City Assistant

Heather L. Johnson

**** **** **** **.

Detroit, MI 48207

313-***-**** (h)

313-***-**** (c)

Education

Wayne State University, Detroit, MI (May, 2002) 3.8 G.P.A.

Master of Social Work, with a concentration in Macro Practicum

Wayne State University, Detroit MI (May, 2000) 3.5 G.P.A.

Bachelor of Social Work, Minor in Psychology

Work History

Supervisor/Life Coach/ Youth Assistance Program Coordinator, Vista Maria December 2013-Present

20651 W. Warren Ave.

Dearborn Heights, MI 48127

Responsibilities in brief: (Supervisor/Life Coach)

•Provides daily program supervision and oversight and evaluation of program staff.

•Interview and assess new clients through the evaluation of data including but not limited to their social,

medical, educational, emotional, drug/alcohol, training, and employment histories. Coordinate

outside assessments in areas such as psychological and medical testing when appropriate. Ensure

that all initial assessments are completed timely.

•Coordinates and/or conducts life skills workshops and provides one to one coaching to clients in the

program

•Coordinates resources and facilitates connections with caring adults through TIP, Permanency PACTS,

family finding and other tools.

•Serve as an advocate for homeless youth aging out of foster care through means which may include, but

not be limited to, membership in an advocacy group, participation in a professional organization and

efforts to affect present community services in a manner which would insure their greater

availability or efficiency.

•Maintain accurate records which are compatible with those maintained by Vista Maria for the purpose

of deriving statistics, meeting legal requirements for program and client records, and compiling

program reports as may be requested by program management.

•Assist in ensuring a safety net of support by involving the client’s parents, family members, and other

informal and formal key players.

•Assist in enhancing the client’s competencies to support them in achieving greater self-sufficiency and

confidence.

•Conduct crisis counseling as needed and makes necessary referrals to services.

•Conduct ongoing program assessment and recommend changes to Program Director.

Responsibilities in brief: (Youth Assistance Program)

•Plans and organizes work to meet all requirements according to agency and COA standards and funding

requirements.

•Works cooperatively and in collaboration with other staff and representatives of other agencies.

•Works with Vista Maria programs and community organizations to provide referrals, resources, other

related services to youth and families.

•Communicates clear and timely information regarding the intake, referral and youths progress to

stakeholders.

•Ensures required Youth Assistance Program paperwork is completed and a file is compiled for the

youth.

•Coordinates the Community Work Service Program in collaboration with Dearborn Heights Police

Department.

•Develop Community Work Service sites for youth and coordinate those sites through the Dearborn

Heights Police Department.

•Facilitation of youth groups.

•Prepares monthly and quarterly reports for the Youth Assistance Program.

•Keep all statistics on the Community Work Service Program.

•Register youth with Juvenile Assessment Center as appropriate.

Mentor Coordinator, Vista Maria December 2011-2013

20651 W. Warren Ave.

Dearborn Heights, MI 48127

Responsibilities in brief:

•Work with at risk youth on a weekly basis to encourage exploration of post secondary options, address

life skills and future planning.

•Come up with a robust curriculum for students and mentors for each session.

•Employ conflict resolution during the mentoring sessions when necessary.

•Plan college tours and cultural field trips.

•Recruit/retain mentors and volunteers for mentoring program.

•Conduct lunch and learns at businesses to recruit volunteers.

•Compile logic model for mentoring program.

•Conduct pre and post test with mentors and mentees at the beginning and end of the mentoring program.

•Coordinate weekly mentoring program.

•Conduct mentor orientations and mentoring trainings.

•Work with Executive Leadership Team to coordinate programming and to outline strategic planning.

•Secured funding from PNC Foundation, AT&T and Pepsi Co for programming needs.

Public Policy Analyst/Community Liaison, City Council City of Detroit January 2010-July 2010

Coleman A. Young Municipal Center

2 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48224 Suite 1340

Responsibilities in brief:

•Primary person to write/edit press releases and other media advisories.

•Solicit, retain and follow-up with volunteers to participate in initiatives for City Council.

•Research funding sources for Youth Violence Prevention Task Force.

•Assisted residents and members of the business community with navigating through the red tape of city

departments.

•Analyzing City budget every fiscal year and compiling reports on the budget and make

recommendations and pose questions to departments on current initiatives and budget rationale.

•Worked directly with youth to get them to participate in the youth violence prevention task force.

•Primary staff person responsible for coordinating and soliciting volunteers for Youth Violence

Prevention Task Force.

•Representing the Council Member in public and speaking to citizens and community groups.

• Research of public policy and writing reports on current public policy and the impact of that policy on

social conditions.

Executive Assistant II to Kenneth V. Cockrel, Jr., Mayor of Detroit, September 2008-May 2009

Coleman A. Young Municipal Center

2 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48224 Suite 1120

Responsibilities in brief:

Served as Mayor’s designated Trustee on the Police and Fire Pension Retirement System Board of Directors

with assets of over $4 billion for the City of Detroit.

•Served as Director of Board and Commission Appointments-Office of the Mayor, City of Detroit;

•Identified members of the business and development community to serve on various boards, and made

recommendations to the Mayor.

•Interviewed candidates and made recommendations to the Mayor on the qualifications of each

candidate.

•Walked candidates through the appointment process and coordinated with city agencies regarding

selected candidates.

•Working with each candidate on a continual basis throughout the appointment process and updated the

Mayor on the progress of each appointment.

•Appointed by the Mayor as a board member and secretary for the Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative.

•Served as a member of Mayor Cockrel’s Transition Team;

•Met with directors of city departments to gather information for Mayor Cockrel and compile

written reports.

•Met with Mayor Cockrel and made recommendations on how to restructure city departments.

•Made recommendations to Mayor Cockrel on what city employees to retain or release.

•Worked with City Departments to update antiquated policies and procedures.

•Organized strategy meetings on behalf of Mayor Cockrel.

•Wrote press releases and coordinated various activities and functions with Communications Director.

Policy Analyst to Kenneth V. Cockrel, Jr., Detroit City Council President, August 2005-January 2010

Coleman A. Young Municipal Center

2 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48224 Suite 1340

Responsibilities in brief:

•Primary person to write/edit press releases and other media advisories for Council President.

•Responsible for solicitation and retention of community volunteers.

•Assisted members of the business community and residents with navigating through city departments.

•Responsible for planning, coordinating and executing Town Hall Meetings and volunteer recognition

events.

•Primary staff person to work on Building and Safety matters.

•Monitoring and reporting Planning and Economic Development activities to the Council President.

•Analyzing antiquated legislation and making recommendations for changes in laws that effect

constituents in Detroit.

•Analyzing City budget every fiscal year and compiling reports on the budget for the Council President

to make recommendations and pose questions to departments on current initiatives and budget

rationale.

•Primary person for analyzing housing legislation and initiatives for the Council President.

• Representing the Council President in public and making presentations on his behalf to citizens and

community groups.

•Primary staff person responsible for writing budget address presented before City Council and the

Citizens of Detroit.

Legislative Assistant to Kenneth V. Cockrel, Jr., Detroit City Council President Pro Tempore, June

2002-August 2005

Coleman A. Young Municipal Center

2 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48224 Suite 1340

Responsibilities in brief:

•Corresponded with City officials and departments to resolve complaints related to city services and

related issues.

•Building relationships with community, business, and civic leaders through meetings and coordinating

“meets and greets” and town hall meetings on behalf of the Council President Pro Tem.

•Attended council meetings daily to keep the Council President Pro Tem informed of pending and

ongoing City matters.

•Analysis of the City budget in addition to compiling budget reports.

•Coordinated and supervised volunteers for the campaign of President Pro Tem to the elevation of

Council President.

•Wrote press releases and media announcements.

•Represented the Council President Pro Tem during the establishment of the Detroit/Wayne Joint Health

Care Authority.

Professional and Academic Accomplishments

•Member of Mayor Kenneth V. Cockrel, Jr., Debate Prep Team

•Member of Mayor’s Strategic Planning Team for Election

•Completed 150 page Master Thesis titled: Out of the Darkness: The Follow-up Behaviors of African

American Families after their Child Experienced Sexual Abuse.

•Who’s Who of American Scholars?

•Dean’s List recipient during graduate and undergraduate studies.

•Board of Governors Scholarship recipient during graduate and undergraduate studies.

•Awarded funding through Wayne State University Graduate School to start and complete Master

Thesis.

•Primary presenter on community asset mapping at the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

annual conference.

•Collaborated with a Detroit Area Head Start Program and conducted a community asset mapping

project.

•Only staff member to receive a letter of commendation from Council President Cockrel for outstanding

work performance for establishing a pilot housing project (available upon request).

•Letters of commendation from members of the community for resolving longstanding complaints.

References available upon request

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