Multicultural Advisory Committee begins national research on best practices

The Multicultural Advisory Committee, founded by the Affirmations community center in Ferndale, recently announced the creation of two workgroups tasked with researching best practices for multicultural LGBT community work in the Detroit area. Each workgroup has a specific focus: one on human resources and one on program and service delivery. Together, the workgroups will make the recommendations that form the foundation of a comprehensive best practices document designed to assist Detroit-area LGBT non-profits with cultural diversity and inclusiveness.
"I'm very energized and optimistic about the work that the MAC has already accomplished since it started in May," says MAC member Michelle Anderson. "Our incredibly committed team is now moving into the second phase of work – conducting national research on the very best standards for multicultural service provision and human resource practice in nonprofit organizations."
Anderson works as an HIV/AIDS case manager for the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Michigan and is a community activist, She's a founding member of the Multicultural Advisory Committee and committed to the estimated two-year process expected to produce the standards.
Reynaldo Magdaleno, president of the board of directors at Karibu House, is equally optimistic. "The Programs & Services Workgroup has already connected with the College for Urban Studies at Wayne State University and the School of Social Work at Eastern Michigan University in its efforts to identify the very latest and best practices on multicultural service provision. We've created a list of models that are currently being reviewed by committee members as we pull out features that seem especially critical for the LGBT community."
Magdaleno, another founding member of the MAC, also works at the Detroit WorkforceDevelopment Department in the City of Detroit. Some of his most recent LGBT community work includes the launch of Detroit Latin@z, in partnership with the Midwest AIDS Prevention Project.
The Multicultural Advisory Committee meets monthly at Affirmations and
includes Helena Blakemore, Tamara Halliburton, Torii Hamilton, Zip Johnson,
Reynaldo Magdaleno, Bashar Makhay, Juan Perez, Tysha Rodriguez, Steph
Turner, Michelle Walters and Walter Washington. They are seeking
additional input from other community members through participation on the
MAC itself and in focus groups.Interested individuals should call Affirmations at 248-398-7105 and ask for Kathleen LaTosch.