BLKPRINT

Dr. Iris Taylor represents leadership at the highest levels of both healthcare and education in Detroit. A nationally respected nurse executive, she has held senior leadership roles within major health systems, shaping patient care strategy, clinical operations, and workforce development across the region.

Today, she brings that same strategic discipline and commitment to service to DPSCD as both Board Chair of the DPSCD Foundation and a member of the Board of Education. In these roles, she helps steward philanthropic investment, guide governance decisions, and ensure that student outcomes remain at the center of every conversation.

For DPSCD students, her leadership reinforces that excellence cultivated in Detroit classrooms can lead to influence across entire industries. Her presence ensures the district is guided by experience, integrity, and vision.

Latrice McClendon is a force within Detroit's civic and philanthropic landscape. As Director of the Knight Foundation in Detroit, she oversees strategic investments that support community vitality, arts, and economic opportunity. As Chair of the DPSCD Board of Education, she plays a direct role in shaping the district's future.

Through both her professional leadership and board service, Latrice ensures that innovation, accountability, and opportunity remain central to DPSCD's progress. Her influence bridges philanthropy and policy, aligning resources with student needs.

Denise Lewis is a distinguished attorney whose career has spanned complex litigation, corporate counsel, and leadership within Detroit's legal community. A graduate of Mumford High School and Barnard College, she built her career on intellectual rigor, discipline, and a deep commitment to excellence.

Today, she continues to invest in Detroit through thoughtful philanthropic leadership that strengthens literacy and expands opportunity for DPSCD students. Her giving reflects a belief that educational environments should be inspiring, culturally affirming, and equipped to prepare students for any path they choose.

When alumni return to strengthen the institutions that shaped them, they help ensure that opportunity is not accidental, but intentional.

The Honorable Aliyah Sabree began her judicial career at Detroit's 36th District Court, where she became one of the youngest women to serve on the bench. She now serves on the 3rd Circuit Court, continuing her trajectory of leadership within Michigan's legal system.

Her rise reflects both excellence and advancement within institutions that shape public life. For DPSCD students, her journey affirms that careers in law, public service, and civic leadership are attainable. Representation on the bench signals possibility.

The Honorable Austin Garrett made history as the youngest judge to serve on Detroit's 36th District Court. He currently serves as Chief Judge Pro Tem, a role that reflects both leadership and institutional trust within one of Michigan's busiest courts.

His work places him at the center of decisions that directly affect Detroit residents. For DPSCD students, his presence on the bench reinforces that excellence cultivated in Detroit classrooms can lead to positions of real authority and community impact.

Deana Neely is a licensed electrical contractor and the award-winning founder and CEO of Detroit Voltage, one of Michigan's fastest growing woman-owned electrical contracting firms. With more than a decade in construction and prior experience in Detroit's Buildings and Safety Engineering Department, she built a company grounded in quality, safety, and service.

As a Black woman leading in STEM and skilled trades, Deana represents the expanding career pathways available to Detroit students. Her work aligns with the future of high school redesign and workforce development. She shows students that entrepreneurship and technical mastery are powerful pathways forward.

Big Sean has risen from Detroit classrooms to international stages, becoming one of the most recognized voices in contemporary hip hop. With multiple platinum albums, Grammy nominations, and collaborations with industry icons, he has built a career defined by lyrical precision, resilience, and cultural influence.

Yet his impact extends beyond music. Through philanthropy and advocacy, he has consistently invested back into Detroit, supporting education initiatives and community development efforts. For DPSCD students, his journey affirms that talent nurtured in Detroit can resonate worldwide.

Under Sean Williams' leadership, Detroit Vs. Everybody has grown into a nationally recognized brand that amplifies culture and civic pride. Originally founded by Tommey Walker, the brand has expanded into new lines that celebrate identity, including the DPSCD Vs. Everybody collaboration.

Through partnership with DPSCD, the brand has helped elevate student pride and alumni engagement, reinforcing that Detroit's identity is something to be celebrated.

Jeremy Orr is an environmental attorney whose work centers on protecting communities and advancing environmental justice across Michigan and the United States. A graduate of Henry Ford High School, he has dedicated his legal expertise to addressing issues of public health, clean water access, and energy equity.

His advocacy has intersected with major environmental challenges, including work connected to the Flint water crisis and broader efforts to hold institutions accountable for environmental harm. For DPSCD students, his career highlights a powerful and often underrepresented pathway. Environmental law is not only viable — it is vital.

Curtis Blackwell is a nationally respected youth advocate and the founder of Sound Mind Sound Body, a Detroit-based organization dedicated to developing student-athletes on and off the field.

What began as exposure camps has grown into a year-round ecosystem of afterschool programming, summer development initiatives, mentorship, leadership training, and academic support. Through combines, college showcases, and national partnerships, Sound Mind Sound Body has helped thousands of students secure collegiate scholarships and continue their academic journeys.

The program's impact is measurable. Curtis has played a role in training and developing athletes who have advanced to the NFL, demonstrating the level of excellence and preparation cultivated within his pipeline. Yet his mission extends far beyond professional sports. His model emphasizes discipline, academic achievement, character development, and long-term life readiness.

For DPSCD students, his work illustrates how structured mentorship and intentional exposure can transform talent into tangible opportunity.

Tarence Wheeler's career reflects a full-circle journey rooted in Detroit. After building a professional path in sports and athletics, he transitioned into civic and educational leadership, bringing with him the discipline and network cultivated through years in competitive arenas.

Today, he leads Alumni Affairs and Community Relations for DPSCD, cultivating relationships that expand opportunity for students beyond the classroom. His work aligns influential alumni and community leaders with district priorities, translating relational capital into tangible support.