SDEV Welcomes New Executive Director, Raquel Garcia
October 7, 2019
It is my pleasure to announce Raquel Garcia as the new Executive Director of Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision.
Raquel joins SDEV from Global Detroit, where, since 2014, she has been Director of Housing and Special Projects. In that role, Raquel cultivated support for immigrant integration and economic development initiatives such as access to affordable homeownership through local landbank engagement, financial literacy, language access, and access to higher education. Prior to that, Raquel has worked as an immigrant rights organizer, electoral campaign organizer, and spent over 15 years in higher education as Dean of Career and Technical Programs and Dean of Students at Wayne County Community College District. Raquel has long been active in environmental initiatives at home and in the community, including serving on the SDEV Board of Directors for three years. We are excited by her commitment and passion for the neighborhoods of Southwest Detroit and we know that she will bring that to the organization.
Following a months-long internal visioning process, a search committee was formed consisting of the Southwest Detroit Environmental Board of Directors alongside the staff. The committee was coordinated by Craig Rumler, Treasurer of the Board. Many thanks to the search committee for their time and commitment to the process. Members of the committee reviewed dozens of applications and participated in three rounds of interviews with the finalists. We are all grateful for everyone’s contribution.
We have exciting times ahead and I invite you to connect and engage to be a part of it all. Join us for the December 12th Annual Member meeting to meet the team and see all of their great work as we report the year’s success to you – the community that we partner with toward a healthier Southwest Detroit. I ask for everyone’s support as Raquel transitions into her new role, which began October 1st. Please join us in officially welcoming Raquel to SDEV. If you’d like to personally congratulate her, please email her at raquel@sdevweb.org.
Christina Heximer
Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision
Board President
Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision – New Directions 2019-2020
2019 began with SDEV renewing our commitment to the mission we’ve worked for over 26 years – to improve the environment and strengthen the economy of Southwest Detroit. On behalf of the organization and staff, as the board president and vice president, we want to make clear that working this mission means being environmentally righteous – walking the walk with and for people and institutions that care about southwest Detroit and want to contribute positively to a healthy community.
SDEV has, over our history and today, worked together with residents, community organizations, government agencies, schools, businesses and industry to combat environmental issues, including: air quality, blight (illegal dumping, graffiti, abandoned homes), compatible land use, and water quality. If in the past SDEV has missed the mark in working our mission, we are committing today to our concept of environmental righteousness – approaching this work earnestly to inform, educate, and promote solutions to environmental challenges.
In December, SDEV welcomed 6 new board members elected by our general membership and, in January, the board elected a new executive committee. The executive committee has taken on the task of supporting and encouraging a dynamic board focused on community engagement and growth. The board and staff have embarked on a visioning and process initiative to better align SDEV’s mission, vision, and programs in response to new pressures and legacy environmental concerns that residents of Southwest Detroit are facing. SDEV is a bridge between residents, small businesses, large corporations, and public agencies in southwest Detroit related to environmental health. It is our goal to ensure that residents and entities working toward a healthy community have the latest and most reliable information available and that the pathways for engaging policy makers are clear and accessible.
As SDEV has gained new faces in 2019, it also lost some long serving members of the organization’s leadership. We wish Reverend George Bozanich (formerly Trinity St. Mark’s United Church of Christ), Darrell Grassmeyer (DTE Energy), Greg Bennethaum (Marathon Petroleum Corporation), Nazaret Sandoval (MDEQ), and former Executive Director Kathy Stott health and happiness as they move into new endeavors. SDEV is grateful for their years of commitment, service, and friendship.
It is an exciting and tumultuous time of learning ripe with opportunity for all of us!
We look forward to working with you on and unveiling new goals led by our values as we work to serve this beloved community of Southwest Detroit.
As always, in service,
Raquel Garcia
Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision
President
Christina Heximer
Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision
Vice President
