Biography

Ms. Graham is a graduate of Nazareth College with a Bachelor’s in nursing, and is a W.K. Kellogg International Leadership (KILP II) Fellow. Beginning with a career focused in public health nursing, Ms. Graham designed and implemented several statewide initiatives including Infant Support Services, and the Expanded Maternal Support Services Program targeting substance using women and their infants. In 1992, Ms. Graham was recruited by the Upjohn Company, to implement a neighborhood focused early childhood family resource center within the Northside neighborhood of the City of Kalamazoo. Services included a birth-five early childhood childcare center, parenting classes co-facilitated by an instructor and past graduates of the program, a strong neighborhood volunteer program, and mentored employment opportunities. Many aspects of the Family Resource Center were incorporated into the national Healthy Start Initiative that Ms. Graham has served as a consultant for since 1993. Ms. Graham currently works in the Affordable Housing sector, both single family and multifamily, and has served as a consultant to Community Housing Development Organizations across Michigan on behalf of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). Ms. Graham recently accepted a position on the Board of Directors of the Douglas Community Association in Kalamazoo, Michigan; an organization that celebrated its 90th year in service to the community in 2010.