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The Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA) hosted a memorable and inspirational Celebration of Success at the Highland Park Michigan Works! Service Center on March 14. Local leaders along with SEMCA board members and state representatives joined together to recognize outstanding individuals for their efforts. The program featured success stories from the Michigan Works! Highland Park Service Center, Black Family Development Inc. and the Arab-American Chaldean Council (ACC). Persons were honored for achieving their career and employment goals through SEMCA service centers and substance-abuse assistance providers. “These stories demonstrate what is possible for individuals who are offered the right tools and given encouragement to establish realistic goals,” said Jack O’Reilly, executive director of SEMCA. “They seized the opportunity and changed their lives.” |
 State Senator Martha Scott was the guest speaker. |
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Honorees: Ruby Burley came to Black Family Development, Inc. after a long life of pain and struggle. Burley’s story began tragically when her father killed her mother, sister and then himself leaving Burley and her brother as the lone family survivors. A mother of three, Burley used drugs and was in an abusive relationship. She also lost a son due to a house fire. With assistance from Black Family Development Inc., Burley has been clean for more than three years and is now able to share her life story. |
 Award winners (from left to right) Lewis Heath, Jennifer Kempkowski, Donna Earline Chaney, Rodney Phillips, Ruby Burley, and Martin Hinton. |
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Lewis Heath came to the Highland Park Service Center after he was laid-off from Quality Professional Incorporated. Heath wasn’t content receiving his $135 a month in food stamps and with the center’s help, Heath is now employed with Paper Plastic, Inc. in Highland Park. He now realizes that being self-sufficient is the way he wants to live. Low self-esteem, abandonment and drugs brought Donna Earline Chaney, a mother of six, to Black Family Development. At an early age, Chaney was exposed to drugs and alcohol, as well as sexual assault at age three. After several attempts to kick her drug habit, Chaney turned things around and with the center’s help, has been drug-free for ten years. |
 Award winner Leola Moore. |
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Rodney Phillips believed his chances were slim in finding employment since he was a parolee. Moreover, he didn’t even possess transportation or a birth certificate to conduct a job search. But with the Highland Park center on his side, Phillips was able to overcome his obstacles and achieve success by obtaining a job at the Westin Hotel
in Romulus. Leola Moore entered the American Society of Employers Stay the Course Mentoring Program with hopes of meeting a mentor in the medical field. Thanks to the program, Moore developed a relationship with Connie Jaracz, human resources manager of Sonitrol Tri-County in Farmington Hills and is currently working as a phlebotomist for Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. |
 After the event, Senator Scott and Robert Johnson representing Director Hollister from the Michigan Department of Career Development toured the facility. |
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Martin Hinton was skeptical at first about participating in an aftercare program in the inner city. After learning more about Black Family Development, Hinton was introduced to programs that helped him maintain a life of sobriety. “Our successful recipients provide a road map for those desiring to follow in their footsteps,” said Loretta Hughes, one-stop manager of the Highland Park Service Center. “They illustrate that barriers can be overcome through perseverance and dedication and hopefully this recognition will serve as a catalyst to pursue greater things in the future.” |
 Refreshments were served by students from the Highland Park Career Academy. |
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