I was brought up to not brag about my accomplishments - that it was rude and no one wants to hear it. It's what you do next that counts. However, I will explain what I have been doing so you can make a solid judgement about my background preparing me to be Mayor of Detroit.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Master of Interdisciplinary Studies
Wayne State University
Concentration: Environmental
Issues and Anthropology. 4.0 GPA.
Nominated for Midwest Association of Graduate
Schools Distinguished Thesis Award.
2004-2006
I traveled to all corners of Thailand interviewing the groups that work with the domesticated elephants. Through this study, I learned a lot about how non-profit groups act and how they interact with the government. I did this degree while I was working full time and coordinating The Front Porch after work. For more information visit:
www.independent.academia.edu/JeanVortkamp
I traveled to all corners of Thailand interviewing the groups that work with the domesticated elephants. Through this study, I learned a lot about how non-profit groups act and how they interact with the government. I did this degree while I was working full time and coordinating The Front Porch after work. For more information visit:
www.independent.academia.edu/JeanVortkamp
Bachelor of Arts
Wayne State University, College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs
Labor Studies Major, Peace and Conflict Studies Co-Major.
Labor Studies Major, Peace and Conflict Studies Co-Major.
1990-1995
I took classes on race, class, and politics, women's studies, African American women's studies, labor history, the labor movement. I also took classes on the history of non-violence, negotiation, and labor law. Below are the internships I was fortunate to have.
1996
Intern for Children’s Ethnic Education Enrichment and Refugee Assistance.One semester of doing legal research for the Board of Immigration Appeals representatives who provided refugee assistance and assisted with children’s programming Volunteer for “Become a Citizen” day at the Latin American Service for Economic Development. Volunteer playing games with children for “Detroit Cultural Center Children’s Day.” 1996
I took classes on race, class, and politics, women's studies, African American women's studies, labor history, the labor movement. I also took classes on the history of non-violence, negotiation, and labor law. Below are the internships I was fortunate to have.
Intern
International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit
International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit
1996
Intern for Children’s Ethnic Education Enrichment and Refugee Assistance.One semester of doing legal research for the Board of Immigration Appeals representatives who provided refugee assistance and assisted with children’s programming Volunteer for “Become a Citizen” day at the Latin American Service for Economic Development. Volunteer playing games with children for “Detroit Cultural Center Children’s Day.” 1996
I learned to do legal research and learned a lot about the horror of being a refugee. I fingerprinted Latino people who were applying to become citizens. Some of the men had worked with their hands so much their fingerprints had worn off! I came away with a strong respect for immigrants. From the Cultural Center Day I learned how with very little money the Cultural Center can become a playground for children, which was exceptional.
Research Intern
City of Detroit
Mayor Archer’s Office, Joint Labor Management/Total
Quality Management Team.
1995
Researched, analyzed, and compiled resources about
successful joint labor management projects between labor unions and government
or corporations.
At Archer's office there was an air of positive change for Detroit I had never experienced in my life. Conversely, it was the worst time in my neighborhood where shooting was so frequent it was a war zone. I appreciated the safety of the Mayor's office and the project he was doing with the Joint Labor Management Committee, as well as the Community Reinvestment Strategy. I think those are two key pieces to the puzzle of saving Detroit.
Organizer Intern
Service Workers International Union Local 79
Recruited nursing home workers to join the union and helped
engage union members in public demonstrations.
Nursing home workers get paid so little for what they do. My favorite part of it was making picket signs for the workers to march down Grand Boulevard with Stevie Wonder music on. It was moving; it gave me chills. I believe in the power of the people, especially Detroiters.
Study Abroad
Northern Illinois University / Charles University
Studies exploring the changes in civil society and politics
at the end of communism.
Prague, Czech Republic
1993
One of our professors there for the civil society class helped to plan the Velvet Revolution there. I was there at a time of great hope, a time to see what democracy meant to people who didn't have it. I was also the poorest person on the trip which was fascinating to me. I learned that I was just as smart as the best and brightest in the country, I was just poor. When I work with children in Detroit, I do my best to help the gifted kids because I know there is nothing here for them.
Activities
WSU Women's Study Association -Promotion and Marketing volunteer
1995 - 1996
Michigan
Competitive Scholarship
1990-1994
John Dewan Scholarship
1994
Wayne State Board of Governor’s Scholarship
1990-1993
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
President, Executive Director and Founder
The Front Porch - 501c(3)
www.frontporchdetroit.org
Detroit, Michigan
Provides educational and recreational opportunities to children in Detroit focusing on child-initiated projects and programs.
www.frontporchdetroit.org
Detroit, Michigan
Provides educational and recreational opportunities to children in Detroit focusing on child-initiated projects and programs.
President, Executive Director and Founder
Founded organization providing academic advocacy at school, after school, summer and neighborhood programming for youth in Detroit. Started with 5 kids on a front porch, and over the past ten years has served hundreds of children. Duties include: Writing and overseeing grants/budgets, working with children and families, developing programs with input from staff and youth. Examples of programs we have had are, job skills workshops, community service programs for youth, a community garden, raising butterflies, raising ducks, science experiments on the porch, stress relief workshops for teens at the community center, job skills workshops, cultural celebrations, cooking classes. Supervises staff and develops staff training. Collaborated with other non-profits and local government such as the Youth Development Commission, Child and Adult Food Program, the Eastside Community Resource and Assistance Center, local schools, the local recreation center and local library.
Founded organization providing academic advocacy at school, after school, summer and neighborhood programming for youth in Detroit. Started with 5 kids on a front porch, and over the past ten years has served hundreds of children. Duties include: Writing and overseeing grants/budgets, working with children and families, developing programs with input from staff and youth. Examples of programs we have had are, job skills workshops, community service programs for youth, a community garden, raising butterflies, raising ducks, science experiments on the porch, stress relief workshops for teens at the community center, job skills workshops, cultural celebrations, cooking classes. Supervises staff and develops staff training. Collaborated with other non-profits and local government such as the Youth Development Commission, Child and Adult Food Program, the Eastside Community Resource and Assistance Center, local schools, the local recreation center and local library.
10/97 to present
Awards:
Detroit 2020 Award (Inspire) 2012 (For the Front Porch)
Youth
Development Commission “Leonard Smith Award for Organizational Excellence” 2007 (For the Front Porch)
Kiwanis #1
“Take Time to Care Award” 2006
Detroit City
Council “Spirit of Detroit”
Award 2003
City of Detroit Department of
Human Services 2001-002 Community Service Award Honorable Mention
Detroit
Police Department/Detroit Chamber of Commerce “Outstanding Citizen of the Year” 2000
The families of the kids on the Front Porch and the kids themselves have helped me to become a better person, to listen better, try to understand, and taught me how to help people. The Porch taught me to budget, stretch every single penny, and lead.
The situation of kids in Detroit also inspired me to run for mayor. Our oldest kids are now having children and there is no way, NONE AT ALL, that Detroit can continue on this downslide for another generation. I have so much to say about children, schools, juvenile justice, youth employment and poverty that I could talk nonstop for years. However, instead, I would much rather work as hard as I can to change the systems that cheat them every single day in Detroit. Please visit The Front Porch's website for more information about the many, many changes that need to be made for children.
Board Member
Eastside Community Resource
and Assistance Center
A coalition of 25 community groups that provided transportation for low income and seniors, drop-in 3/day a week senior program, and low-income home repair.
A coalition of 25 community groups that provided transportation for low income and seniors, drop-in 3/day a week senior program, and low-income home repair.
2001-2008
I was always the youngest person on this local board that dealt with transportation for the seniors and disabled, a senior center, eastside community groups and our children's group. It was often frustrating, but in many ways a great teacher for me. There were many community leaders that I learned from there - it was like the hands-on MPA program. It taught me a lot about the city, transportation, senior services, and the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund process.
I was always the youngest person on this local board that dealt with transportation for the seniors and disabled, a senior center, eastside community groups and our children's group. It was often frustrating, but in many ways a great teacher for me. There were many community leaders that I learned from there - it was like the hands-on MPA program. It taught me a lot about the city, transportation, senior services, and the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund process.
Research Assistant: Special Projects
Skillman Center for
Children, Wayne State University
2002-2007
Helped academics translate their ideas about improving the
lives of urban children into media and events that were useful and accessible
by people of all educational backgrounds. Coordinated conferences and events up
to 500 people at the university and around Detroit with human services providers,
government officials and researchers. A few of our many partners included State
of Michigan and Detroit Health Departments, care management organizations,
ACLU, Wayne County Juvenile Justice, Detroit Urban League, Oakland County
Court, Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Detroit Public Library, Michigan State University
Extension, cultural groups, GLBTQ groups, Prevention Network, girls’ programs,
youth shelters, University of Michigan, a local hip-hop radio station, Detroit
Department of Human Services and more. Designed, developed, and managed two
resource websites and databases for human service providers. One was a database
listing all the services and activities for children in Detroit
and the other was a website that was useful for anyone who worked with urban
children in the United
States. Researched, developed and led
training programs for human service providers about incorporating art, play and
science into their programs. Developed brand identity and marketing plan for
the center in order to help the center attain a clear role in the community.
This job gave me a lot of insight into how foundations and universities work. I came into contact with every kind of social service and government agency that works with children and families. This gave me a thorough background in social services.
This job gave me a lot of insight into how foundations and universities work. I came into contact with every kind of social service and government agency that works with children and families. This gave me a thorough background in social services.
Facilitator
Taskforce on Youth and
Families
Center for Urban Studies, Wayne State
University
1999-2000
Facilitated a strategic plan
with 20 community groups to distribute federal grant monies according to the
needs of the community groups. Instituted a service-learning program between
WSU arts students and Detroit
youth groups to expose urban youth to art through photography. Developed
curriculum. Distributed services, monitored and evaluated programs. Organized
meetings with the community groups and a day-long arts cultural retreat for
teens.
Here I learned about coordinating groups, about how to work with a coalition of groups to decide how to spend a group's money and get everyone's input to make decisions that satisfy everyone.
Volunteer
AWARE Community Group –
Newsletter, Angel’s Night Patrol
1995-2007
Unsung Hero Award 1996
Unsung Hero Award 1996
Here I was usually the CB Base (x-ray-9-frank...) for Angel's night and sometimes for regular CB patrol. I learned the importance of community policing and of the city having a night where we come together for a common cause. We need more of those days! I also coordinated 2 parent resource fairs that convinced me that the way to reach parents was to go to them, not make events.
Vice Chairperson
City of Detroit Heilmann
Recreation Center
Community Council
Coordinated community input to the City on the construction
of a new recreation center
Monthly community meetings, liaison meetings with city
officials and children. Participating in the design-build process and keeping
local government officials aware of construction status.
2003-2006
City of Detroit
Distinguished Service Award 2007
This was challenging to say the least. The old Heilmann had part of a gym dangling off it that was never finished when I was a kid. I vowed to myself that it would not happen again when the City started a Heilmann project. I learned a whole lot about the recreation department and how construction projects work through these years.I also got the architect the city hired a meeting with the group at Ford who designed the LEEDs certified (environmentally friendly) buildings there. The architect took the idea of doing the LEEDS certification to the city and they said no. You can't say we didn't try!
Co-coordinator
Rooted in Community National
Conference in Detroit
2000
A national grassroots network that empowers young people to take leadership in their own communities around the issue of food security.
Some of the kids on the Porch volunteered Detroit to host this conference. It was great to have people from all over the country come here. Hosting a conference here was challenging to say the least. The Convention and Visitor's Bureau never called back, even when someone from the mayor's office contacted them, so we were really on our own. It taught me a lot about coordinating national events and about the real value Detroit has to the nation.
2000
A national grassroots network that empowers young people to take leadership in their own communities around the issue of food security.
Some of the kids on the Porch volunteered Detroit to host this conference. It was great to have people from all over the country come here. Hosting a conference here was challenging to say the least. The Convention and Visitor's Bureau never called back, even when someone from the mayor's office contacted them, so we were really on our own. It taught me a lot about coordinating national events and about the real value Detroit has to the nation.
Research Assistant
Labor Studies Center,
Wayne State
University/ Detroit City Council
1998/1999
Collaborated in the research and data collection for study
on the effects of the living wage on non-profits and contractors in the City of
Detroit.
Interviewed directors of all major human services agencies and evaluated data.
The Effect of Detroit’s Living Wage Law on Nonprofit Organizations. Economic Development Quarterly 2005 19:
45-61.
I went around to most of the human service agencies in Detroit that got contracts with the city that were $50,000 or over. It gave me a wide understanding of the types of agencies in the city and what they do and their challenges. I also went through every single contract the city had. I learned a lot about how to read contracts, follow their paths and how the city council worked.
I went around to most of the human service agencies in Detroit that got contracts with the city that were $50,000 or over. It gave me a wide understanding of the types of agencies in the city and what they do and their challenges. I also went through every single contract the city had. I learned a lot about how to read contracts, follow their paths and how the city council worked.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Youth Development Commission
Completed Nonprofit Administration I and II trainings.
2007
Detroit
Executive Service Corps
Attended Leadership
Circle, a peer-based program that assists
participants with addressing and solving complex problems and challenges in a
confidential, supportive and focused environment. Completed 6 sessions.
2007
Completed Board Membership Workshop
2001
New Detroit
Multicultural Immersion Program
Completed 6 full-day sessions highlighting the histories, cultures and socioeconomic issues of communities of color (African/African American, Arab, Chaldean, Asian, Hispanic/Latino and Native American).
1998
Completed Logic Model Workshop.
1997
Completed 6 full-day sessions highlighting the histories, cultures and socioeconomic issues of communities of color (African/African American, Arab, Chaldean, Asian, Hispanic/Latino and Native American).
1998
Completed Logic Model Workshop.
1997
Volunteer Accountant Service Team of Michigan
Completed workshops: Grantwriting 1 and 2 Workshops,
Starting a 501c3 Workshop
1997, 1998
Americorps – Caring Together
Group for Caregivers of Senior Citizens
Taught workshop on conflict resolution.
1995
Craft Block Club
Community group for the block I live on.
Coordinated block parties and meetings.
1995-1997, 2004, 2010- present
Wayne County Neighborhood
Legal Services
Completed 40 hours of mediation training.
1994
My Teachers
I am also proud of the teachers I have had. Some of them have been: the late Gerald Hairston - unofficial Mayor of Detroit and extraordinary urban environmentalist. The late Doug Fraser, president of the UAW. The late Dr. Otto Feinstein, champion of urban civic education and adult education. Grandma Gene, my former next door neighbor and grandma to the neighborhood. Ron Cleveland, neighborhood organizer. Hal Stack, labor union strategist. Charlene Firestone, organizer. Karen Fogliatti, peace activist. The late Hezy Shoshani, world renown mammologist and humanist. Marsha Richmond my extraordinary advisor at Wayne State. And all the children and families I have worked with in Detroit.
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