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
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
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.
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.
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 MackJones - 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.