Title
To recognize and congratulate Michelle M. Mills for receiving the 2010 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award
Body
WHEREAS, Michelle M. Mills is a native of Cleveland, Ohio and a graduate of Cleveland State University. She received her Master's degree from the Mandel School of Applied Social Science at Case Western Reserve University and is a Licensed Social Worker in the State of Ohio; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Mills is the youngest and first African American to serve as President and CEO of the St. Stephen's Community House in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, with over 17 years experience, Ms. Mills has served on many local and state-wide social service organizations. She was the Chief Operating Officer for the Neighborhood House for over five years and served on the Family-To-Family Administrator's Council, a Cleveland based collaborative of 14 neighborhood-based community agencies; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Mills has also been involved in social work on the national and international levels. She was the administrator of the Annie E. Casey Family Strengthing Awards program with the United Neighborhood Centers of America. She was also one of 20 leaders across the nation chosen to lead the public policy agenda for the National Center for Summer Learning to improve summer learning opportunities in communities across the country. In 2008, in Helsinki, Finland, she was selected as a board member of the International Federation of Settlements which represents 45 nations and three continents; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Mills served as an adjunct professor for Case Western Reserve University-Mandel School and The Ohio State University, and a fellow for the Ohio Commission on Minority Health. She was recently appointed to Vice-President of the Board of Directors for the Advocacy and Protective Services and has represented UNCA at the First History of the Settlement Movement conference, London, England; and
WHEREAS, in the community, Ms. Mills meets regularly with various agencies and service providers in the Linden area and beyond. She attends various Linden community meetings, council hearings and area commissions. She serves as co-chair for the Linden Area Education Design team and the Community representative for the OHIO STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math curriculum initiative for Linden McKinley High School. The team works to provide the best educational opportunities for all students in the Linden area; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Mills has earned numerous awards and recognitions for her outstanding career in social work. She was named the most influential community leader at the Who's Who Black Columbus Community in 2006, 2007 and 2008. She was awarded the Marian and Walter English scholarship award for professional development. In 2007, she received the Empowered Woman Award Columbus, Ohio, and was featured by the Columbus Post as the one to watch for community service. WORD Magazine honored Ms. Mills for her community advocacy and Business First recognized her as a "person on the move" and honored her as one of the Business First Central Ohio "40 Under 40" emerging leaders. Ms. Mills has recently added the distinction of being selected as the Smart Business Executive Director of the Year; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Mills is a national and local speaker, giving workshops and presentations to organizations such as, the United Way of Central Ohio in their Neighborhood Partnership Training Center, the National Black Social Workers, and the American Public Health Association and the National Institute of Mental Health. She was appointed by Mayor Michael B. Coleman to the 2012 Bicentennial Health and Human Services Committee and the United Way of Central Ohio High School Graduation Results Committee; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby recognize and congratulate Michelle M. Mills for receiving the 2010 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award and thank her for her continued service and dedication to the Columbus community.