On today's WestSouthwest, we bring you an extended version of WMUK's Earlene McMichael's January interview with Cheree Thomas. She’s the new director of the Douglass Community Association, a 97-year-old outreach center in Kalamazoo that keeps keeping on thanks to public support. Thomas has been on the job now for five months.
Back in January, she said she hoped to start a mentoring program for African-American males ages 12 to 25 in the spring. McMichael checked back with her and she will this month launch Douglass Men of Promise with the youngest age group, 12-16; and has plans to go one step further. Also this month, Thomas will be beginning a companion self-esteem-building group for African-American girls called Girls Inventing Real Life Solutions.
Thomas came to the Douglass Community Association with extensive leadership experience in the nonprofit arena, much of it spent at the Kalamazoo YWCA.
