recording Secretary
Yvette Pullom-Bass, Treasurer
Paula Trilety, Membership Chair
Lorraine Harris, Corresponding Secretary
Cara Beld, Trustee
Garrett Dempsey, Trustee
Paul Stark, Trustee
JJ Velez, Trustee
Patrick Duggan, Trustee
Sally Petrella, President
Arthur Edge, Vice President
Rachel Meeker, Recording Secretary
Yvette Pullom-Bass, Treasurer
Paula Trilety, Membership Chair
Lorraine Harris, Corresponding Secretary
Cara Beld, Trustee
Garrett Dempsey, Trustee
Paul Stark, Trustee
JJ Velez, Trustee
Patrick Duggan, Trustee
Staff
Alex Allen IV, Program Manager
Antonio Cosme, Land Stewardship Manager
David Oakley, Volunteer Coordinator
Alex Allen IV, Program Manager
Antonio Cosme, Land Stewardship Manager
David Oakley, Volunteer Coordinator
Board of Directors Biographies
Sally Petrella, President
Sally Petrella is one of the founding members of the Friends of Rouge Park and serves as the president. Growing up in southeast Michigan near the Rouge River, Petrella has always had a strong connection to the natural environment, and a commitment to improving it for all. She became active in improving her neighborhood park (Rouge Park) not long after moving to the city in 1987 and has a deep commitment to Detroit. As president, she provides guidance on stewardship of the park's 60 acre prairie, has secured and implemented two grants to create interpretive nature trails, fostered a community led Master Plan, oversees annual cleanups that attract as many as 300 people, advocates for the park, oversees interns and programming, and develops partnerships to improve the park.
Sally is the Monitoring Manager at Friends of the Rouge, the non-profit focused on the Rouge River, where she has worked for over 20 years. She engages local residents in collecting data about the health of the Rouge River that is used to assess and guide restoration. In addition to engaging people with the river through monitoring, she promotes paddling on the Rouge River as a way to connect people with the resource. She holds a Master's Degree in Biology from the University of Michigan where she studied natural ecosystems.
When she has free time, she spends it gardening, hiking, backpacking, and paddling.
Sally Petrella is one of the founding members of the Friends of Rouge Park and serves as the president. Growing up in southeast Michigan near the Rouge River, Petrella has always had a strong connection to the natural environment, and a commitment to improving it for all. She became active in improving her neighborhood park (Rouge Park) not long after moving to the city in 1987 and has a deep commitment to Detroit. As president, she provides guidance on stewardship of the park's 60 acre prairie, has secured and implemented two grants to create interpretive nature trails, fostered a community led Master Plan, oversees annual cleanups that attract as many as 300 people, advocates for the park, oversees interns and programming, and develops partnerships to improve the park.
Sally is the Monitoring Manager at Friends of the Rouge, the non-profit focused on the Rouge River, where she has worked for over 20 years. She engages local residents in collecting data about the health of the Rouge River that is used to assess and guide restoration. In addition to engaging people with the river through monitoring, she promotes paddling on the Rouge River as a way to connect people with the resource. She holds a Master's Degree in Biology from the University of Michigan where she studied natural ecosystems.
When she has free time, she spends it gardening, hiking, backpacking, and paddling.
Arthur Edge, Vice President
Arthur L. Edge, II is a life-long resident of the City of Detroit with a strong passion and commitment for his family, friends, the City of Detroit, and its residents.
Mr. Edge began his career with the City of Detroit in 1995 and was a well-respected City of Detroit employee and a community leader that touched the lives
of many as a positive role model. He is very community oriented, often attending and speaking at city council meetings and going out in the neighborhoods to attend community meetings, often on his own time, just to make sure the community stays informed. He brings their concerns, regarding the vacant and dangerous
properties located within their respective communities, back to the department to make sure they are logged into the dangerous building system.
Arthur took his job as a building supervisor for the Buildings and Safety, Engineering and Environmental Department very seriously. His dedication to
making the City of Detroit safe was not restricted to an 8-hour work shift; he was known to stop permit violators from continuing to work if he discovered them
working without a valid permit after business hours and even on the weekends. Mr. Arthur Edge retired from the City of Detroit in April 2022, after 27 years of
dedicated service.
His ultimate wish is to have a city where young children are no longer walking past, or playing around, open, and dangerous homes.
Arthur has received the Board of Police Commissioners Resolution twice, State of Michigan Certificate of Appreciation, Detroit City Council Testimonial Resolution
and been recognized by Detroit Police Department, as well as Wayne County Commission for his many years of service and community involvement.
Arthur's other passions include cars and formula one racing, standing up in the community against violence and injustice against women, children and seniors, by
becoming an active member of the Detroit 300 Community Action Team; president of his own neighborhood organization Far West Detroit Civic Association; vice
president of Friends of Rouge Park; member of The Sixth Precinct Community Relations Organization, member of the Neighborhood Partnership Alliance,
member of the Revive Detroit CDC and president of the Civic Optimist Club of Detroit. In his spare time, he works with community leaders of Project We Hope
Dream and Believe on restoring the Malcolm X House located in Inkster, Michigan.
Whenever the opportunity presents itself, Arthur likes to mentor young men. His wisdom, strength, courage and love for his family, friends and for our great City of
Detroit are just a few of the things that make Arthur such an inspiration to those who know and love him.
Arthur L. Edge, II is a life-long resident of the City of Detroit with a strong passion and commitment for his family, friends, the City of Detroit, and its residents.
Mr. Edge began his career with the City of Detroit in 1995 and was a well-respected City of Detroit employee and a community leader that touched the lives
of many as a positive role model. He is very community oriented, often attending and speaking at city council meetings and going out in the neighborhoods to attend community meetings, often on his own time, just to make sure the community stays informed. He brings their concerns, regarding the vacant and dangerous
properties located within their respective communities, back to the department to make sure they are logged into the dangerous building system.
Arthur took his job as a building supervisor for the Buildings and Safety, Engineering and Environmental Department very seriously. His dedication to
making the City of Detroit safe was not restricted to an 8-hour work shift; he was known to stop permit violators from continuing to work if he discovered them
working without a valid permit after business hours and even on the weekends. Mr. Arthur Edge retired from the City of Detroit in April 2022, after 27 years of
dedicated service.
His ultimate wish is to have a city where young children are no longer walking past, or playing around, open, and dangerous homes.
Arthur has received the Board of Police Commissioners Resolution twice, State of Michigan Certificate of Appreciation, Detroit City Council Testimonial Resolution
and been recognized by Detroit Police Department, as well as Wayne County Commission for his many years of service and community involvement.
Arthur's other passions include cars and formula one racing, standing up in the community against violence and injustice against women, children and seniors, by
becoming an active member of the Detroit 300 Community Action Team; president of his own neighborhood organization Far West Detroit Civic Association; vice
president of Friends of Rouge Park; member of The Sixth Precinct Community Relations Organization, member of the Neighborhood Partnership Alliance,
member of the Revive Detroit CDC and president of the Civic Optimist Club of Detroit. In his spare time, he works with community leaders of Project We Hope
Dream and Believe on restoring the Malcolm X House located in Inkster, Michigan.
Whenever the opportunity presents itself, Arthur likes to mentor young men. His wisdom, strength, courage and love for his family, friends and for our great City of
Detroit are just a few of the things that make Arthur such an inspiration to those who know and love him.
Yvette Pullom-Bass, Treasurer
Rachel Meeker, Recording Secretary
Rachel serves as the Executive Director of Brightmoor Artisans Collective (BAC), a local food hub and community center situated just north of Rouge Park. A resident of Brightmoor, Rachel serves as Secretary for the Neighbors Building Brightmoor Board of Directors and advocates on behalf of her community on the MSU Extension Detroit Partnership for Food, Learning and Innovation Advisory Council in Brightmoor.
Besides being a community organizer, Rachel is also a nature lover who deeply appreciates the access to green space Rouge Park provides to all Detroiters. Rachel is a frequent visitor to the Rouge Park nature trails and is also a community stakeholder for Eliza Howell Park in Brightmoor near her home by the Rouge River. Outside stewarding her local neighborhood green spaces, Rachel is a Member of Friends of the Rouge and is a Citizen Forester with Greening of Detroit to support urban greening efforts and environmental stewardship all over the city.
As a trustee on the Board of Directors for Friends of Rouge Park, Rachel sits on both the Programs Committee and the Fundraising Committee. Stemming from her work in local food systems, Rachel is a vocal advocate for the cultivation of pedestrian food forests and the development of native edible plant trails in the park. Additionally, Rachel is always seeking out new opportunities to deepen partnership with fellow organizations who use the park and encourages the diversification of park activities to serve all Detroiters. Rachel's last special interest as a trustee is exploring the histories of the park area along the Rouge prior to the establishment of the park in order to increase the visibility of those histories within Rouge Park today.
Rachel serves as the Executive Director of Brightmoor Artisans Collective (BAC), a local food hub and community center situated just north of Rouge Park. A resident of Brightmoor, Rachel serves as Secretary for the Neighbors Building Brightmoor Board of Directors and advocates on behalf of her community on the MSU Extension Detroit Partnership for Food, Learning and Innovation Advisory Council in Brightmoor.
Besides being a community organizer, Rachel is also a nature lover who deeply appreciates the access to green space Rouge Park provides to all Detroiters. Rachel is a frequent visitor to the Rouge Park nature trails and is also a community stakeholder for Eliza Howell Park in Brightmoor near her home by the Rouge River. Outside stewarding her local neighborhood green spaces, Rachel is a Member of Friends of the Rouge and is a Citizen Forester with Greening of Detroit to support urban greening efforts and environmental stewardship all over the city.
As a trustee on the Board of Directors for Friends of Rouge Park, Rachel sits on both the Programs Committee and the Fundraising Committee. Stemming from her work in local food systems, Rachel is a vocal advocate for the cultivation of pedestrian food forests and the development of native edible plant trails in the park. Additionally, Rachel is always seeking out new opportunities to deepen partnership with fellow organizations who use the park and encourages the diversification of park activities to serve all Detroiters. Rachel's last special interest as a trustee is exploring the histories of the park area along the Rouge prior to the establishment of the park in order to increase the visibility of those histories within Rouge Park today.
Paula Trilety, Membership Chair
Paula Trilety is a lifelong Detroiter who has always lived within five miles of Rouge Park! She is a community leader, an activist, and a retired Detroit Public School educator with 45+ years of service to the district. Dr. Ron Kar, who was the Language Arts director of the Detroit Public
Schools, gave Paula a “gold star of excellence” after observing in her classroom.
Before and while obtaining her teaching certificate Paula worked in a machine shop, for Kelly Services, in the Stock Transfer department of National Bank of Detroit and as a legal secretary at Dykema, Gossett, Spencer, Goodnow and Trigg law firm. She served on the Executive Board and Negotiating Team for the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) and was a delegate to the state and national conventions for 25 years. Paula remains a DFT member and has been active in the organization for over 50 years. She is the chairperson and past treasurer of the Detroit Federation of Teachers Memorial Scholarship Fund which was established as an endowment scholarship at Wayne State University, College of Education, and has grown from $26,000 to
$87,000 over the past five years.
Paula has been president of the West Outer Drive Civic Association (WODCA) for over thirty years. WODCA is an organizational member of the Friends of Rouge Park (FORP). Paula serves as membership chairperson for FORP and since taking the position has steadily increased membership numbers. FORP currently has over 170 individual members and 20 organizational members. Paula also serves on the Detroit Parks Coalition and Detroit Parks Coalition Programming Committee representing Friends of Rouge Park.
Paula’s past board positions include secretary of the Sixth Precinct Community Relations Board, secretary of the Sixth Precinct Business United with Officers and Youth (BUOY) Board, secretary of REVIVE Detroit Community Development Corporation; and she currently serves as a legislative ambassador for the Washtenaw Association of Retired School Personnel.
Paula has received the “Spirit of Detroit” Award twice and been recognized by Cody Rouge Community Action Alliance, The Power of One Dedicated Woman, Black Family Development, Detroit Police Department, Detroit Public Schools Reading Corp, Detroit City Council, Wayne County Clerk, Wayne County Commission, Third Judicial Circuit Court, State of Michigan, and U.S. Department of Justice for her years of service and community involvement.
Paula attended Ann Arbor Trail Elementary/Junior High School and graduated from Cass Technical High School. She attended Wayne State University receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, a Master’s of Reading, and she completed thirty hours beyond her Master’s in Educational Administration and Computer Technology. She was also selected to teach in the Gifted and Talented Program within the Detroit Public School District.
Paula loves visits with grandchildren, walking Kelsey—her yellow lab, gardening, nature, entertaining friends and family, cultural events, politics and reading. On many days you can find her participating in activities in Rouge Park!
Paula Trilety is a lifelong Detroiter who has always lived within five miles of Rouge Park! She is a community leader, an activist, and a retired Detroit Public School educator with 45+ years of service to the district. Dr. Ron Kar, who was the Language Arts director of the Detroit Public
Schools, gave Paula a “gold star of excellence” after observing in her classroom.
Before and while obtaining her teaching certificate Paula worked in a machine shop, for Kelly Services, in the Stock Transfer department of National Bank of Detroit and as a legal secretary at Dykema, Gossett, Spencer, Goodnow and Trigg law firm. She served on the Executive Board and Negotiating Team for the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) and was a delegate to the state and national conventions for 25 years. Paula remains a DFT member and has been active in the organization for over 50 years. She is the chairperson and past treasurer of the Detroit Federation of Teachers Memorial Scholarship Fund which was established as an endowment scholarship at Wayne State University, College of Education, and has grown from $26,000 to
$87,000 over the past five years.
Paula has been president of the West Outer Drive Civic Association (WODCA) for over thirty years. WODCA is an organizational member of the Friends of Rouge Park (FORP). Paula serves as membership chairperson for FORP and since taking the position has steadily increased membership numbers. FORP currently has over 170 individual members and 20 organizational members. Paula also serves on the Detroit Parks Coalition and Detroit Parks Coalition Programming Committee representing Friends of Rouge Park.
Paula’s past board positions include secretary of the Sixth Precinct Community Relations Board, secretary of the Sixth Precinct Business United with Officers and Youth (BUOY) Board, secretary of REVIVE Detroit Community Development Corporation; and she currently serves as a legislative ambassador for the Washtenaw Association of Retired School Personnel.
Paula has received the “Spirit of Detroit” Award twice and been recognized by Cody Rouge Community Action Alliance, The Power of One Dedicated Woman, Black Family Development, Detroit Police Department, Detroit Public Schools Reading Corp, Detroit City Council, Wayne County Clerk, Wayne County Commission, Third Judicial Circuit Court, State of Michigan, and U.S. Department of Justice for her years of service and community involvement.
Paula attended Ann Arbor Trail Elementary/Junior High School and graduated from Cass Technical High School. She attended Wayne State University receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, a Master’s of Reading, and she completed thirty hours beyond her Master’s in Educational Administration and Computer Technology. She was also selected to teach in the Gifted and Talented Program within the Detroit Public School District.
Paula loves visits with grandchildren, walking Kelsey—her yellow lab, gardening, nature, entertaining friends and family, cultural events, politics and reading. On many days you can find her participating in activities in Rouge Park!
Lorraine Harris, Corresponding Secretary
Lorraine Harris is a life-long resident of the City of Detroit. Her career as a well-respected and dedicated city employee began in 1989, which allowed her to hone her customer service and community activist skills over the years by being active in the community, and fostering great relationships with various organizations, community leaders and officials.
Lorraine’s other passions include standing up in the community against violence and injustice against women, children, and seniors, by becoming an active member of the Detroit 300 Community Action Team; member of her neighborhood organization Far West Detroit Civic Association; corresponding secretary of Friends of Rouge Park; member of The Sixth Precinct Community Relations Organization, member of the Neighborhood Partnership Alliance and member of the Revive Detroit CDC. In her spare time, she works with domestic violence organizations, and participates in fundraising efforts for breast cancer research.
Lorraine’s main joy is spending time with family members, acting as King Arthur’s personal secretary, watching her children excel in their life ventures,
visiting with her beautiful granddaughters cheering them on as they try to achieve any goal set for gymnastics and cheer team squad placing 1st place in both fields, and spending time spoiling her sweet, loving, and protective 155-pound rottweiler fur baby Diesel.
Lorraine Harris is a life-long resident of the City of Detroit. Her career as a well-respected and dedicated city employee began in 1989, which allowed her to hone her customer service and community activist skills over the years by being active in the community, and fostering great relationships with various organizations, community leaders and officials.
Lorraine’s other passions include standing up in the community against violence and injustice against women, children, and seniors, by becoming an active member of the Detroit 300 Community Action Team; member of her neighborhood organization Far West Detroit Civic Association; corresponding secretary of Friends of Rouge Park; member of The Sixth Precinct Community Relations Organization, member of the Neighborhood Partnership Alliance and member of the Revive Detroit CDC. In her spare time, she works with domestic violence organizations, and participates in fundraising efforts for breast cancer research.
Lorraine’s main joy is spending time with family members, acting as King Arthur’s personal secretary, watching her children excel in their life ventures,
visiting with her beautiful granddaughters cheering them on as they try to achieve any goal set for gymnastics and cheer team squad placing 1st place in both fields, and spending time spoiling her sweet, loving, and protective 155-pound rottweiler fur baby Diesel.
Paul Stark, Trustee
Paul has lived less than 1-1/2 miles from Rouge Park for 35 years. He received a masters degree in Orientation and Mobility (1987) and in Political Science (1995). He worked as a high school teacher for the Detroit Public Schools for 25 years, and currently contracts with the State to provide Orientation & Mobility services for the blind. In the 1990s, he was the president of the Penrod Block Club and served on the board of the Warrendale Community Organization (including as president for several years). He has been on the board of the Friends of Rouge Park since its founding in 2002, serving as secretary for most those years. He manages the rougepark.org web site and publishes the organization’s monthly newsletter. He has also done some research on the history of Rouge Park and has produced two video presentations on the early history of the park.
Paul has lived less than 1-1/2 miles from Rouge Park for 35 years. He received a masters degree in Orientation and Mobility (1987) and in Political Science (1995). He worked as a high school teacher for the Detroit Public Schools for 25 years, and currently contracts with the State to provide Orientation & Mobility services for the blind. In the 1990s, he was the president of the Penrod Block Club and served on the board of the Warrendale Community Organization (including as president for several years). He has been on the board of the Friends of Rouge Park since its founding in 2002, serving as secretary for most those years. He manages the rougepark.org web site and publishes the organization’s monthly newsletter. He has also done some research on the history of Rouge Park and has produced two video presentations on the early history of the park.
Garrett Dempsey, Trustee
Garrett Dempsey is the lead Sierra Club staff with Detroit Outdoors. His experiences growing up in San Francisco and organizing with communities in Oakland, California have shaped his passion for connecting urban youth with the outdoors and nature. Garrett is passionate about equitable access to nature and expanding the definition of what makes people conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts. Garrett is also the volunteer chair of the Sierra Club Detroit Inspiring Connections Outdoors program and he serves on the Executive Committee for the Sierra Club South East Michigan Group.
Garrett Dempsey is the lead Sierra Club staff with Detroit Outdoors. His experiences growing up in San Francisco and organizing with communities in Oakland, California have shaped his passion for connecting urban youth with the outdoors and nature. Garrett is passionate about equitable access to nature and expanding the definition of what makes people conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts. Garrett is also the volunteer chair of the Sierra Club Detroit Inspiring Connections Outdoors program and he serves on the Executive Committee for the Sierra Club South East Michigan Group.
Cara Beld, Trustee