Baxter Hall
Baxter E. Hall is a co-founder and President of Catalyst For Change.
Baxter is a Client Executive with Kapnick Insurance Group with over 15 years of consultative sales experience, helping organizations of every size find appropriate solutions. He is on Kapnick’s diversity, equity, and inclusion committee and is the co-chair for the committee’s book club.
He is an ambassador for the Southfield Area Chamber of Commerce and a founder of the Greenmen Group, which has provided a scholarship to a Ferndale High School graduate each year since 2012. Baxter also serves as director of the membership committee for the National African American Insurance Associate’s (NAAIA) Michigan chapter.
Baxter is committed to opening doors for the African American community to ensure that there are more people of color exposed to all of life’s possibilities. He has coached basketball in the Ferndale school district and mentored a number of professionals throughout his career. Baxter is a connector, doing his best to add value wherever he can.
Married with two children, Baxter resides in Farmington Hills. In his free time, Baxter enjoys listening to music, writing, and spending time with his friends and family. Baxter’s podcast, Baxter’s Buzz is a great mix of wise words, perspective, and guests who have inspired him and others.
Wesley Morgan, MA, LPC
Wesley works as a Therapist in Grand Rapids. He has a Masters of Arts in Counseling & Co-Founder of Catalyst For Change. Originally from Oak Park, Michigan, Wesley has been counseling professionally for more than seven years while helping individuals work through life issues. This has been a passion of his for over 15 years.
He is a highly-skilled, compassionate, spiritual, sensitive, and caring counselor committed to providing exceptional care while offering solution-based, holistic treatment plans that offer hope and change. He has experience with helping people work through anxiety disorders, personality disorders, depressive disorders, and much more. He has spent the last several years as a DBT Therapist diffusing stressful situations, proactively resolving long-standing issues, helping people set and achieve challenging goals and objectives, and steering people towards recovery from self-harming, suicidal ideation, and anger management issues.
His goal is not to change people but to help facilitate the change that they desire. For some, this may take longer than others. He is willing to get down in the trenches with people to bring them to the place where they desire to be. He is dedicated to bringing out the best in people. His hobbies include traveling and playing golf.
Mark Staton
Pastor Mark A. Staton II is the Associate Pastor at Lighthouse Community Church of God in Redford, MI & Co - Founder of Catalyst For Change. He contributes a wealth of knowledge and experience, having served the community and nonprofit organizations for over 20 years. As a result of such service within various Metro Detroit organizations, such as COTS, Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, and Grace Centers of Hope (formerly Pontiac Rescue Mission), Pastor Mark is far too familiar with the crippling affects of mental health, trauma, and addiction upon our indigent population and youth. He has a passion for empowering and equipping others to fulfill their potential, whilst also challenging them to evoke positive change within their community. Pastor Mark specializes in the areas of nonprofit administration, mentoring/leadership development, mediation, and racial diversity.
Tracy Ferguson
Tracy Ferguson is originally from Oak Park, Michigan [suburb of Detroit] but has called Atlanta home since 2012. She received her bachelor’s degree from The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI and then went on to earn her MBA [Master of Business Administration] from Walsh College in Troy, MI. She is married to Jeffrey V. Ferguson [Jeff], who is the Founder and CEO of a healthcare services company. They are the parents to Jeffrey Miguel Ferguson [Jeffrey], who loves football, his Nintendo Switch and volunteering at church.
Tracy currently works for Medline Industries, Inc. as an Account Manager/Acute Care Sales Rep. She is responsible for managing supply chain services which includes providing medical supplies, inventory management and sales for numerous hospitals in the Metro Atlanta area. Prior to becoming an Account Manager, she was a Prime Vendor Analyst, also with Medline. In this role, Tracy’s analytical skills, excellent customer service and management skills were instrumental to the success of the account. Before joining Medline, Tracy managed a team of auditors and also conducted audits on behalf of insurance companies with CDR Associates, a division of Xerox at that time. Experience as a Project Manager with Tax Management associates allowed Tracy to travel extensively and hone her skillset.
Besides loving to cook for her family and friends, Tracy loves to volunteer. More specifically, she loves to volunteer with children and youth. She has always worked with the children’s ministry in church and mentored many young women. Her passion for volunteering and ministry lead her to leave the corporate world for a career in ministry. For a brief period of time, Tracy was the Director of Waumba Land [children’s ministry] with Buckhead Church [part of North Point Ministries]. As the Director, her goals were to cast vision of North Point Ministries while partnering with nearly 500 amazing volunteers and parents of approximately 700 children on a weekly basis. Tracy often shares her life story, which includes successes and failures, in hopes that it will help someone else. By joining the board for Catalyst For Change, CFC, Tracy can join others who also have a vested interest in Ferndale School District. Ferndale schools contributed to who Tracy is today and it’s only fitting that she give back through this organization.
Candace Moore
Candace Moore is the Health Careers Pathway and Diversity Program Coordinator at Western Michigan University Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. Prior to this role, Candace taught Interpersonal Communication and Introduction to Public Speaking at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. She was also the Clinical Study Recruiter with Center for Clinical Research at WMed. She has years of experience working with stakeholders, mentoring college students and community involvement. Candace has training in Eliminating Racism Creating and Celebrating Equity and experience working with diverse student populations. She serves on multiple committees, executive, and advisory boards, for nonprofit organizations affiliated in Kalamazoo County. Additionally, Candace enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, exercising and being a foodie.
Kelly E. Slay, Ph.D
First generation student. Education scholar. Mentor and motivational speaker. Dr. Kelly E. Slay is Assistant Professor of Higher Education and Public Policy in the Department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development. Dr. Slay is passionate about improving access, diversity and equity in K-20 education through research and practice. Her research examines race, diversity and equity issues in higher education--particularly the outcomes and experiences of Black students. She is especially interested in understanding the factors shaping Black students’ college enrollment, completion, and career trajectories. Her research is published in education books and journals and she often shares her work at national conferences. In addition to her research and teaching, Dr. Slay advises colleges and universities in the areas of diversity and equity in graduate education and undergraduate admissions and recruitment. She received a Ph.D. in higher education with a concentration in public policy from the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education at the University of Michigan.
While Dr. Slay’s teaching and research are enough to keep her busy, mentoring undergraduate and graduate students remains central to her life’s purpose. Drawing lessons from her journey as a first-generation college student, Dr. Slay has spent the past 15 years helping students underserved by our educational systems to achieve their education and career goals. She is delighted to serve on the board of CFC and support the students of the Greater Royal Township Area and the Ferndale School District--communities that have been a part of her family for generations and nurtured her growth and development as a scholar.
Dr. Slay is a new resident of Nashville, Tennessee but has lived in Washington D.C. and Chicago. She enjoys hiking trails, traveling internationally, finding new podcasts, and catching up with family and friends—especially her 15 nieces and nephews
Deon Carson
Serving our country proudly, Deon L Carson is Army Combat veteran having served for ten years with three deployments. Deon L. Carson is the Senior Vice President for Social Justice & Strategic Plans & Co-Founder of Catalyst for Change. A decorated Army Veteran. Deon has earned several awards for service including 1 Army Commendation medal with Valor, Combat Action Badge, 4 Army Commendation Medals, 5 Army Achievement Medals, Iraq Campaign Medal with 3 Stars,Army Valorous Unit Citation in addition to many others acknowledgement of recognition amount 3 active duty tours. Born and raised in Detroit MI, Deon is a graduate of Ferndale High School and current student at Grace Christian University. A happily married father of two, Deon has a passion for equitable justice and ensuring the fair treatment and flourishing of all people.
Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, NCOIC
Awards:
1 Army Commendation Medal with Valor
4 Army Commendation Medals
5 Army Achievement Medals
Global War on Terrorism Service medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Combat Action Badge
Iraq Campaign Medal w 3 bronze stars
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
National Defense Ribbon
3 Army Good Conduct Medals
Order of The Spur
Army Valorous Unit Citation
Pastor Ezra L. Tillman, Jr, MAOL, M.A.
Pastor Ezra L. Tillman, Jr., is a proud native of Detroit, Michigan. He accepted Christ at a young age and was spiritually nourished under the Pastoral leadership of the late Dr. John L. Webb of New Mt. Vernon M.B.C. In 2002, he humbly accepted the call of God into the Gospel Ministry and is currently the proud Pastor of First Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Flint, Michigan & Co- Founder of Catalyst For Change.
Pastor Tillman has a passion for God’s Word and His people and is a proponent of education. He has earned multiple degrees including an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts from Henry Ford College, and a Bachelor of Religious Education Degree (B.R.E.) from Midwestern Baptist Bible College, a Master of Ministry-Biblical Counseling Degree from Andersonville Theological Seminary and earned a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership Degree from Grace Christian University. He has also studied at the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, the Moody Bible Institute, and Ashland Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Theological Studies and has committed himself to empowering, embracing, and enriching mankind with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Tillman is no stranger to public service and in a short period of time he has impacted the community of Flint greatly. The Flint Water Crisis was his first vision of taking his Ministry outside the four walls of the church and offered hope to the residents of Flint. He and his wife Catrina were successful in making First Trinity the “hub” making sure clean water was provided to the residents on a weekly basis. Pastor Tillman founded the Revive Community Health Center that addresses the health disparities for people of color due to the uncertainties that may arise from ingesting the poisonous water. His alignment with the community comes as a result of his compassion to change the lives of lost souls and to be a “voice for the voiceless.” Many prominent leaders have found him “a respected source of reasoning” and appointed him a seat on their boards; Genesee Health Plan, the University of Michigan/Flint, Citizens Advisory Board, Genesee County Advisory Committee, the coalition for Black and Jewish Unity Executive Board, lifetime member of the NAACP, Black Millennial for Flint Lead Prevention Ambassador and Deputy Sheriff of Genesee County. Pastor Tillman has no problem conveying his God given wisdom and views. Standing on the side of righteousness and justice, has also captured the attention of others across the United States. As a result, he was awarded the “Man of the Year” by prominent leaders in Atlanta, GA. and also asked to be Assigned as the opening speaker of the Democracy Awaking Rally in Washington D.C. He has been featured in many news articles across the world and has appeared on radio and television shows. As a result of his leadership in the church and his enthusiastic involvement in the community he was awarded the “Key” to the City of Flint during his sixth pastoral anniversary in April 2020 (the first Pastor to receive this prestigious award under the current administration). In addition, he has been recognized as one of the under forty up and coming influential leaders for the millennial generation.
Quinn Wright
The son of blue collar, union workers, Quinn’s parents taught him a strong work ethic, love of community and desire to serve others at an early age. After graduating from Ferndale High School, Quinn continued this tradition at Michigan State University, where he served in various community-based leadership positions, including Student Body President and Student Assembly Chairman of the Associated Students of MSU.
Since earning his degree from MSU, Quinn has continued to work to strengthen the community by serving on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health (MI-AIMH), as Parent Liaison for the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) and as President of The Detroit Spartan, a local MSU alumni organization.
Quinn’s volunteer work in Madison Heights includes helping others by working with several community organizations and his church, Central Church of Madison Heights. Quinn was appointed by City Council to the Human Relations and Equity Commission in 2020. Because of of his extensive leadership experience and diverse background, Quinn was unanimously selected by his fellow HREC commissioners to serve as the board’s Chairperson.
Quinn’s professional career is also devoted to helping people. A Financial Advisor with Edward Jones, Quinn works with families to develop their long-term financial goals. With 20 years of experience, his financial expertise helps families create plans for the financial well-being so they can focus on what’s important. He is also a Co-Founder of Catalyst For Change.
A 10-year resident, Quinn and his wife are the proud parents of three intelligent, independent and adventurous young girls. Of all the many roles Quinn in which serves, none are more important and have a bigger place in his heart than that of being a proud and loving father.