Chris is very active in the community, has a passion (and business) for rare coins, and said he feels honored that he will be able to give back as a Rotarian.
Then Mayor Bryan Barnett got up to ask Jerry to come forward for a special recognition. Not only did he pass along the Rotarian of the Week award, Mayor Barnett said that as Rochester Hills takes steps towards building parks and preserving green spaces, one of those spaces was unanimously renamed the Carvey Green Space (formerly the Harding Green Space). The staff from Rochester Hills then displayed the new park placard and showed pictures of the beautiful green space. Jerry humbly accepted the recognition, and expressed gratitude for the kind words and for naming the green space after him.Coleman Yoakum was our speaker from the Micah 6 Community. He was born in Arkansas and spoke wistfully about his early education and coming of age at a Bible college. He explained that despite the rigid, religious upbringing he found a calling in jail ministry and working with marginalized communities. His work inspired him to pursue a life of community activism and helping families living in poverty. 
Ultimately, he traveled out of Arkansas and landed in Pontiac, MI. He gave a lively presentation explaining how he was called to anything from starting a community garden to developing a system of mutual aid programs for neighboring residents. He said across the street there was an old, abandoned school and he started to dream big about converting it into a community center. He and his group within Micah 6 did their homework - surveyed what members would want, developed a business plan to sustain it separate from City of Pontiac funding it. Ultimately this became a $37MM endeavor -- he explained how many different philanthropy, grants, alumni, private businesses, tax-free exemptions, etc. he had chased down to make this dream a reality. He said they are one fire-alarm test away from getting full occupancy this year, a remarkable achievement.
When it opens, this center will host the following: 6 headstart classrooms, a walk-in clinic, after school STEAM programs, a small grocery store, a mini cafe, a commercial kitchen for people to rent, green houses, an indoor bus stop, a basketball court, and reservable meeting rooms. It was known as the Elmer R. Webster School and will now be known as the Webster Community Center.
He shared what's possible in his community, and what may be possible in Rochester (with the old admin building) when it comes to dreaming big about the benefit of a shared community center.
When asked what's next, he said he has obtained another vacant property and is turning it into small homes for seniors.
The club gratefully applauded Coleman's work and President Aviles commented that our hearts are full with his example of community action.