FOCUS: HOPE - Key Persons
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- Member of the Board of Directors
- Senior Vice President
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- Member of the Board of Directors
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- Chief Executive Officer
- President
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- Chairman of the Board of Directors
The turning point in Eleanor Josaitis' life came in 1963 as she watched a televised report on the violence inflicted on civil rights marchers in Selma, Alabama. The horrific scene ignited Josaitis' passion for justice.
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- Owner / West Village Garden LLC
As a young priest, Father William T. Cunningham marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and preached eloquently against "the malignancy of racism." By the time his life drew to an end, he had left an indelible mark on the community.
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- President / JFM Consulting Group
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- Dir. of Workforce Development & Ed
- Director of Focus
- Director of Workforce Development and Education
Jewel Chapman is the Director of Focus: HOPE's Workforce Development and Education department. In this role, she serves as the administrative head leading the development and coordination of workforce development and education programming by providing general oversight to improve and maintain department effectiveness and alignment.
Jewel has been instrumental in the division's achievements since taking on this role. She instills a sense of team and can often be heard discussing the key to the department's success: "Our work is truly driven by the team WDE… and our One Focus: HOPE approach."
Jewel holds an MA in Education from Central Michigan University and a BS in Business Administration from Wayne State University, and she is a certified Global Career Development Facilitator.
Jewel has been recognized for her leadership skills, project management abilities and volunteerism within the roles that she has occupied at Focus: HOPE over the last thirteen years. Additionally, she sits on the Board of Directors for EMIY, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President and CEO, the Americas
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- Vice President of the Board of Directors
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- Chief Development Officer
- Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics at UDM
Keri Gaither is Focus: HOPE's Chief Development Officer. Previously, Keri provided fund development services to numerous non-profits in southeast Michigan via her private consulting business. Additionally, she was instrumental in garnering financial resources for Duggan for Detroit, Mayor Duggan's political candidate committee. Keri also provided fundraising services while serving as the Deputy Director for Turnaround Detroit, the political SuperPAC supporting Mike Duggan for Mayor.
During her tenure as Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics at UDM, Keri led multiple successful fundraising campaigns to fund capital improvements for new construction/renovations of athletic facilities. In 2009, Keri served as the Chair of the Detroit Local Organizing Committee for the highly successful NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four played at Ford Field, which brought positive global attention to Detroit and over $50M in economic impact to southeast Michigan.
Keri graduated from the University of Detroit with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Economics. Crain's Detroit Business named her to their Women to Watch list in 2008. She lives with her family in Pleasant Ridge, Michigan.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
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- Partner / Sigred Solutions
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- Resident Director, Wyandotte
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- Member of the Board of Directors
- Managing Partner of the Americas Consulting Practice / Ernst & Young LLP
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- CEO
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice Chair
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- Retired General Motors President
Retired General Motors President Lloyd Reuss volunteered to lead the innovative program, which gave MTI graduates the opportunity to earn a tuition-free college degree in manufacturing engineering. As this hands-on program gained national attention, prominent business and government leaders took note. Even President Bill Clinton came to Focus: HOPE to see the program in action.
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- Vice President of Ops Customer Fulfillment / Amazon
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- Manager, Government Workforce Development and Training Programs / Magna International Inc.
Portia Roberson joined the Focus: HOPE team as Chief Executive Officer in 2018, bringing strategic and inclusive leadership with a focus on moving the organization forward.
Prior to her work with Focus: HOPE, Portia acted as Group Executive of the City of Detroit's Civil Rights, Inclusion and Opportunity Department, working to ensure that all major economic development projects adhered to hiring Detroit-headquartered or Detroit-based businesses, thus allowing Detroit workers opportunities for employment. During her tenure with the City of Detroit, Portia led the charge on how Michigan and Detroit-based businesses can work together to enhance local employment. Previously, she served as Corporation Counsel, Law Department at the White House Domestic Policy Council for Strong Cities, Strong Communities, as well as Director, Office of Intergovernmental and Public Liaison under Attorney General Eric Holder.
Portia is a graduate of Cass Technical High School. She majored in English at the University of Michigan, and holds a Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School.
Portia is a well-known public speaker, serving as an on-camera analyst for WDIV's Flashpoint and CourtTV. She has extensive volunteer experience throughout Metro Detroit, serving as a Board Member for Michigan Political History Society, Habitat for Humanity, ACLU, and Delta Manor. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Wolverine Bar Association.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Pastor
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- Assistant Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer / FCA US LLC
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Partner / Deloitte & Touche LLP
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- DEI Executive Director of Workforce Strategy / General Motors