This past year has brought so much change to our community, from fighting the COVID-19 crisis to combatting racism and police brutality. The United Way of Washtenaw County (UWWC) is working to creating equity in access to opportunity and quality of life by the year 2030. UWWC campaign chair Brandon Tucker joined WEMU's David Fair on "Washtenaw United" to discuss the work that needs to be done over the next decade to meet those aspirations.
WEMU has partnered with the United Way of Washtenaw Countyto explore the people, organizations, and institutions creating opportunity and equity in our area. And, as part of this ongoing series, you’ll also hear from the people benefiting and growing from the investments being made in the areas of our community where there are gaps in available services. It is a community voice. It is 'Washtenaw United.'
ABOUT BRANDON TUCKER:
Brandon Roderick Tucker, a United States Air Force Veteran, is a seasoned hands-on leader that has vast experience in developing people and teams that contribute to an organization's mission and objectives. He began his career in public service providing direct talent acquisition and retention services for a host of companies (from small businesses to large fortune 100 and 200 companies).
He later transitioned to leading a team of professionals in a non-profit setting that provided diversity recruiting to local companies and job development and training to individuals with barriers to employment. Through his creative leadership he successful expanded the organization's capacity and portfolio to begin providing temporary staffing to a local government entity.
Brandon then successfully build and led a team at Washtenaw Community College (WCC) in Ann Arbor, MI that provides training and development, organizational development, recruiting, and business engagement services to individuals and companies across various sectors including private, government, higher education and non-profit.
His success led him to being selected as the Academic Dean for the Advanced Technology & Public Services Careers division, one of the most diverse academic units on campus. In this role, Brandon served as the academic and administrative leader for the Division which includes the areas of Automotive Services, Auto Body Repair, Advanced Manufacturing, Construction Technology, Welding & Fabrication, HVAC, Criminal Justice, Child Care, and the Police Academy.
A nationally certified workforce development professional, today Brandon serves as the Associate Vice President of Workforce & Community Development at WCC overseeing the strategy for engaging with both corporate and community partners through a wide array of services that help organizations and individuals drive success and attainment of goals.
Brandon holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Lourdes University and a Bachelors of Arts Degree with a dual concentration in Human Resource Management and Organizational Development from The University of Toledo. He currently is a Doctor of Philosophy Candidate in Higher Education at the University of Toledo.
He has received numerous awards for his service to the community and contributions to the profession of Workforce Development including the Emerging Leader Award (AA Legacy Project), the 2011 Edward Schmidt Outstanding Young Alum (University of Toledo Alumni Association), 20 Under 40 Award (Toledo Business Journal), 40 Under 40 (Crains’ Business Detroit) and was awarded a Fulbright Educational Administrators Award where he traveled to Germany and studied the German education system.
Brandon has served on numerous local non-profit boards and is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. where he holds several local, regional, and national offices including Past Ohio District Director, Immediate Past National Chairman of Leadership Development and the current Alpha Xi Lambda Chapter President. Licensed as a minister in 2006 and ordained in 2010, he presently serves as the Senior Pastor of Transformation Church in Toledo.
He is the loving husband to Tia Nicole and father to a newborn daughter Layla Grace.
RESOURCES:
United Way of Washtenaw County (UWWC)
UWWC STATEMENT:
Founded in 1921, United Way of Washtenaw County brings people, organizations and resources together to create a thriving community for everyone. Our community impact model focuses on health, education and financial stability, because these are the building blocks for a good quality of life that create opportunities for individuals and families. Our virtual Volunteer Center creates an easy, online way for people to connect with nonprofits in our community and the 2-1-1 helpline connects more than 8,000 people annually to critically needed services. To learn more, donate, or volunteer, visitwww.uwwashtenaw.org.
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— David Fair is the WEMU News Director and host of Morning Edition on WEMU. You can contact David at734.487.3363, on twitter @DavidFairWEMU, or email him at dfair@emich.edu
