Chair - Alliance of Black Republicans
Contact Kim at: kim@alliancegop.com
Kim M. Porter-Hoppe has been an advocate for people with disabilities for two decades. During this time, she has held positions in the public sector focused on the development of early intervention services, school inclusion programs, transition from school to employment. In the political, sector Ms. Porter-Hoppe has strived for the recognition of all people in the political process.
Ms. Porter-Hoppe has served as Coordinator for the Washtenaw County Family Support Network since 1991. The network is a coordinated group of parents who have children with disabilities. The purpose of the network is to provide information and support to other parents. As Coordinator, she provides a link from her local network to the State Department of Public Health for input about services. Ms. Porter-Hoppe was appointed by the Governor to serve as Family Representative for the State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) a collaborative body designed to provide direct services to families whose children, from birth to age three, have disabilities. As an original birth mandate state, Michigan led the country in designing a collaboration of services from all stakeholders.
In her commitment to the education process, Ms. Porter-Hoppe has been instrumental in helping to sustain assistive technology in the classroom in her home district. She currently serves on the school board, since 2002, as a policy committee member and the corresponding representative to her county board.
In 2002, Ms. Porter-Hoppe was appointed to the President's Committee for People with Mental Retardation and reappointed in 2003. As chair of the sub-committee on public awareness, she made the motion to change the name of the committee in order to reflect 21 st century jargon: The President's Committee on People with Intellectual Disabilities was born in an Executive Order in July 2003. The Committee is a Federal Advisory Committee whose members are appointed by the President and charged with advising the President on matters relating to persons with intellectual disabilities.
Ms. Porter-Hoppe has served as Vice Chair of the Washtenaw County Area Republicans Committee, is currently the chair of the Republican Women's Club. Ms. Porter-Hoppe received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Wayne State University. She resides in Ypsilanti Michigan with her husband of 22 years and son.
Vice-Chair - Alliance of Black Republicans
Contact Linda at: linda@alliancegop.com
Linda Lee-Williams is a native Michigander and resides in Lansing, (Ingham County) with daughter Jennifer, son Terrance and her Pekingese named Sassy. Linda is employed with the Michigan Department of State as a Project Manager.
Linda believes education is a “civil right” and is recognized as an effective parent advocate. Linda was a presenter and panel member at the October 2005, Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) workshop entitled “Negotiating School Systems to Provide the Best Education for Your Child.” Linda was also asked to participate on a “School of Choice” ad-hoc committee at Waverly High School in Lansing to evaluate the impact of the school of choice program on the school district, students, faculty, and funding.
Linda spent many years teaching life changing biblical principles to both children and adults at the Mt. Zion All Nations Bible Church in Lansing. In a bold move to minister to middle school-aged children in her community, Linda developed and obtained approval to implement the “Power Lunch” program that blended spiritual “character building” lessons and rap sessions during the lunch period. The lunches were successful in improving behavior of the attendees.
As a member of the Riverwalk Theater Board of Directors for over 15 years, Linda has been instrumental in providing numerous and quality African-American productions to the Lansing area. Thanks to Linda’s leadership, Riverwalk Theater is the only community theater in Mid-Michigan committed and dedicated to providing multi-cultural opportunities in the Arts. Linda is also a member of the Lansing State Journal’s “Old Newsboys” board that provides winter shoes and boots to area children.
Linda is a diehard political activist. Her contributions to the party were recognized at the Mackinaw Republican Leadership Conference where she received the #1 Republican of 2005 award. Her service to the party includes; Vice-Chair of the Alliance of Black Republicans; Member of the Ingham County Republican Party Executive Committee; the Michigan Black Republican Council; the 8th Congressional District Executive Committee; Chaplain of the Mid-Michigan Republican Women’s Club; Advisor for local county commissioner campaigns; and a Republican Precinct Delegate.
Secretary- Alliance of Black Republicans
Contact Karen at: karen@alliancegop.com
Karen L. McConnell has lived in Ypsilanti Michigan for the past 20 years. She is a dedicated Christian with two teen-aged sons. Ms. McConnell is also a bible class teacher and core singer in her Ann Arbor Church of Christ. She has been actively involved in the Ladies Bible Study group, VBS Committee; Youth Ministers search committee and Ladies Day Coordinator.
Among her many passions is education. Ms. McConnell is dedicated to fighting for the rights of all children to have equal access to a quality education. She has served as President of the Middle School PTSA; Four years as Vice-President and fundraiser chair for the Elementary School; and member of the Parent Advisory Committee for the Ypsilanti Public Schools District.
Ms. McConnell is an Executive Administrative Assistant with Nexthop Technologies, a routing software development firm. There, she is responsible for the design of presentations; correspondences; and the coordinating of travel activities.
Treasurer - Alliance of Black Republicans
Contact Larry at: larry@alliancegop.com
Larry DeShazor resides in Portage Michigan where he is an elected official on the Portage City Council. He is also a member of the Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce as well as Kalamazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Mr. DeShazor was also the coalition leader of African Americans for Bush for Southwest Michigan.
Mr. DeShazor is committed to Michigan's kids. Currently he is chair of Boost MI Kids Coalition, an organization designed to help protect Michigan's children. Michigan's current child passenger safety law allows children to ride at risk. The goal of the Boost MI Kids Coalition is to make child passenger safety a high priority for our policy makers and citizens. Boost MI Kids will work to strengthen existing legislation to include booster age children and remove exemptions that compromise child passenger safety. Boost MI Kids will support child passenger safety best practice recommendations developed to provide the optimum protection for children.
Mr. DeShazor is a past member of the Portage Economic Development Corporation and the Portage Community Outreach Center. He is a member of the city manager salary review evaluation committee. Mr. DeShazor is also a member of the N.A.A.C.P.
He is a member and pilot of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. With a membership base of more than 400,000, or two thirds of all pilots in the United States, AOPA is the largest, most influential aviation association in the world. AOPA has achieved its prominent position through effective advocacy, enlightened leadership, technical competence, and hard work. Providing member services that range from representation at the federal, state, and local levels to legal services, advice, and other assistance, AOPA has built a service organization that far exceeds any other in the aviation community.
Mr. DeShazor is married to Yvon with two children: Ricky and Jaron. He has a Bachelor of Science, in Business Administration from University of New Orleans, LA. Mr. DeShazor is a team manager at State Farm Insurance and a member of the State Farm Insurance Michigan Legislative Council. As a member, he is charged with positively influencing the legislative process on behalf of State Farm and the insurance industry. Mr. DeShazor believes that the key is building positive relationships with all Michigan legislators so even those who disagree with the insurance industry will have a good understanding of the issues.
Member - Alliance of Black Republicans
Contact Melodie at: melodie@alliancegop.com
'Education creates life long learners able to achieve the American
dream' is Melodie Gable's philosophy. She has worked at all levels of
the education process and is dedicated to helping children become
successful.
Ms. Gable has been instrumental as a parent in helping her county
introduce assistive technology into the local school districts. She is
perpetually interested in supporting an inclusive environment for all
Americans. Watching the growth of today's young leaders of the future is
Ms. Gable's passion.
Ms. Gable currently serves on the Washtenaw County Board of Canvassers
and is a precinct delegate for the Michigan GOP. She lives with her
husband and two of her three children in Ypsilanti Michigan. Their
oldest son is currently serving with the United States Coast Guard.
Member - Alliance of Black Republicans
Contact Derek at: derek@alliancegop.com
Derek Moss is a member of the Michigan National Guard and a Eastern Michigan University student pursuing a career in the field of Law and would eventually like to become a leader in politics.
As a long-time member of the Republican Party, he has also volunteered as the Minority Outreach Director of the Michigan Federation of College Republicans. Derek is formerly the Chairman of the Eastern Michigan University Republicans and the founding member of the Washtenaw County College Republicans in partnership with the Washtenaw County Area Republicans. He is serving as an advisor to the Southeastern region of the Michigan Teenage Republicans as well as the Political Advisor for the Michigan Federation of College Republicans
In November of 2005, as Chairman of the EMU College Republicans Moss organized and hosted the 1st annual Michigan Federation of College Republicans Inclusion Conference. This conference gathered conservative college and high students from around the state of Michigan, as well as the public, for training Republicans in minority apologetics. Derek has practical experience in working side by side with organizations who counsel troubled kids, runaways, and dysfunctional as well as homeless families.
Derek Moss brings vision and new insight with his perspective, as well as an understanding of conservatives within today’s minority population. |
