Trudy Gallant-Stokes has decades of experience in all aspects of the media. She has worked as a radio reporter, television reporter and anchor in Michigan and Ohio. Gallant-Stokes has hosted Detroit Black Journal, (now American Black Journal) and currently is a guest host of the program. She also hosted Video Detroit and produced several Emmy nominated and award-winning documentaries for Detroit PBS. Gallant-Stokes has served as the Detroit Correspondent for news and entertainment programming on BET (Black Entertainment Television) and for World Business Review on PBS, as well as written cover stories for Black Enterprise magazine.

More recently, she has been president of her own production company, Gallant-Stokes Productions. GSP has created videos for a wide variety of corporate and nonprofit clients. Gallant-Stokes, a past Michigan Chronicle Women of Excellence honoree, is an honors graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in telecommunications.

A native Detroiter, Gallant-Stokes and her husband, Chuck Stokes of WXYZ-TV Channel 7, have two daughters, two sons-in-law and one grandson.

A native of Southwest Detroit and graduate of Renaissance High School, SaTrice Coleman-Betts received her undergraduate degree from Iowa State University and Master of Science from Colorado State.  Since 2004, she has been Executive Director of St. Patrick Senior Center, Detroit’s largest health and wellness center for people 55 and over. 

During her tenure -- which began in 1999 as activities director – the center has continually evolved to meet the ever-expanding needs of older adults. In addition to providing nutritious meals, wellness programs, transportation, and dozens of activities, St. Pat now offers programs like computer technology training and entrepreneurship development. 

Ms. Coleman-Betts has received awards from the Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and other groups.  She has also been featured on WXYZ TV, the Detroit Free Press and Comcast Universal for her digital equity and inclusion efforts

Along with her fiancé, Sebastien Thomas, she is a resident of Lathrup Village and mother to two daughters, Adrienne and Lauren.

Photo: Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press

Ronald Taylor, President & CEO of Detroit Area Agency on Aging, is the embodiment of what it means to be a servant leader, annually serving over 45,000 seniors, caregivers, and adults with disabilities in Southeastern Michigan. He leads one of the premier AAAs in the country.

Taylor’s 30-year enrichment in aging services includes experience working at the regional, state, and federal levels. He has dedicated his career to putting constituents first and developing innovative, modern, and effective care that enhances the lives of aging adults in our community.

Post-global crisis, he has emerged with a passion and renewed commitment to reducing the inequities and disparities in services for older adults; breaking down the barriers of social isolation; building up intergenerational programming; and providing greater resources for family caregivers.

He has received numerous awards and serves on boards and committees on the local, state, and federal levels, such as the Kinship Care Committee, Michigan Community of Direct Care Workers, National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP), and Partnership to Align Social Care (P2ASC).

Kristie King is a social worker and community advocate with over 20 years of experience in clinical services and community-based initiatives. As Executive Director of the Southeast Michigan Senior Regional Collaborative, she leads a network of nonprofit organizations and government entities serving seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers.

She holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Social Work from Wayne State University and has held  leadership roles in both nonprofit and government sectors focused on aging, health equity, and community well-being. Her past work includes coalition building with the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan and overseeing senior services in Macomb County.

Kristie is an UM-CHRT Policy Fellow, social justice facilitator, and dedicated volunteer, committed to systems change. What she enjoys most is family time, especially as a proud grandmother of two.

Terry Plowden is a dance instructor at St. Patrick Senior Center, specializing in belly dancing. She also leads a drum cardio class twice a month on Saturdays.  

Terry's love of dancing has led her to the Middle East for advanced training, as well as weekly online training with dancers from other countries. With a background in modern dance, she has performed professionally, while teaching and competing for over 17 years.

Plowden’s mission is to promote wellness, fitness, and fun for seniors, focusing on knee-friendly and isolation moves. One benefit of memorizing choreographed routines is that it improves cognitive skills.

Her most recent performances were at Senior Fun Day at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater and Shimmy Mob, whose purpose is to raise awareness of domestic violence. The dance troupe, the Divine Divas, served as host and performed at the event.