ABOUT PEOPLE FOR PALMER PARK

Board of Directors
April 2022-April 2023

People for Palmer Park is governed by a member-elected board of directors that volunteer and represent the surrounding communities and various professions.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Rochelle Lento - President / Ex Officio, All Committees
Rochelle Lento has been a resident of Palmer Woods since 1992. Together with her husband, Mark Magidson, she has three children: Ariel, Joshua and Louis, all of whom were raised in their home in Palmer Woods.  Partnered with her dedication to her family, Rochelle has devoted her professional life to the ongoing efforts of representing non-profit developers and building housing for low to moderate income families as an attorney at Dykema Gossett. Prior to joining the PFPP, Rochelle was very active in the Palmer Woods Association, serving on its board for 10 years, 5 as Board President. Currently, she works as co-chairwoman in the Vacant Property Committee of the Palmer Woods Association. Stemming from her active work as a community organizer, her efforts are a symbol of her hopes for Palmer Park and its surrounding communities. The Log Cabin and the areas around the new Urban Garden are her very favorite spots. Being fully aware of the monetary commitments needed to further reshape Palmer Park, she has a vision that includes permanent walking trails, benches along the perimeter, a complete restoration of the Log Cabin, up to five new playscape areas for the children as well as a revitalized tennis court.  Above all else, the desire to restore the Merrill Plaisance Fountain is a goal that must be accomplished. 

Sharon Gamblin - Vice President / Recreation Committee Co-Chair

Patricia Little - Treasurer / Chair, Finance Committee
Patricia can be reached at patricia@peopleforpalmerpark.org

Chris McTaggart - Secretary
Chris can be reached at chris@peopleforpalmerpark.org

Nikolette Barnes - Board Executive Assistant
Nikolette Raquel Barnes is a Detroit native with a passion for food, youth, sustainable living and nutrition education. She began her love affair with growing food in 2008 while volunteering at D-Town Farm. Since then, Nikolette has worked to expose Detroit youth to the Food Justice Movement locally and globally. Nikolette also advocates for youth and adult consumers to reclaim their spending power and make better food choices. She has worked for the Eastern Market Corporation, Detroit Public School's Office of School Nutrition, Greening of Detroit's Urban Agriculture Department, as well as the Detroit Food Policy Council. In addition to her local community involvement, she currently studies Early Childhood Education as well as serving on the Mutual Aide Resource Council for National Black Food and Justice Alliance. Her most important work is raising her 11 year old indigo child who is ecstatic about cooking, farming and singing! Nikolette can be reached at nikolette@peopleforpalmerpark.org
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Barbara Barefield - Chair, Events Committee
Barbara Barefield has been an arts and community activist since the mid-1970s, from publishing a weekly newspaper to presenting concerts at the DIA and in historic homes. Chair of the PFPP Events committee, she is also PFPP’s graphic artist for print. Prior to owning her graphic design firm Barefield DesignWorks, she was art director of the Detroit Free Press Sunday magazine and of UAW Solidarity magazine. A graduate of University of Michigan School of Architecture and Design, she recently opened Barefield Clayworks, a Detroit ceramic studio, with her son. Barbara’s photography has been widely exhibited, and published in her book Jazz Space Detroit, as well as local and national media. When her hands are not in clay, or clicking a camera, Barbara is the co-producer of Palmer Woods Music in Homes with her husband jazz guitarist/composer A. Spencer Barefield, playing with her St. Bernard, Devo, and planning and promoting events at Palmer Park. She can be reached at barbara@peopleforpalmerpark.org

Wendell Byrd - Finance Committee

Joe Darling - 

Angella Durkin - Finance Committee

Sylvia L. Greene - Recreation Committee

Reverend Gregory Guice - Recreation Committee 
Since being ordained at the Unity School for Religious Studies in Lee's Summitt, Missouri in 2000, Rev. Gregory Guice has established himself as one of Unity’s outstanding spiritual teachers of Unity principles and beliefs. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Sociology from Kentucky State University, he attended Marygrove College in Detroit where his curriculum was in Early Childhood Studies and in 1986 he received a Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Psychology at the Center for Humanistic Studies in Detroit.  Rev. Guice has been employed as a Counselor, Teacher, and Social Worker in the Detroit area. He created a community organization at Detroit Unity Temple to fight crime within the neighborhood and he continues to reach out to various areas with the “Look for the Good” campaign. He has published two insightful and motivating books, “The Courage to Conquer Fear” and “Spiritual Waters”.

Rosalinda Haskins - Chair, Recreation Committee
Rosalinda Haskins is inspired to be an active volunteer because she loves her community and knows that we can't always wait for someone else to make a change. She is also an active member of her block club in addition to being a board member of the Bagley Community Council and the parent group at her daughter's school. Her favorite spot in Palmer Park is the tennis courts where she learned to play tennis and in the process made new friends. She hopes to see the Log Cabin restored to its former glory, additional parking for events, established bike lanes, a dog park and a covered tennis area, so the sport could be played year round. She also hopes for ways to increase membership and donations so that PFPP's Master Plan dreams can someday become a reality and that more surrounding neighborhoods will see what a jewel they have in their own backyard.

Sigal Hemy - Finance Committee

Rhonda Hendren - Chair, Membership Committee
Rhonda can be reached at rhonda@peopleforpalmerpark.org

Amy Kuras - Co-Chair, Marketing & Communication Committee

Roy Raines - Chair, Preservation & Beautification Committee
I have been a resident of Palmer Woods since 2011. I am a retired sales engineer. I love Palmer Park
and am involved with the community garden, orchard and help out as much as I can. My hobbies are
house restoration, carpentry projects, biking and yoga.

Nancy Varner - Events Committee Co-Chair/Recreation Committee

Stacy Varner - Co-Chair, Marketing & Communication Committee
ADVISORS

Angela Lugo-Thomas - Farm & Community Manager
Sgt. Douglas Musten - Detroit Mounted Police Liaison

PAST BOARD MEMBERS

nayomi cawthorne - Farm & Community Manager 
DiAnna Solomon - Fundraising Committee
Vittoria Valenti-Amodeo - Events, Fundraising Committee
Amy Lebowsky - Secretary / Chair, Marketing & Communication Committee
Kailey Poort - Marketing & Communication Committee Co-Chair
Krista McClure - Past Board Member
Jason Fligger - Past Log Cabin Committee Chair
David Mangum - Past Preservation Chair
Kim Hagood - Past Board Member
Will Robinson - Past Board Member
Leonora King - Past Secretary
Kim Fracassa - Past Board Member, Marketing & Communication Chair
Roberta Henrion - Past Board Member
Clinton Griffin - Past Vice President and Preservation & Beautification Chair
Lindsay Page - Past Farm & Community Manager 
Gregoire Eugene-Louis - Past Board Member, Marketing & Communication Committee
Kathy Bledsoe - Past Board Member
Sarah James - Past Chair, Membership
Eric Williams - Past Board Member
​Lori Heinz - Past Chair, Recreation/Events (Ad Hoc)
John Secco - Past Community Liason
Helen Broughton - Past Treasurer
Alicia Biggers-Gaddies - Past President & Vice President
Daniel Scarsella  - Past Preservation & Beautification Chair
Omega Headen - Past Board Member
Sgt. Eric Eide - Safety & Security, Mounted Police Board Rep
Mack Jones - Deceased
Trina Tucker - Liaison, City of Detroit Recreation Dept. Rep
Karen Petola - City of Detroit Recreation Dept. Rep
Brooke Ellis - Past Secretary
Jacqueline Poole - Detroit Golf Club H/O Rep
Keith Williams - Past Board Member
Craig Bristow - City of Detroit Recreation Dept. Board Rep 


PFPP is entrusted as an Adopt-a-Park Partner with the City of Detroit.
NEXT: OUR MASTER PLAN