|
The Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society"The connection to yesterday" |
|
|
The Southwest Michigan Black Heritage Society"The connection to yesterday" |
Donna Odom, president
Donna is a native of Chicago, Illinois. She received her B.A. at
Kalamazoo College and her M.A. at Loyola University of Chicago.
She and her husband Al relocated to Kalamazoo in 1993.
She has worked at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum since 1996 where she
coordinates history programs and special projects. She is also a member
of the board of the Kalamazoo County Historical Society.
Mary Ann Mitchell, secretary
Mary Ann is employed as Case Manager for the W.E. Upjohn Institute,
Michigan Works' SCOPE program. She is a past board member of Girl Scouts
Glowing Embers Council, a member of the Kalamazoo Rotary, a member of Rotary
District 6360 Foundation Board, Delta Sigma Theata Sorority Inc., the State
Employees Gold League and the Kalamazoo College Tennis League.
Patricia Bell Phillips, treasurer
Patricia is a retired economic development professional, having
specialized in urban communities. Southwest Michigan is very special to
Patricia because she spent many summers in Cassopolis as a child in her
aunt's summer home. In addition fifteen years ago, she and her siblings
traced the roots of their paternal grandfather from Mason, Kentucky and
they believe he might have passed through Southwest Michigan as he was
making his way to Canada.
Dr. Romeo Phillips, chair of the advisory committee
Dr. Phillips has been a member of the Kalamazoo/Portage community
since 1968 when he accepted the position that led to his becoming the
first tenured African American professor at Kalamazoo College. He has
played an active role in community arts and political organizations,
having served as the president of the Kalamazoo Chapter of the NAACP,
as a member of the Portage City Council, and as a performer in the
Kalamazoo Bach Festival, the Kalamazoo Singers, and other music ensembles.