I was in on the ground floor of developing the Michigan McGehee Loan Fund sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. It was my responsibility to help create materials and tour details for the 1988 General Convention of the Episcopal Church held in Detroit to facilitate support for a national program of community investment.

The McGehee Fund, like the Michigan Housing Trust Fund, had their roots based in the creation of affordable housing, community development, business entrepreneurship and business growth in neighborhoods throughout Michigan. It was and is our dream to help those left out of our traditional systems sustain these services through alternative means such as our community development loan funds.

It has been a wonderful, joyous experience to work with local groups that are committed to rebuilding communities and lives, in a system that often overlooks the needs of basic essentials for a simple, safe existence. Our business development has brought us into contact with many persons who simply want to provide services needed in the community while creating jobs for themselves and others. It is a true blessing to have worked with and learned to know all of these persons.

I am the Mother of two grown children, Nanette and Christa and a wonderful son-in-law Claude. I have served numerous terms on my church board and as Chair/Vice-chair of that board. I have served as a youth leader, finance committee member, Sunday school teacher, lay leader and head of vacation bible school. One of many worthwhile projects in my home parish has included working with the Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team (MCREST) for many years. I find that the exposure through church work and occupational work has helped me to grow in the knowledge of our responsibility for our brothers and sisters in this world. Economic justice does not happen without commitment and perseverance to mankind. My work with the Michigan Interfaith Trust Fund helps me to reach out to so many others who can use our gifts.