Our Team

MANAGING DIRECTOR,
TERRY WHITFIELD

Terry, a native Detroiter and graduate from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy, brings nearly 20 years of experience in youth development and community organizing.  Most recently, he served as a program officer of The Skillman Foundation, leading the Foundation’s (former) After School Strategy, and managing the portfolio’s average annual budget of $4 million.  Over his 6-plus years at The Skillman Foundation, his activities included grant-making ($35+ million in grants made) and supporting collective impact efforts.   

He has received formal training in the evaluation practice of emergent learning and has deep experience in strategy design, execution, and evaluation, as well as meeting design, facilitation, and evaluation.  He possesses a master’s degree in youth development from Michigan State University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Western Michigan University.   

CATHY WOOLF

As a native Detroiter, Cathy graduated from Cass Technical High School and received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Marygrove College. 
 
Cathy is an educator at heart and carries a passion for people, processes, and supporting organizations to maximize their potential. In her role as Administrative Specialist, she supports the Managing Director, Governing Body, and BEDAD membership to be their best, and bring their best, all in service of a stronger, more united executive leadership eco-system.   

BEDAD GOVERNING BODY

FOUNDER DEVELOPING DESPITE DISTANCE FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

TIFFANY BROWN

RICHARD GRUNDY

FOUNDER JOURNI CEO & CO FOUNDER

ANISE HAYES

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER & FOUNDER ATLANTIC IMPACT FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

KIESHA JACKSON

FOUNDER CALEB’S KIDS FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

KIMBERLY JOHNSON

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER & FOUNDER; DEVELOPING K.I.D.S FOUNDER, PRESIDENT & CEO

ERIC MILLER

FOUNDER THE LAWN ACADEMY FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

COURTNEY SMITH

FOUNDER DETROIT PHOENIX CENTER FOUNDER & CEO

NICOLE WILSON

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER FOUNDER THE YUNION, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Our membership comprises Black Executive Directors of youth-serving organizations as well as those leading organizations serving the greater good for the City of Detroit.

OUR MEMBERS

Founder & Executive Director, Developing Despite Distance

TIFFANY BROWN

TONI CANNON-MITCHELL

President, The Austin Foundation

CYDNEY HILL

CYEKEIA LEE

Founder & Executive Director Destined For Greatness

SHADORA FORD

SHARDAYA FUQUAY

Executive Director Journey 2 Healing

Co-Founder & Executive Director Detroit Excellence in Youth Arts (DEYA)

MARIA FRANKLIN

Executive Director L!fe Leaders

NAFEESAH SYMONETTE

Founder & Executive Director Birdie's Bookmobile

ALYCE HARTMAN

DEAN HENDRICKS

STARR ALLEN-PETTWAY

President & CEO Matrix Human Services

SHERELLE HOGAN

Founder & Executive Director The Hendricks Foundation

Founder & CEO Pure Heart Foundation

Vice President & COO Umoja Debate League

JAIDA MORGAN

FRED HUNTER

MEYONNA SWAVAYE JABBAAR

Founder & Executive Director Sugar Honey Iced Tea

Founder and President, The Lawn Academy

ERIC MILLER

HEATHER HETHERU MILLER

Joe Louis Greenway Partnership

SHARNESE HARRIS

Founder & CEO The Konnection

LEONA MEDLEY

Executive Director Encourage Me I'm Young Inc

Executive Director The Color of Autism

CAMILLE PROCTOR

LETITIA RUSSELL

Founder & CEO, Take My Hand

COURTNEY SMITH

Owner & Founder, Carolyn’s Hope (Camp Dinner Table)

YOLANDA SCARBROUGH

CEO & Founder, Detroit Phoenix Center

Executive Director, S.H.E (She Has Everything) dba L.U.F.E & Mindfulness Kids Enrichment

CHANTIA THOMPSON

JAZLEY TROUSER

Life After Care

L.I.V.E. Outreach

MALIKA WILLIAMS

CHANTEL TAYLOR

Executive Director, W.I.S.E. Mentoring

MARIA ADAMS-LAWTON

TONYA ADAIR

Founder & CEO, Healthy Kidz Inc.

Co-Founder + Executive Director, Concrete Oasis

BRITTANY WATSON

Founder & Executive Director, Classy Chick Chat

VIC BELL

SHERRONDA COMER

COREY & KIERRA CHILDS

Co-Founders/CEO & COO Childs Play Foundation, Inc.

Executive Director, Grow As We Go Youth Center Inc

Founder & President, The Detroit Educational Takeover

SIRRITA DARBY

Executive Director, Detroit Heals Detroit

JHAWAN DAVIS

Founder & Executive Director The Brown Explorers Travel Club

TED GLOSTER, JR

Founder & Executive Director THE FORIGIN INITIATIVE

VALORIE EVANS

Founder & Co-Executive Director Detroit Hives

TIMOTHY JACKSON

Founder & Co-Executive Director Detroit Hives

NICOLE LINDSEY

Founder and Executive Director Do Good Detroit

MYYA JONES

REBECCA LIMBAUGH

Executive Director Hope Ignites - Detroit

Founder & President Encourage Me I'm Young Inc

AJ LOCKETT

Founder & Board President Que BlackOut

CALVIN MANN

Executive Director, The Uplift Program

EMILY PARKS

Executive & Artistic Director, Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit

JASMINE SPRATLING

TheraPink for Girls

DELASHEA STRAWDER

President & CEO, Project Inspire Inc

CHANTEL TAYLOR

W.I.S.E. Mentoring

DEBORAH TAYLOR

Executive Director, Ebenezer Community and Cultural Center

STACIE VAUGHN-COVINGTON

EDNA WALKER

Director, Central United Methodist Church of Detroit /NOAH Project

NICOLE WEBSTER

Detroit Unleashed

Executive Director, CODE313

BARTEL WELCH

OUR PARTNERS

We are grateful to all of the organizations that share in and support our vision.

UNITED WAY OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN

Fiscal Sponsor

MCGREGOR FUND

Community Partner

SKILLMAN FOUNDATION

Community Partner

RALPH C. WILSON, JR. FDN

Community Partner

Community Partner

CAREERS

Apply your skills and passion to support our mission! Please review our open positions below. If there isn’t one listed that’s a match for you, be sure to check back and/or follow us on social media for updates.

EXECUTIVE COACH (ROLLING APPLICATION DEADLINE)

Are you interested in paying it forward to the next generation of leaders?

As an Executive Coach for BEDAD you will provide professional development opportunities, including tailored guidance, support, and mentorship, to executives and leaders within the nonprofit sector. Your primary responsibility will be to facilitate personal and professional development, enhance leadership skills, and drive organizational effectiveness.

If you have expertise in coaching methodologies and nonprofit management, empowering leaders to navigate challenges, and helping them maximize their potential and achieve strategic objectives, we encourage you to apply.