PEOPLE OVER POLITICS

As a community advocate, I am passionate about fighting for the best interest of our children which means working towards closing the Achievement Gap, providing more Wrap Around Services, Increasing Funding for our Schools, Creating more Trades programs, and Fighting Illiteracy.

As a college student, I understand how important it is for students to have access to free and affordable Higher Learning opportunities.

As an educator, I know that it is important to support our teachers, as well as support staff, with competitive salaries and benefit packages; smaller classroom sizes; updated curriculum; advanced professional development; and policies that enable a quality, affordable, and equitable education for students in every corner of Michigan.

Interview with Ortheia Barnes

Speaking on Squatters in the New York Times

Tiffany on Ruth to the Rescue speaking out against a company that has failed Southfield residents

Letter on losing Affirmative Action in MI

Featured in the Washington Post

Quoted in Harvard Journal

• Corresponding Secretary & Political Director of the 14th Congressional District Democrats (under Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence)
• Executive Committee Member of the Oakland County Democratic Party
• DNC Liaison for the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus
• Former Great Lakes Regional Director of the Jewish Caucus for Young Dems of America
• Former Young Democratic Party Chair of the 12th Congressional District (under Congressman Sander Levin)
• Licensed Realtor® and member of GMAR, experienced in Real Estate Development. Experienced in contract negotiations, and governmental affairs regarding development.
• Former Communications Director of Detroit Downtown Inc. (Central Business District), and Editor of our publication, The Insider.
• International travel and study abroad experiences in which I obtained business mentoring, as well as studied different cultural, business, political and social frameworks. Various countries of travel include Israel 2005 (The Knesset); Brazil 2013 (Ernst & Young, ThyssenKrupp, and the Brazilian Development Bank); China 2013 (Ericsson); Italy 2014 (Italian National Bank).
• Former AmeriCorp Vista Volunteer at the Arab American National Museum
• Former Great Lakes Regional Director of the Jewish Caucus for Young Dems of America
• Former Senior Advisor for Governor Granholm's Millennials
• Recipient of Midtown Dems 2007 Social Justice Award
• President and Founder of P.A.T.C.H.E.S. Inc. (People Actively Taking Chances and Helping to Educate Society) a Non-Profit 501 (c) (3) organization.
• June 1, 2007 organized the 3rd Annual M.A.N.N.I.E. Project at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History including a group of Community Leaders to form a live Q&A Panel, moderated by local media personality.
• Applied and received the National Sloan award for Work Place Flexibility on behalf of a local non-profit and served as a panelist chosen by the Detroit Regional Chamber.
• June 3, 2006 organized the 2nd Annual M.A.N.N.I.E. Project at Cass Park including a group of Community Leaders to form a live Q&A Panel, moderated by local media personality.
• Circulated an ongoing email campaign to 10,000 people informing them of job opportunities, and community resources.
• February 2006 Lobbied to Congress on behalf of Parents Anonymous a National Parent Organization.
• June 1, 2005 organized the 1st Annual M.A.N.N.I.E. Project’s “Stop the Violence Rally” at the Johnson Recreation Center including a group of Community Leaders to form a live Q&A Panel, moderated by local media personality.
• Organized and founded The M.A.N.N.I.E. Project (Mending A Neighborhood Needing Impact Everyday).
• April 2005, invited to the Knesset in Israel as media, to cover Pastor Glenn Plummers' address to Parliament.
• Editor & Chief of The Covenant Magazine
• President & CEO of Manna Entertainment
• Contributing writer for The Michigan Chronicle, The Michigan Journal, The Michigan FrontPage, and Connect with Detroit Magazine
• Received the 1995 Editor’s Choice Award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry Presented by The National Library of Poetry