CARRIE HARNISH, LMSW--EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Bridging Communities, Inc. under Carrie’s leadership is working to create a “Community for a Lifetime” that offers a continuum of long-term care from basic chore assistance, friendly visiting, transportation, etc. to quality independent, assisted, and nursing home level care provided in-home and in a facility. Carrie has served as Executive Director since October 2007, and as Director of Eldercare between 1997 and 2002. She is licensed as a Clinical and Community Practice Masters Social Worker with a graduate certificate in gerontology. She also has extensive experience in nephrology social work with strong knowledge base of Medicare and Medicaid. She is happily married to Chad Harnish and mom to Zachary and Ian.

CAROLYN BRAGGS--CLERICAL AID

Carolyn is a clerical aide from the National Caucus for Black Americans (NCBA), an older workers program, which provides assistance to its surrounding area seniors through consultation, greeting class for independent living individuals, and assistance with minor home repairs.

BARBARA BRANCH--SECRETARY

Barbara Branch, Administrative Assistant, and has been with BCI since the very beginning, when only two staff members were doing the same work only on a smaller scale.  She finds the work with seniors to be both helpful and rewarding.

MARION BLOYE--DIR. OF SPECIAL PROJECTS

Marion Bloye, MPA, has a BA from the University of Western Ontario in Business Administration.  She is the retired founding director of Ecumenical Project S.A.V.E. (Seek and Visit the Elderly), BCI’s original name.  She now coordinates our efforts to develop quality neighborhoods in Southwest Detroit so our elders can live in dignity.

DAVID L. ESTERBROOK--DIRECTOR OF ELDERCARE AND VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

David (BSW, Eastern Michigan University, 1994) has been working with Bridging Communities for the past 6 years.  His work has given him the opportunity to meet and work with thousands of fascinating people.  Bringing people together with the common goal of enriching the lives of others he finds to be an exciting and rewarding endeavor.  He is proud to be a part of such a noble mission.

GERARDO EVANGELISTA--HOUSING COORDINATOR

Gerardo has extensive experience developing commercial and residental real estate.  As a member of the housing department, his mission is to revitalize our community by providing housing that is affordable, decent, and safe to low and moderate income residents.

CAROLYN FREY--LISC AMERICORPS VOLUNTEER

Carolyn has a B.A. in Political Science from Loyola University Chicago.

She is really enjoying her time at BCI: “The staff members never stop working towards positive change in our community and I am grateful to work with such a wonderful group of people.”

REBECCA FRIED--MSW INTERN

Rebecca is working on her MSW in Aging and Human Resource Management at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.  She has a B.A. in history from the University of Michigan, and an M.A. in Performance Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.  She is interested in developing opportunities for elders to engage in intergenerational creative arts opportunities.

MARK HAGOOD--ELDERCARE CASE MANAGER

Mark has a BS from Eastern Michigan University in Social Work, and an Associate’s Degree in Child Development from Ferris State University. He also owns a construction company called Site Clean-Up, LLC.  Mark has worked with BCI since February of 2009, and is glad to have a chance to give back to elders the kindness and support that his grandparents have given him.  Mark has a great aunt who is 103 years old and a great uncle who is 99.

PAUL KRYSTYNIAK--HOUSING COORDINATOR

Paul holds a B.A. from Loyola University in Chicago with a major in Political Science and minors in urban studies and journalism.  He also has a Masters of Community Development from the University of Detroit Mercy with a concentration in economic development.  A native Detroiter, Paul has an unparalleled passion for his hometown and its residents.  He is particularly interested in sustainable development projects that emphasize reuse and preservation.  In his free time he enjoys baseball, fishing, hunting, spending time with family, and cooking.

VAUGHNIA VEGA--HOUSING COORDINATOR

Vaughnia has had over 20 years experience in the Real Estate business, and has been a lifelong member of the Real Estate community through her family business.  She is an NDEC-certified housing development financial professional.

JOHNNY VEGA--FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

Johnny, a retired employee from the city of Detroit, conducts building maintenance, drives buses for BCI intergenerational programming, and supervises workgroups for senior home repairs.  He has attended Henry Ford College, Madonna University, and Oakland Community College in Royal Oak.  In his spare time, Johnny works on the 160 acre farm that he owns in Mio, Michigan.

JENNIE WEAKLEY--AMERICORPS VISTA VOLUNTEER

Jenny is currently enrolled at the University of Phoenix, majoring in health care administration.  She is a third generation local business owner, and a board member of a neighboring community development organization. For two years, Jennie has been an Americorps volunteer at Our Lady of Guadalupe Middle School.

TERRY WHITFIELD--INTERGENERATIONAL COORDINATOR

Terry currently serves as Intergenerational Coordinator, overseeing the LINC (Linking Intergenerational Neighbors who Care) Project, which was designed to train fifty Youth, ages 15-24, the career field of Elder Care, as well as basic training in home repair, as well as extensive training from the I.C.A.R.U.S program.  He lends his community organizer experience and abilities to the Bridging Communities family.  He also serves as the Lead Detroit Organizer for One Michigan, a youth-LED, Immigrant rights organization.  Terry serves on the Board of Executives for the Michigan Alliance of TimeBanks and also serves on the board of the Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA/PTA) of Michigan and heads the Diversity & Inclusion committee.   He also serves as Executive Director of Community Organizing and Outreach for WJW International, which focuses on increasing a commmunity’s capacity for creating positive change in their neighborhood.  Terry likes to consider himself, “Your friendly, neighborhood Iron Man”