SDEV Welcomes New Executive Director, Raquel Garcia

It is my pleasure to announce Raquel Garcia as the new Executive Director of Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision.

Raquel joins SDEV from Global Detroit, where, since 2014, she has been Director of Housing and Special Projects. In that role,  Raquel cultivated support for immigrant integration and economic development initiatives such as access to affordable home ownership through local landbank engagement, financial literacy, language access, and access to higher education. Prior to that, Raquel  has worked as an immigrant rights organizer, electoral campaign organizer, and spent over 15 years in higher education as Dean of Career and Technical Programs and Dean of Students at Wayne County Community College District. Raquel has long been active in environmental initiatives at home and in the community, including serving on the SDEV Board of Directors for three years. We are excited by her commitment and passion for the neighborhoods of Southwest Detroit and we know that she will bring that to the organization.

Following a months-long internal visioning process,  a search committee was formed consisting of the Southwest Detroit Environmental Board of Directors alongside  the staff. The committee was coordinated by Craig Rumler, Treasurer of the Board. Many thanks to the search committee for their time and commitment to the process. Members of the committee reviewed  dozens of applications and participated in three rounds of interviews with the finalists. We are all grateful for everyone’s contribution.

We have exciting times ahead and I invite you to connect and engage to be a part of it all. Join us for the December 12th Annual Member meeting to meet the team and see all of their great work as we report the year’s success to you – the community that we partner with toward a healthier Southwest Detroit. I ask for everyone’s support as Raquel transitions into her new role, which began October 1st. Please join us in officially welcoming Raquel to SDEV. If you’d like to personally congratulate her, please email her at raquel@sdevweb.org.

Christina Heximer
Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision
Board President