On November 11, 2019, Michigan’s Children will be hosting their annual Heroes event in Detroit at the Police Athletic League (PAL). Each year we honor individuals whose work or organizational efforts positively impact the lives and life-outcomes for our state’s children and families. This year we are honored a team of heroes who are all scoring wins for Michigan youth and families through education, mentorship and philanthropic work across our state.
If you were unable to join us, there’s still time to team up with us – for more information, including how your contribution to our team helps us record more wins for Michigan’s Children through public policy initiatives in 2020 and beyond, can be found here.
Then, Learn More About our Heroes
Jalen Rose Leadership Academy High School Priority: Helping Youth from Marginalized Backgrounds Achieve College Success
Committed to Community: The Driving Nature of Todd and Ted Duckett’s Work with Kids and Families
From the Basketball Court to the Bully Pulpit, Ianni Emerges as Advocate for Autism Services for Affected Families

None of our policy successes over the past year would’ve been possible without teamwork. At Michigan’s Children, we know that everyone can make a visible impact in their community and across the state on our robust team. We’re proud to call individuals who have embraced the call to action as advocates, educators, mentors, philanthropists and policy-influencers alike, our teammates – which also includes the valued supporters of our organization itself, Michigan’s Children.
Contributions to Michigan’s Children through Heroes Night or otherwise provide critical support for public policy in the best interest of kids.

2018 Honoree Juliette Okotie-Eboh

We honored one of our own, Juliette Okotie-Eboh the Senior Vice President at MGM Grand Detroit and a former Board member of Michigan’s Children. Her professional career has spanned over 30 years working in healthcare, city government, banking, and international business and most recently over a decade as Senior Vice President for one of the largest gaming corporations in the United States. She’s taught on the university level, served on numerous civic boards and managed urban planning and international economic research projects. Juliette was skillfully interviewed by the next generation of leaders — students who are part of two critical programs serving young people in Detroit: The New Foster Care and The Hazel Park Promise Zone and College Access Network. We were proud to have leaders of those two agencies serve as our hosts for the evening.
We were proud to have leaders of those two agencies serve as our hosts for the evening.
Juliette Okotie-Eboh is the Senior Vice President at MGM Grand Detroit. Her professional career has spanned over 30 years working in healthcare, city government, banking, and international business and most recently over a decade as Senior Vice President for one of the largest gaming corporations in the United States. She’s taught on the university level, served on numerous civic boards and managed urban planning and international economic research projects. Juliette served on the Board of Michigan’s Children from 2004 to 2011, lending her leadership to the organization.
The New Foster Care exists to increase awareness and make a measurable impact on the foster care system through collaboration and connection. It fills gaps, develops permanent relationships and creates positive changes in the foster care system, serving over 1,400 people in 2018. Khadija Walker-Fobbs, Executive Director
The Hazel Park Promise Zone and College Access Network is revitalizing the Hazel Park community by increasing its educational attainment and making it an attractive destination for families through a tuition-free path to an associate’s degree to resident graduates of Hazel Park Schools and by recruiting and providing college and career preparatory programs to support Hazel Park students. Kayla Roney Smith, Executive Director
The New Foster Care exists to increase awareness and make a measurable impact on the foster care system through collaboration and connection. It fills gaps, develops permanent relationships and creates positive changes in the foster care system, serving over 1,400 people in 2018.
The Hazel Park Promise Zone and College Access Network is revitalizing the Hazel Park community by increasing its educational attainment and making it an attractive destination for families through a tuition-free path to an associate’s degree to resident graduates of Hazel Park Schools and by recruiting and providing college and career preparatory programs to support Hazel Park students.
Take a look at the Night’s event, and read our coverage.
Learn more about our youth interviewers and the programs that support them here.

2017 Honoree Tonya Allen

We are proud to have Tonya Allen as our 2017 Heroes Night Honoree. Tonya Allen’s two-decade-long career has centered on pursuing, executing, and investing in ideas that improve her hometown of Detroit and reduce the plight of underserved people, especially children. Ms. Allen has been instrumental in many successful philanthropic, government, and community initiatives and has a comprehensive understanding of philanthropic governance and strategy.
As the President and CEO of the Skillman Foundation, Allen has worked to align the complex fields of education, urban revitalization, and public policy, so that these sometimes divergent areas of work come together to improve the well-being of Detroit’s children. Most recently, she led Skillman through a 10-year, $100 million Good Neighborhoods Initiative and was the co-chair and a lead organizer of the Coalition for the Future of Detroit Schoolchildren.

2016 Honoree
Denise Illitch
2016 Award Presentation Hon. Debbie Dingell, U.S. House of Representatives

(from left) Matt Gillard, 2016 Award winners Denise Illitch and US Rep. Debbie Dingell