Grounded in a commitment to racial equity, justice, and inclusion, our culture is the driving force behind every step we take. It fuels our vision to create transformative change, empowering leaders and communities to build a more equitable and inclusive future.
New Detroit is a coalition of leaders working to achieve racial understanding and racial equity in Metropolitan Detroit.
We were formed in response to civil unrest in 1967 at the request of then Michigan Governor George Romney, Detroit Mayor Jerome Cavanagh, and business executive Joseph L. Hudson, Jr. to identify what went wrong, what needed to change, and how to make that change happen. Today, NDI moves toward its mission to lead collaborative efforts to dismantle racism and achieve racial equity by changing hearts, minds, policies and systems in Southeastern Michigan.
Our vision is to see communities free of racism where all individuals are valued, respected, and celebrated for their unique identities creating a brighter future fall all. We do this as an institutional thought leader, an advocate for policy change, and as a catalyst for collective action. Our work is organized around these three strategies, and includes trainings, education, research, advocacy, and partnerships to fight racism at the personal, institutional, and systemic levels.
Rooted in Equity, Driven by Purpose
Vision
Communities free of racism where all individuals are valued, respected, and celebrated for their unique identities creating a brighter future fall all.
Mission
New Detroit leads collaborative efforts to dismantle racism and achieve racial equity by changing hearts, minds, policies and systems in Southeastern Michigan.
Value Proposition
Uniting diverse voices, driving data-informed solutions, and providing resources to achieve racial equity.
Values
Adaptability: Adjust to conditions with incremental changes.
Collective Impact: Engage collaborators around a common agenda to achieve more than we could alone.
Focus: Disciplined in our work and avoid distractions.
Dimensionality: Consider the multiple identities of those we impact.
OUR HISTORY
New Detroit was formed in response to civil unrest in 1967 that uncovered a host of entrenched social and community ills. At the request of then Michigan Governor George Romney and Detroit Mayor Jerome Cavanagh, business executive Joseph L. Hudson, Jr. convened a unique coalition—the nation’s first—to identify what went wrong in July 1967, what needed to change, and how to make that change happen.
Since then, New Detroit, Inc. has been a unique and valuable arena where leaders of Detroit’s business, civic, grassroots, and religious communities have come together to plan cooperative strategies and to demonstrate their commitment to the city and its environs. New Detroit provides a forum for community leaders to come together to listen and learn from each other and to serve as a regional forum for sensitive issues among individuals who might otherwise have no contact. The coalition has worked to impact the actions of individuals and institutions by serving in a number of roles; advocate, catalyst, convener, and facilitator.
New Detroit has served as a catalyst for change, influencing the actions of individuals and institutions. Through advocacy and leadership by example, New Detroit has demonstrated new ways for solving specific community problems, as well as provided resources to community-based groups.
Our Leadership and Staff
Jodee Fishman Raines, COO: After 25 years in philanthropy Jodee joined New Detroit, effective March 8, 2020. Recognized by Crain’s Detroit Business as one of Metro Detroit’s Most Influential Women, Jodee has led significant organizational growth and transformation as a professional and volunteer at some of Detroit’s finest institutions, including Executive VP of Programs at the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, Director of The Jewish Fund, Program Officer at The Skillman Foundation, and President of the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue. Jodee has a J.D. from Wayne State University and practiced nonprofit and corporate law at Bodman PLC.
Marshalle Favors, Director of Community Engagement: Marshalle promotes positive race relations by developing and maintaining relationships that convene the Arab, Chaldean, African American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American communities throughout southeast Michigan. As lead facilitator for New Detroit’s Leadership Series on R.A.C.E. and Multicultural Leadership Series, Marshalle conducts regional forums with representatives from a cross section of businesses, civic groups, educational institutions, health services and community-based organizations. Marshalle studied at the Institute de Touraine in France and is a graduate of Michigan State University. She is committed to cultivating cross-cultural collaboration between diverse communities by developing collective strategies and solutions that affect social equity. Marshalle is a ForbesBLK Community Member, a 2023 Women of Excellence Honoree and awarded as one of the Most Influential African American Women in Metropolitan Detroit in 2021.
Rebecca Irby, Director of Transformational Change: Rebecca was on the team winning the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize and opens spaces of peace and cross-cultural communication worldwide. She holds Consulting Status at the United Nations, is on the Financing for Development Committee, and sits on the Working Group on Climate Finance. Rebecca helps develops heart-centered leaders who are empathetic, mindful, and courageous. At New Detroit, she is developing programs and curriculum, through New Detroit’s Just Institute and beyond, that use a multi-pronged approach to addressing the three levels of transformational systems change (policy/practice | resources/power dynamics | mental models), helping groups transform themselves, their relationships, and policies to move their businesses/institutions towards becoming a thriving anti-racist, multicultural organization. Rebecca has spoken at and worked with prominent institutions and governments such as Harvard Law School, the Yale Policy Conference, the University of Michigan, NJ Department of Education, Rutgers University, The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, & Industry; The City of Hiroshima; Nagoya University; New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Det Norske Veritas (DNV), and The PyeongChang Global Peace Forum, to name a few.
In his nearly five years since joining New Detroit, Rafferty has ushered in the Just Institute, a comprehensive suite of industry-specific certified training and consulting. The Just Institute provides participants with interactive learning and customized action plans to create racially equitable policies and practices. One of the core programs of Just Institute, Just Care, customized for the healthcare industry, has been positively evaluated by John Hopkins and meets state licensing requirements under the Michigan Public Health Code.
In his nearly five years since joining New Detroit, Rafferty has ushered in the Just Institute, a comprehensive suite of industry-specific certified training and consulting. The Just Institute provides participants with interactive learning and customized action plans to create racially equitable policies and practices. One of the core programs of Just Institute, Just Care, customized for the healthcare industry, has been positively evaluated by John Hopkins and meets state licensing requirements under the Michigan Public Health Code.
Under Rafferty’s leadership, New Detroit has received many recognitions and awards including, but not limited to: the National Diversity Council’s 2023 Racial Justice and DE&I Advocacy award; Corp! Magazine’s Best of MichBusiness Award; named as one of Crain’s Detroit Business 2021 Metro Detroit’s Best Managed Nonprofits and received the 2024 Stellar Business Award as Best Nonprofit in Detroit, MI.
Rafferty serves as a board member for several profit and nonprofit organizations including but not limited to: Henry Ford Health, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, TechTown, and Jefferson East Inc. He earned a master’s degree in urban planning with a concentration in economic development from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.
He has received several honors and awards including Crain Detroit Business’s recognition as a Notable Executive in DEI; the Sue Marx Smock Graduate Fellowship Award for Urban Research; the Business Visionary Award from the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and the Michigan Chronicle’s Men of Excellence award; Corp! Magazine’s Michigan Salute to Diversity Award and acknowledged by the Michigan Chronicle as one of 25 Inaugural Standout Black Non-Profit Leaders in Metro Detroit.
Vanessa Johnson, Senior Executive Assistant and Office Manager: Vanessa joined New Detroit in 1998. Previously, she worked as an assistant in multiple capacities including; social service foster care, the Detroit Police Department- Personnel Bureau, and most notably for the City of Detroit as Mayoral Staff Secretary under former Mayor Coleman A. Young. In her native Buffalo, NY, Vanessa enjoyed a career in television (Taft Broadcasting) and radio media (Sheridan Broadcasting) as well as in the non- profit sector. She was recognized as a “Black Achiever In Industry.” Vanessa holds an Associate’s Degree in Office Stenography from Sawyer School of Business. She is an active member of Fellowship Chapel U.C.C. and a long-standing member of its Steward Board ministry.
New Detroit: Board Officers
Chair
Cheryl P. Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
COTS
Vice Chairs
Reginald G. Dozier
President & CEO; Lewis & Munday, PC
Kevin Prokop
Partner; Rockbridge Growth Equity, LLC
Secretary
Peter M. Kellett
Member & Chair Emeritus; Dykema
Treasurer
Andrew Stein
President & CEO, The Children’s Foundation
New Detroit: The Coalition
Chair
Reginald G. Dozier
President & CEO
Lewis & Munday, PC
Vice Chair
Freda G. Sampson
CEO & Lead DEI Consultant
Freda G. Sampson, LLC
Coalition Members
Coalition Members Serving On Board So Noted
N. Charles Anderson
President & CEO; Urban League of Detroit & Southeastern Michigan
The Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, Board Member
President; Detroit Branch, NAACP
Nabih H. Ayad
Founder; Arab American Civil Rights League
Angela Wang Beasinger
President; WeAct, Inc.
Charles M. Beckham
Retired – City of Detroit
Adam Blanck
Chief of Staff; Wallside Windows
Denise Brooks-Williams, FACHE, Board Member
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Henry Ford Health
Marvis Cofield
Chief Executive Officer; Alkebu-Lan Village
Dwan Dandridge
CEO, Black Leaders Detroit
Eva Garza Dewaelsche, Board Member
President & CEO, SER Metro-Detroit
Reginald G. Dozier, Board Member
President & CEO, Lewis & Munday, PC
Latrina Edwards, Board Member
VP, General Counsel, Corporate
Secretary & Chief Compliance Officer, AAA Life
Maha Freij, Board Member
Executive Director; ACCESS
David F. Girodat
President & CEO; Fifth Third Bank-Eastern Michigan
Domenico Grasso, PhD, Board Member
Chancellor, University of Michigan Dearborn
Dierk L. Hall
President & CEO; City Connect Detroit
Shonda Issac
Area General Manager: Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
Cheryl P. Johnson, Board Member
President, COTS
Peter M. Kellett, Board Member
Member & Chair Emeritus, Dykema
Laura Reyes Kopack
President; LA SED
Gordon Krater, Board Member
Partner; Plante Moran
Anand Kumar
Founder & President; Miindia Foundation & miindia.com
Kirk Mayes, Board Member
CEO, KBM Ventures, LLC
Patricia A. McCann
Director, Community and Volunteer Engagement
Make-A-Wish Michigan
Kevin Prokop, Board Member
Partner, Rockbridge Growth Equity, LLC
Monique Stanton
President & CEO, Michigan League for Public Policy
Todd Sachse
CEO; Sachse Construction Company
Freda G. Sampson, Board Member
CEO & Lead DEI Consultant, Freda G. Sampson, LLC
Reverend Larry L. Simmons, Sr., Board Member
Executive Director, Brightmoor Alliance
Michael Sosin
Attorney at Law
Thomas F. Stallworth, III
President, Stallworth Consulting Group
Andrew Stein, Board Member
President & CEO, The Children’s Foundation
William S. Taubman, Board Member
Chief Operating Officer, Taubman
Maureen D. Taylor, Board Member
State Chair; Michigan Welfare Rights
Eric Thomas
Brand Strategist & Senior Partner; SAGA Marketing
Carla Walker-Miller
Founder & CEO, Walker-Miller Energy Services
Ronald T. Wong
Chairman; Lakefront Capital, LLC
Adam F. Zemke
Consultant
Director Emeriti
Penny Bailer
Walter E. Douglas
Roderick Gillum
Paul L. Hubbard
John D. Lewis
Bernard Parker
The Rev. V. Lonnie Peek, Jr.
Ambassador John Rakolta, Jr.
Shirley R. Stancato
S. Martin Taylor
Rachel Stewart
