EMily (M) Alemán-McAlpine

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Program Director 02/22 - present

Wege Foundation, Grand Rapids, MI

Lead the program team in the distribution of approximately $15-$17 million dollars in geographically focused grant funding in the program areas of environment, community health and wellbeing, education, and arts and culture ensuring equitable and accessible funding processes while centering community, advocacy, and racial justice to ensure inclusion and funding to traditionally under-resourced and underrepresented communities.

Key responsibilities and accomplishments:

· Collaborate in strategic planning with the CEO, Board of Trustees, board-appointed committees, and other ad hoc board committees

· Serve as external foundation representative in local, statewide, and national groups to imbed equity and inclusion in processes and systems

· Collaborate with funder colleagues to implement projects and community wide initiatives in the philanthropic and not-for-profit sectors, local government, business, academic and civic leaders

· Implemented grant focus area to address largest racialized gaps in Kent County of economic equity and housing

· Develop and implement accessible and equitable grantmaking processes to distribute funding in most underserved areas, reduce disparities in funding and increase positive outcomes

· Partner with organizations and funder colleagues to increase civic engagement capacity amongst grantees

· Approve all media related material including but not limited to press releases, social media, and media announcements

· Train, coach, and mentor program team

Program Officer 11/16 – 02/22
Developed equitable and inclusive funding processes and proactively engaged diverse organizations to apply for granting opportunities in under resourced and historically oppressed communities to advocate for and address disparate funding while developing and deepening relationships with community non-profit organizations to ensure organizations understood foundation grant priorities and funding processes to successfully received funding.

Key responsibilities and accomplishments:

· Externally represented foundation in developing and maintaining effective collaborative relationships with local colleagues in philanthropic, not-for-profit sectors, government, business, academic and civic leaders

· Recommended grant funding and monitored grantee goals and outcomes, including site visits and progress and final reports

· Worked closely with CFO to ensure grants were processed and managed in a timely, accurate and compliant manner Serve as external foundation representative in local, statewide, and national groups to imbed equity and inclusion in processes and systems

Senior Community Liaison 2/09 – 11/16

Blue Cross Blue Shield, Grand Rapids, MI

Developed and maintained statewide strategic partnerships while responsible for distributing corporate philanthropic funding in six regions to improve the health outcomes of Michigan residents with a focus on closing the racialized health gaps in diverse and under resourced communities that aligned with the corporate social mission

Key responsibilities and accomplishments:

• Implemented community engagement to increase visibility of health outcomes, create awareness and implement social mission in six corporate offices
• Developed and deepened relationships between diverse community leaders, local, state, and federal government officials, public school representatives and the Blue Care Network leadership

· Facilitated Community Advisory Councils (CAC) with key community stakeholders that included elected officials, city, county, community members, and business leaders to address and understand emerging health issues

• Developed and maintained performance reporting for executive leadership that provided

impact of all regional strategic partnerships and projects

• Developed cross departmental collaborations with sales, market segmentation, corporate communications, social mission, and individual business unit to work cross functionally in order to penetrate diverse markets and maintain community visibility
• Engaged diverse communities to decrease racialized health outcomes, increase access to services, increase equitable quality of care, health status and overall wellness
• Served as external representative for the company through media interviews, public presentations, trainings and facilitation

Executive Director 5/03 – 9/08

Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, Grand Rapids, MI

Oversaw all aspects of non-profit organization to ensure efficient operations and long-term organizational sustainability while advocating for just and equitable resources and processes. Additionally, implemented and evaluated sustainable and high impact programs in the areas of education, advocacy, legal services, cultural competency, mental health services and civic engagement using best practices and proven models to address community priorities

Key responsibilities and accomplishments:

· Developed programming and wrap around services for BIPOC communities to support economic mobility and long-term family sustaining career trajectories

· Increased funding and created sustainable revenue to ensure a financially stable organization by doubling the revenue generating streams, completing $1.4 million capital campaign, and cultivating and sustaining individual, corporate, and major gift donors.

· Created data base to evaluate programs impact and ensure continuous improvement of all programs

· Collaborated with the board of trustees to develop and implement the organizational strategic plan including financial growth, program growth and transformation strategies to achieve the organizational objectives, mission, and vision

• Managed up to 40 staff and up to 300 volunteers including recruiting, coaching, developing and all other human resources processes to create diverse and energized team
• Developed and maintained relationships with stakeholders including community members and leaders, local, state, and federal government officials, public school representatives and community groups to stay abreast of community needs and priorities to integrate these voices into organization programming
• Represented the organization in press conferences, television and radio interviews, expert panels and presentations

Cultural Relations Director 10/00 – 5/03

Fennville Public Schools, Fennville, MI

Oversaw, developed, and implemented all aspects of educational and social emotional programs for migrant, bilingual, and immigrant programs that served the 40% Latino student population while evaluating program impact and advocating for students and families needs and resources.

· Administered and grew migrant, bilingual, immigrant, Title 1 program budget to over $500,000

Key responsibilities and accomplishments:

• Oversaw Mexico/USA Bi-National Teacher Exchange Program to host Mexican and American teachers in the United States and Mexico to provide cross cultural training and education to ensure bi-national students provided with culturally competent education experiences
• Fostered collaborations and partnerships with community agencies to strengthen and deliver wrap around services and provide basic needs to families and students
• Managed and recruited bilingual and bi-cultural staff from other states to increase the diversity and expertise in specific areas such as second language acquisition and bilingual/bi-cultural education increasing staffing for migrant program to over 50 staff members
• Developed and centered community voice in educational programs and increased on school district committees such as District-Wide Planning Team, Multi-Cultural Team, Curriculum Advisory Council and Student Enhancement Learning Team
• Developed and implemented staff training specifically geared toward migrant, immigrant, diversity, and cultural competency
• Reviewed existing programs, monitored performance, and identified areas of improvement or expansion.
• Directed staff training on technical aspects of programming activities.
• Served as school district representative to establish relationships with key stakeholders to build trust with school district and other external stakeholders
• Managed program operations and provided strategic leadership for workers.
• Facilitated staff meetings and educational work sessions to strengthen staff competencies.