Board: Tahirih Ziegler, Vice President
At-Large Representative
Executive Director, Detroit LISC, Detroit
What is the history/purpose of your organization, in one sentence?
For over 25 years, LISC has worked with community partners to improve the lives of families and individuals in distressed neighborhoods transforming them into sustainable communities by providing financing and technical assistance to nonprofits to do this vital work statewide and throughout the nation.
What drives your passion for neighborhood / community and economic development?
My passion for this work really began when I was an AmeriCorps member in Lansing over 16 years ago. I worked for a small nonprofit after college that provided affordable housing to families. After I witnessed the immediate transformation of a family empowered to afford a renovated home… I was hooked. My early experiences living in both "bad" and "good" neighborhoods and having to move thirteen times because of affordability issues had a huge impact on me as well. So providing affordable housing and access to vibrant, safe, thriving neighborhoods is quite personal for me.
Why do you love Michigan?
I love Michigan's lakes, the change of seasons and the diversity of the people, that's why I continue to live and work in this beautiful state in spite of the long winters and challenging economy.
How do your family and/or community inspire your work?
My family fully supports my work and I am truly inspired by my children when they describe what I do to others. Both of my sons say, "My mom helps poor people so they don't have to live like she did when she was little." It's that simple for me.
What do you do in your free time (if it exists!)?
In my free time when I am not working or being a mom, I love to watch horror movies, travel, devour mysteries novels, visit zoos and art galleries.