|
FRIENDS OF ROUGE PARK BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board members are elected from the membership at an annual election in March and serve one year. They provide high-level oversight, secure resources and set strategy. If you are interested in running for the board, please check out the Job Description and complete the Online Form. |
Board of Directors
Sally Petrella, President
Sally Petrella is one of the founding members of the Friends of Rouge Park and serves as the president.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. Read More.
Sally Petrella is one of the founding members of the Friends of Rouge Park and serves as the president.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. Read More.
Rachel Meeker, Vice President
Rachel serves as the Executive Director of Brightmoor Artisans Collective (BAC), a community center and local food hub north of Rouge Park. As a Brightmoor resident, she is President of the Neighbors Building Brightmoor Board and sits on the Eliza Howell Community Advisory Council for Sidewalk Detroit. As a member of the Rouge Park Board of Directors, Rachel is committed to fostering partnerships with organizations focused on equitable and sustainable community stewardship of the park. Read More.
|
Yvette Pullom-Bass, Treasurer
Yvette Pullom-Bass is a native Detroiter and a graduate of Wayne State University where she received a BSW and MSW with concentrations in Community Development and Leadership. Yvette is the Program Director at Detroit Parks Coalition. Prior to working with DPC, Yvette spent six years working with the Chandler Park Conservancy where she contributed to the fundraising, capital development, and programming development and implementation. Yvette learned how to play the sport of lacrosse at Chandler Park and now coaches with the Detroit Youth Lacrosse program. |
Cara Beld, Recording Secretary
Cara Beld is the Development Manager for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. In this role, she oversees the Chapter’s direct mail, digital fundraising, donor events, individual donor fundraising, and supports grant work. Prior to serving as a Trustee for Friends of Rouge Park, Cara was the Public Engagement Intern for the organization. As an Intern, she worked to expand park programming through winter events, stewardship workdays, nature walks, and growing the year end giving campaign. Read More.
Cara Beld is the Development Manager for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. In this role, she oversees the Chapter’s direct mail, digital fundraising, donor events, individual donor fundraising, and supports grant work. Prior to serving as a Trustee for Friends of Rouge Park, Cara was the Public Engagement Intern for the organization. As an Intern, she worked to expand park programming through winter events, stewardship workdays, nature walks, and growing the year end giving campaign. Read More.
Paula Trilety, Membership Chair
Paula is a community leader, an activist, and a retired Detroit Public School educator with 45+ years of service. Paula has been president of the West Outer Drive Civic Association (WODCA) for over thirty years. Paula also serves on the Detroit Parks Coalition (DPC) and DPC Programming Committee representing Friends of Rouge Park. 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 Public Schools Reading Corp, and many more accolades. Read More.
Paula is a community leader, an activist, and a retired Detroit Public School educator with 45+ years of service. Paula has been president of the West Outer Drive Civic Association (WODCA) for over thirty years. Paula also serves on the Detroit Parks Coalition (DPC) and DPC Programming Committee representing Friends of Rouge Park. 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 Public Schools Reading Corp, and many more accolades. Read More.
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.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. Read More.
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.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. Read More.
Alex Allen III, Trustee
Alex J. Allen, III has served as President and CEO of the Chandler Park Conservancy since 2016, where he leads collaborations with residents, stakeholders, local institutions, businesses, government, and philanthropy to transform Chandler Park into a premier campus for education, recreation, and conservation on Detroit’s east side. Under his leadership, the Conservancy has secured more than $9.5 million in funding and leveraging another $17 million dollars, resulting in countless new amenities for the park. Read More.
Alex J. Allen, III has served as President and CEO of the Chandler Park Conservancy since 2016, where he leads collaborations with residents, stakeholders, local institutions, businesses, government, and philanthropy to transform Chandler Park into a premier campus for education, recreation, and conservation on Detroit’s east side. Under his leadership, the Conservancy has secured more than $9.5 million in funding and leveraging another $17 million dollars, resulting in countless new amenities for the park. Read More.
|
Cayla Chamberlain, Trustee
Cayla Chamberlin is a Senior Program Manager with the Gilbert Family Foundation. A passionate public space professional with over a decade of experience, she works to create safe, inclusive, and active parks and public spaces in Detroit. She has experience working on a variety of projects in Detroit with a focus on redeveloping parks and creating engaging programming. She has also been leading the Downtown Detroit Winter Markets in Cadillac Square since the initiative was created in 2017. Cayla is a graduate of Michigan State University (Go Green!) and a proud resident of Detroit. In her spare time, you can find her checking out new coffee shops, watching hockey, and traveling. |
Garrett Dempsey, Trustee
Garrett Dempsey is the lead staff member for the Sierra Club's Detroit Outdoors program, where he dedicates his efforts to fostering a deeper connection between urban youth and the natural world. Garrett's commitment to community building extends to his role as a board trustee for the Friends of Rouge Park, where he has served for over three years. In this capacity, he focuses on developing partnerships between Detroit Outdoors and Friends of Rouge Park, ensuring that both organizations work in unison to enhance the park's natural beauty and accessibility. Read More.
Garrett Dempsey is the lead staff member for the Sierra Club's Detroit Outdoors program, where he dedicates his efforts to fostering a deeper connection between urban youth and the natural world. Garrett's commitment to community building extends to his role as a board trustee for the Friends of Rouge Park, where he has served for over three years. In this capacity, he focuses on developing partnerships between Detroit Outdoors and Friends of Rouge Park, ensuring that both organizations work in unison to enhance the park's natural beauty and accessibility. Read More.
Patrick Duggan, Trustee
Patrick Duggan is the Manager of Community and Social Responsibility and the Pistons Foundation. In this role, he oversees fundraising efforts for the Pistons Foundation, awards grants, and activates initiatives aligned with the Detroit Pistons' Community & Social Responsibility mission in education, health and fitness, mentoring, and equality. Previously, Patrick worked for the Detroit Police Athletic League, providing sports programs for the city's youth. He is passionate about sports, Detroit, and serving his community. Patrick is a member of the Friends of Rouge Park and serves as a Trustee on their Board of Directors, where he sits on both the Program Committee and the Rouge Park Centennial Celebration Committee.
Patrick Duggan is the Manager of Community and Social Responsibility and the Pistons Foundation. In this role, he oversees fundraising efforts for the Pistons Foundation, awards grants, and activates initiatives aligned with the Detroit Pistons' Community & Social Responsibility mission in education, health and fitness, mentoring, and equality. Previously, Patrick worked for the Detroit Police Athletic League, providing sports programs for the city's youth. He is passionate about sports, Detroit, and serving his community. Patrick is a member of the Friends of Rouge Park and serves as a Trustee on their Board of Directors, where he sits on both the Program Committee and the Rouge Park Centennial Celebration Committee.
Arthur Edge, Trustee
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. 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. Read More.
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. 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. Read More.
Bobbi Johnson, Trustee
|
Kate Gmyrek, City Liason
Kate Gmyrek is an Assistant Chief of Landscape Architecture with the City of Detroit's General Services Department, where she works as the landscape architect managing Rouge Park, as well as other natural areas in the park system. She holds an undergraduate degree in geography from DePaul University and a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Southern California. She spends her spare time exploring the city’s parks and open spaces with her family and gardening in their yard. |