Detroit Women's Commission

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Women's Commission

Mayor Mike Duggan and Deputy Mayor Melia Howard’s newly formed Detroit Women’s Commission – a nine-member advisory body created by mayoral appointment – aims to carve out a space solely for women to lead, to strategize, and to influence decision-making at the highest level of city government.

The Detroit Women’s Commission will meet monthly to confront and address critical issues directly impacting the socioeconomic lives of women across the city. That includes everything from the pay gap to reproductive access, housing instability to public safety, maternal mortality to mental health – each issue made worse by disinvestment and policy neglect, especially for Black women.

This commission is positioned to not only listen, but to act. It will develop methods and strategies rooted in lived experiences, research, and collaboration. The purpose is to be proactive to the perils many Detroit women face.

Read more about the Women’s Commission and it’s formation here: Detroit forms its first-ever Women’s Commission, centering power, policy, and purpose.

The Women's Commission meetings are held monthly on the second Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. in the Erma Henderson Auditorium on the 13th floor of CAYMC (2 Woodward Ave).

The remaining dates for 2025 are:

September 11
October 9
November 13
December 11

City Council President

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City Council Pro Tem

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Angela Bullock

Angela Bullock

Commission Chair

Angela Bullock is a devoted wife, proud mother of three, and committed community leader who has called Detroit home for almost 30 years. With more than a decade of executive experience in healthcare and public service, she brings both heart and strategy to every table she serves.

Angela is the Basileus of the Rho Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and a board member of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network, where she advocates for equity, mental health access, and sustainable community solutions.

Sherri Jackson

Sherri Jackson

Commission Vice-Chair

Sherri Jackson is a proud native Detroiter who deeply loves her city and her home state of Michigan. She is a graduate of Detroit Public Schools and has earned degrees from Wayne County Community College and Eastern Michigan University, where she studied marketing, business and communications.

A passionate advocate for women and community leadership, Jackson is the founder of the Detroit Metropolitan Women of Excellence and an active member of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc. She is also the Executive Producer and host of 313NewsBeat on AM1440 WMKM, where she has built a strong presence as a trusted radio personality and voice for the community.

Jackson’s passion for leadership and service was shaped by early mentorship from working with late Representative Alma G. Stallworth and Dr. Deborah M. McGriff, former Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools.

Kerry C. Duggan

Kerry C. Duggan

Commission Secretary

Kerry C. Duggan is a nationally recognized policy leader and strategist, corporate board director, founder, and highly sought-after dynamic global speaker. In 2017, she founded Energy Security Partners (ESP), a global strategic advisory firm that helps clients navigate complex challenges in energy, security, and community-engaged economic development through pragmatic, place-based solutions that reduce risk and enhance resilience.

She served as Deputy Director of President Obama’s Detroit Task Force and founded the University of Michigan's SEAS Sustainability Clinic in Detroit. Crain’s Detroit Business named her to the prestigious “40 Under 40” in 2018 and their inaugural “Notable Leaders in Sustainability” lists.

Duggan grew up in Michigan and attended Detroit Country Day School (DCDS). She earned Division I basketball scholarships at St. John’s University and later at the University of Vermont, where she earned a B.S. in Environmental Studies. She holds an M.S. in Natural Resource Policy & Behavior from the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability. She is not related to Mayor Duggan.

Alethia Carr

Alethia Carr

Commissioner

Alethia Carr is a proud native of Detroit who has dedicated her career to improving the health and well-being of women, children, and families. With a background as a registered dietitian and a Master’s in Business Administration, her journey has spanned clinical care, public health leadership, and community advocacy – all with a deep commitment to advancing health equity. Her education included Cass Tech High School, Wayne State University and Oakland University.

Beyond professional work, she remain deeply engaged in the community, serving as an officer at Oak Grove AME Church and as a board member of Oak Village C.A.R.E.S., a community development corporation she helped establish.

Additionally, she is a founding member and president of a women’s investment club that has flourished for 25 years, supporting women in financial literacy and wealth building. She also serve as Second Vice President on the Board of her neighborhood association in the Greenacres community.

Gail Perry-Mason

Gail Perry-Mason

Commissioner

Gail Perry-Mason of Detroit has come a long way, from foster care to caring for others. A respected authority in the financial industry, Gail is also a best-selling author.

Gail’s wisdom also hit the airwaves as she co-hosted an award-winning talk show entitled “Building Wealth,” via broadcast on iHeartRadio affiliate WMXD (MIX 92.3 FM) and a television broadcast on Comcast Cable. She has appeared on national outlets such as BET, Fox News, PBS, CNN, CBS, MSNBC, CNBC, RadioOne and NPR Radio.

Named one of Michigan’s Top 10 Business Women by the National Association of Women Business Owners in 2007, Perry-Mason also received the Community Service Award from the Michigan Women’s Foundation, and was named Phenomenal Business Woman of the Year. She was recognized as one of Crain’s 100 Most Influential Women in Michigan for 2021, and received the “2022 Governor’s Service Award as a Lifetime Humanitarian.”

Jessica Parker

Jessica Parker

Commissioner

Jessica Parker is a distinguished leader and public service executive with more than two decades of dedicated service to the City of Detroit. In her pivotal role as Group Executive for Public Services in the Mayor's Office, she is instrumental in enhancing the quality of life for Detroit's residents by championing strategic initiatives and advancing key policies.

Jessica has built a proven track record in strategic planning, robust project management, effective policy implementation, and diligent performance tracking, consistently focusing on achieving greater efficiencies and driving impactful change within public service. Her extensive work in Detroit has spanned various leadership capacities, marked by her unwavering commitment to optimizing City operations and infrastructure.

Jessica's exemplary contributions were formally recognized when she was honored as a recipient of the Michigan Chronicle's 2024 Woman of Excellence award.

Demonstrating her deep commitment to service, Jessica is also a proud U.S. Coast Guard veteran, having served honorably until 2005. She utilized the G.I. Bill to fund her education, earning a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Detroit Mercy in 2002.

Katrina Watkins

Katrina Watkins

Commissioner

Katrina Keeby-Watkins is a dedicated community leader, nonprofit professional, and long-time resident of Detroit with a strong passion for grassroots change and equitable development.

A former educator, therapist, and social worker, Katrina brings a unique, people-centered perspective to her work, shaped by over 20 years of experience serving individuals and families across Metro Detroit.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Siena Heights University and a Master’s degree in Adult Education from Central Michigan University. Throughout her career, Katrina has built impactful workforce development programs, cultivated strategic community partnerships, and led initiatives that uplift underserved neighborhoods.

Currently, Katrina serves as the Founder and CEO of Bailey Park Neighborhood Development Corporation (BPNDC), an organization committed to revitalizing Detroit’s McDougall-Hunt neighborhood through economic empowerment. Under her leadership, BPNDC has become a trusted anchor in the community, transforming vacant land, supporting vulnerable populations, and creating opportunities for sustainable growth.

LaTanya Pitts

LaTanya Pitts

Commissioner

LaTanya Pitts is a lifelong Detroit resident and a dedicated community leader. She currently serves as President of the Columbus Hogarth Whitney Block Club and Vice President of the Petoskey-Otsego Neighborhood Association.

A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., LaTanya is also part of the City of Detroit’s Community Ambassador Program, where she actively supports neighborhood engagement and revitalization efforts.

Professionally, LaTanya is an IT specialist, bringing analytical expertise and problem-solving skills to both her career and volunteer work. She supports the 10th Precinct Community Board and is an active member of Second Ebenezer Church, serving on the Usher Board and in the College Ministry.

Her commitment to Detroit extends to her volunteer work with the Detroit Parade Company and the Detroit Conservatory, where she helps celebrate and preserve the city’s cultural legacy.

Maria Salinas

Maria Salinas

Commissioner

Maria Anita Salinas was born and raised in Southwest Detroit where she has been active in leadership and community development for over 40 years. She has a master’s degree in Organization and Community Leadership Development from Michigan State University and is currently pursuing her PHD.

She developed a Youth Driven Community House in SW Detroit, now a hub for Leadership Development for Residents, Youth and Stakeholders, and is fundraising for two new development projects: a state-of-the-art Early Learning Center and a Community Center.

Maria is currently the Executive Director of Congress of Communities, which she founded out of the Good Neighborhoods Initiative launched by the Skillman Foundation in 2006. She is advisor for the Policy Council for Matrix Head Start, Building the Engine of Community Development in Detroit, FBI Multi-Cultural Committee and Detroit Resident First Fund. She is also a board member of Salvation Army National, Matrix Human Services and Chair Person and founder of 482Forward.

She has been the recipient of multiple awards, including the 2024 Mariam Noland Award from The Community Foundation, 2024 ALKEBU-LAN’S Community Leadership Award, Birmingham Race Relations and Diversity Task Force Diversity Champion and The Oakland County Democratic Champion for Community Engagement.