Candidate Profiles
Learn about the 2021 candidates up for election below.
Incumbent candidates are listed first, and new candidates follow.
Voting is now closed.
Learn about the 2021 candidates up for election below.
Incumbent candidates are listed first, and new candidates follow.
Voting is now closed.
- You must be a member of People for Palmer Park in good standing to vote.
- All votes will be submitted online this year.
Voting will be open until 11:59pm April 22, 2021.
INCUMBENTS
 Rochelle Lento Current PFPP Board Member, President Reelected for 2021 Other Boards/Committees you serve on or have served on: ABA Forum on Affordable Housing, Board/Publications/Chair 2000-2018; Alternatives for Girls, Board Member 2018-present; Palmer Woods Association, Board Member/President 2000-2012; UDM Law School, Dean's Advisory Council 2018-present Education/Training/Certificates: BA in Sociology-SUNY Potsdam; JD - University of Detroit Law How would PFPP benefit from your involvement as a Director? I have served on the board since the inception of PFPP as one of the founding members. My historic and institutional knowledge benefit the organization, as well as my passion and commitment to our work and cause. Skills, Experience and Interests: Administration, management, Nonprofit experience, Community service, Policy development, Legal expertise, Education, instruction, Special events planning & implementing Relative Experience and Skills: As a lawyer, I bring legal expertise in evaluating contracts, addressing any legal matters. I also work regularly with nonprofits and know nonprofit legal issues. Finally, my early skills as a community organizer have been relevant. What are your experiences with Palmer Park? VP from 2011-2013; President and Board member 2013-2021; Served as ex officio on all committees; oversee executive committee; chair all board meetings, develop agenda and materials; manage day to day operations and involved in all decisions affecting PFPP. Other Groups, Organizations or Businesses that you could serve as a liaison to on behalf of PFPP: Palmer Woods Association, Alternatives for Girls, my law firm - Dykema, the City of Detroit GSD and Recreation Depts.  Patricia Little Current PFPP Board Member, Treasurer Reelected for 2021 Other Boards/Committees you serve on or have served on: People for Palmer Park, Treasurer, Fall 2019 to present Friends School in Detroit, Finance Committee, 2000 to 2003 Education/Training/Certificates: Masters in Business Administration from Wayne State University, Bachelors in Accountancy from Walsh College CPA Certificate of Examination How would PFPP benefit from your involvement as a Director? I would like to continue to advance programming and activities in Palmer Park and help to make it sustainable in the future. Skills, Experience and Interests: Finance, Accounting, Community Service Relative Experience and Skills: I have worked as an accountant and controller for 16 years and the last 26 years I have been an accounting professor at Henry Ford College. I have experience with financial reporting and budgeting. What are your experiences with Palmer Park? I enjoy walking in the park and this past winter enjoyed cross country skiing there. I have also attended the annual art fair, harvest festival, winter festival, and a couple of their concerts in the log cabin. I love having such a beautiful park so close to where I live. Other Groups, Organizations or Businesses that you could serve as a liaison to on behalf of PFPP: I know people who attend or work at Detroit Mercy, Gesu Church, University of Detroit Jesuit High School and I live in the UDCA.  Rosalinda Haskins Current PFPP Board Member, Chair, Recreation Committee Reelected for 2021 Other Boards/Committees you serve on or have served on: I currently seat on the board on my homeowners association Bagley Community Council also my block club. in the past I have sat on a PTA board or have been an active volunteer while my children attended elementary, middle and high school. Skills, Experience and Interests: Community service, Fundraising and development, Recreation Relative Experience and Skills: I am a people person, organized, self starter Other Groups, Organizations or Businesses that you could serve as a liaison to on behalf of PFPP: Bagley Community Council What are your experiences with Palmer Park? I first became involved with PFPP because I was invited to an event at the park. There I learned what the organization was about and what they wanted/wished to accomplish in the park for the community. From there I came out whenever I could to volunteer for said event to help make a difference. After that it seemed like I was hooked I started helping out more and more. Then I as asked to apply for a open seat and I have been trying to make a difference in the park where I can.  Nancy Varner Current PFPP Board Member Reelected for 2021 Other Boards/Committees you serve on or have served on: People for Palmer Park, Member 2012 - Present Detroit Golf Club Home Owners' Assoc., Vice President Liv6, Member 2018 - Present District 2, Dept.of Neighborhoods, City of Detroit University Commons (Avenue of Fashion) National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics Education/Training/Certificates: Bachelor of Science Masters of Mathematics Education How would PFPP benefit from your involvement as a Director? As a resident of the Palmer Park Community for the last 57 years, three generations of the Varner Family have enjoyed the recreational benefits of the Park, golf, tennis, ice skating, biking, feeding the ducks, to name a few. I am committed to continued participation in the preservation and revitalization of the Park. Skills, Experience and Interests: Community service, Public/media relations, communications, Membership development, Education, instruction, Special events planning & implementing, Fundraising and development, Outreach, advocacy Other Groups, Organizations or Businesses that you could serve as a liaison to on behalf of PFPP: Neighborhood Associations and Schools in District 2 Palmer Park Apartment Community Livernois and Liv6 Business Community What are your experiences with Palmer Park? Member, Recreation Committee Member, Events Committee ACTIVE volunteer in PFPP programs and events |  Sharon Gamblin Current PFPP Board Member, Vice President Reelected for 2021 Other Boards/Committees you serve on or have served on: Board Member for 1001 Covington Condo Association. Member of The Detroit Fine Arts Breakfast Club. (DFABC strives to share information & support emerging and seasoned artist. I have juried several art shows). Education/Training/Certificates: Attended Wayne State University, Retired from AT&T. Obtained a Real Estate License and currently work for Keller Williams - Metro, Royal Oak, MI How would PFPP benefit from your involvement as a Director? Willingness to serve the metro Detroit community and fully participate and support PFPP. Skills, Experience and Interests: Personnel, Human Resources, Administration, management, Community service, Public/media relations, communications, Membership development What are your experiences with Palmer Park? 2015 - 2021 Recreation Chair 2020 - Current Vice President 2021 - Current, Membership committee Other Groups, Organizations or Businesses that you could serve as a liaison to on behalf of PFPP: Board Member for 1001 Covington Condo Association. Member of The Detroit Fine Arts Breakfast Club. (DFABC strives to share information & support emerging and seasoned artist. I have juried several art shows).  DiAnna Soloman Current PFPP Board Member Reelected for 2021 How would PFPP benefit from your involvement as a Director? I’d like to leverage my relationships with elected officials and my position with the Detroit Area Agency on Aging to help connect the community to more programs and resources with an added focus on older adults. Skills, Experience and Interests: Administration, management, Nonprofit experience, Community service, Grant writing, Fundraising and development, Outreach, advocacy Other Groups, Organizations or Businesses that you could serve as a liaison to on behalf of PFPP: The Detroit Area Agency on Aging What are your experiences with Palmer Park? Current board member  Barbara Barefield Current PFPP Board Member, Chair, Events Committee Reelected for 2021 Other Boards/Committees you serve on or have served on: People for Palmer Park, PFPP Board member & Events Chair, 2012 to present. Log Cabin Committee (helped organize fundraising to restore Log Cabin through Patronicity and Light Up the Cabin events) (2015-present); Marketing (2012-2020); Art Fair Committee (since Art Fair began to present); Arts & Culture Committee co-chair (formerly MAPP/Magic of Art in Palmer Park (2015-present) Buck Dinner (Detroit fundraiser for civil rights/social justice/progressive groups), Organizer/webmaster (2007-present) Creative Arts Collective Board member, 1979-present; State Fair Development Coalition, steering com., (2014-present) Palmer Woods Music in Homes, cofounder/producer; event planner/designer/photographer/publicist (2007-present) Jewish Voice for Peace-Detroit, steering committee and events committee members, 2006-present Palmer Woods Association, former newsletter/enews editor; webmaster, event organizer, 2007-2015 Education/Training/Certificates: Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Michigan, College of Architecture and Design Classes and Studio Assistant at Pewabic Pottery; classes in ceramics at Oakland Community College Photography training at Detroit Free Press with Tony Spina, director of photography/Pulitzer Prize recipient while I served as Art Director of Free Press magazine) How would PFPP benefit from your involvement as a Director? I am a photographer, artist, graphic designer, event organizer, and grant writer. I have extensive skills and passion to contribute to the revitalization of the Park, and have been doing so for more than 10 years. I work collaboratively with others and enjoy teamwork and challenges. I will work diligently with others to continue the restoration and revitalization of the park. Skills, Experience and Interests: Administration, management, Nonprofit experience, Community service, Program evaluation, Public/media relations, communications, Computer/IT expertise, Education, instruction, Special events planning, Grant writing, Fundraising and development, Outreach, advocacy Relative Experience and Skills: I have been a graphic artist, photographer and visual storyteller for more than 40 years. I have worked as the Art Director at the Detroit Free Press, the UAW (for 24 years) and as the owner of my own company, Barefield DesignWorks. I have helped my husband, jazz musician/composer A. Spencer Barefield produce hundreds of concerts in Detroit and worldwide (including 13 years at the Detroit Institute of Arts, and 13 years as co-producer of Palmer Woods Music in Homes). I have shared my skills with numerous organization working for peace, racial equality, environmental, economic and social justice, including Peace Action, Buck Dinner, Sugar Law Center, National Lawyers Guild, and many others. Other Groups, Organizations or Businesses that you could serve as a liaison to on behalf of PFPP: Creative Arts Collective and other organizations that create and present jazz and music; Mint Artists Guild; Integrity Shows/Palmer Park Art Fair; Art in Motion, Love/Travels Imports, Dance Lab J (Livernois businesses); 8 Mile-Woodward Blvd Assoc.; Palmer Woods Association, Detroit Parks Coalition. What are your experiences with Palmer Park? Helped to start and develop all the major annual events at Palmer Park and continue to chair the PFPP Events Committee. I have helped to promote all these events with Marketing Committee. I have helped with fundraising (grant writing, outreach to sponsors), I work in the garden, Log Cabin, Rain Garden, cleanups and wherever needed. I serve on multiple committees.I have been taking photos of Palmer Park (since 1976) and PFPP activities (since 2011). I am a member of the Detroit Parks Coalition representing PFPP; I designed its first newsletter, attend monthly meetings, and work collaboratively with the other members representing major park organizations throughout Detroit. |
NEW CANDIDATES
 Wendell Byrd Voted in for 2021 Other Boards/Committees you serve on or have served on: Lions Clubs International, District Director 1993-present; Detroit Police Commission, Commissioner 2014-2015; Michigan House of Representatives, State Legislator 2015-2020 Education/Training/Certificates: Detroit College of Business - Major in Accounting How would PFPP benefit from your involvement as a Director? Knowledge of Government procedures. Experience with fundraising. Experience/Knowledge of nonprofit organizations. Skills, Experience and Interests: Finance, accounting, Administration, management, Nonprofit experience, Community service, Policy development, Public/media relations, communications, Membership development, Fundraising and development, Outreach, advocacy What are your experiences with Palmer Park? Volunteer with PFPP for 6 years.  Joseph Darling Other Boards/Committees you serve on or have served on: PFPP Event Committee, PFPP Farmer's Market Lead Volunteer Education/Training/Certificates: B.A. in Journalism from Taylor University, OSHA Health Care certification, ServSafe food-handling certification How would PFPP benefit from your involvement as a Director? As a Director, I want to build relationships that work via collaboration. I look forward to cracking open wide-ranging ideas for initiatives and events and learning about each other and our unique gifts based on how each of us is called to contribute. I believe there are so many opportunities to foster community, reflect stewardship and embrace our connection to nature through the production of inspiring and invigorating park events. To me, Palmer Park is a focal point on the Detroit map and I would be honored to aid in its continued restoration, preservation and use as an accessible communal space. Skills, Experience and Interests: Administration, management, Nonprofit experience, Community service, Public/media relations, communications, Education, instruction, Special events planning & implementing, Grant writing, Fundraising and development, Outreach, advocacy Relative Experience and Skills: I've produced a variety of live music series in Chicago and Detroit, mostly centered around creative music like jazz, experimental/meditative modes and electronic dance music. What are your experiences with Palmer Park? Primarily just the first annual PFPP Farmer's Market thus far but look forward to many more! |  Sylvia L. Greene Voted in for 2021 Other Boards/Committees you serve on or have served on: Zonta Troy South Oakland-past member 2015-2018 Education/Training/Certificates: MA Educational Administration,Wayne State University. How would PFPP benefit from your involvement as a Director? I believe that my involvement as a member of the Board of Directors would include the following skills:
Skills, Experience and Interests: Personnel, Human Resources, Administration, management, Nonprofit experience, Community service, Policy development, Program evaluation, Public/media relations, communications, Membership development, Education, instruction, Special events planning & implementing, Grant writing, Outreach, advocacy Relative Experience and Skills:
Other Groups, Organizations or Businesses that you could serve as a liaison to on behalf of PFPP: I have several businesses and organizations that I could serve as a liaison on behalf of PFPP. However I would have to contact them as needed. What are your experiences with Palmer Park? Donated items to individuals who work with PFPP.  Abraham Gurewitz Other Boards/Committees you serve on or have served on: Palmer Woods Food Committee, Chef/Helper 2099-present; Palmer Woods Preservation Committee, Member and former Chair 2009-present Education/Training/Certificates: College, High School and Culinary School How would PFPP benefit from your involvement as a Director? I have an interest in working to improve the health of the forest and surrounding lands. I want to clean up the trash, remove old fences and remove the bad elements from the park. Skills, Experience and Interests: Community service, Education, instruction, Special events planning & implementing, Catering Relative Experience and Skills: I have been actively mapping the features of the park. I have been locating lost features that could be restored. I have also been locating and documenting the edible plants of the park. What are your experiences with Palmer Park? Catered many PFPP events. Assisted at many other events for the park. |