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Spiteri Family, Client Testimony

Elizabeth Agius, Board Chair

Desiree Jennings, President and CEO

The Children’s Center Hosts 20th Annual “Power of Possibilities” Breakfast, Celebrating Community Impact and Generous Support

Detroit, MI, May 9, 2024 – On Tuesday May 7th, The Children’s Center celebrated its 20th Annual Power of Possibilities Breakfast at the Motor City Casino & Hotel, marking another milestone year of transformative community impact under the theme “Your Story Matters.” The event highlighted the unique stories of resilience, hope, and empowerment that families and supporters bring to The Children’s Center.

This year’s event saw a strong turnout from community members, stakeholders, and generous donors, all gathered to support and uplift the lives of children and families in need. The annual breakfast remains one of the most significant fundraising efforts of the year for The Children’s Center.

The breakfast featured heartfelt testimonials from clients such as the Fallstich family, Kevin Bell, the Spiteri family, and ReShanna DePriest who shared their journeys of overcoming challenges with the support of The Children’s Center. These stories highlighted the event’s theme, uplifting inspirational stories of making progress through behavioral health challenges and working to overcome developmental delays.

The morning was led by The Children’s Center’s new CEO, Desiree Jennings, who, in her inaugural address, shared the organization’s accomplishments over the past year. “This past year alone, we’ve helped 556 families write their success stories,” said Jennings. “We’ve achieved an 88% high school graduation rate among our youth in semi-independent living and successfully diverted 82% of kids in crisis from psychiatric hospitals.”

Special recognition was given to Detroit Manufacturing Systems, who was honored with the Hero of Hope Award for their substantial contributions and commitment to the community. The event’s major sponsors, including Ford Motor Company as the presenting sponsor and Detroit Manufacturing Systems at the envision level, were also acknowledged for their pivotal roles in the success of the breakfast.

Board Chair Elizabeth Agius opened the event with a warm welcome, expressing gratitude to the Village of Giving Members and all sponsors for their unwavering support.

The Children’s Center remains dedicated to its mission of providing evidence-based mental health treatments to the children and families, powered by the expertise of therapists, clinicians, and social workers along with the enduring support of their wider community.

Spiteri Family, Client Testimony

Elizabeth Agius, Board Chair

Desiree Jennings, President and CEO

Detroit, MI, May 9, 2024 – On Tuesday, May 7th, The Children’s Center celebrated its 20th Annual Power of Possibilities Breakfast at the Motor City Casino & Hotel, marking another milestone year of transformative community impact under the theme “Your Story Matters.” The event highlighted the unique stories of resilience, hope, and empowerment that families and supporters bring to The Children’s Center.

This year’s event saw a strong turnout from community members, stakeholders, and generous donors, all gathered to support and uplift the lives of children and families in need. The annual breakfast remains one of the most significant fundraising efforts of the year for The Children’s Center.

The breakfast featured heartfelt testimonials from clients such as the Fallstich family, Kevin Bell, the Spiteri family, and ReShanna DePriest, who shared their journeys of overcoming challenges with the support of The Children’s Center. These stories highlighted the event’s theme, uplifting, inspirational stories of making progress through behavioral health challenges and working to overcome developmental delays.

The morning was led by The Children’s Center’s new CEO, Desiree Jennings, who, in her inaugural address, shared the organization’s accomplishments over the past year. “This past year alone, we’ve helped 556 families write their success stories,” said Jennings. “We’ve achieved an 88% high school graduation rate among our youth in semi-independent living and successfully diverted 82% of kids in crisis from psychiatric hospitals.”

Special recognition was given to Detroit Manufacturing Systems, who was honored with the Hero of Hope Award for their substantial contributions and commitment to the community. The event’s major sponsors, including Ford Motor Company as the presenting sponsor and Detroit Manufacturing Systems at the envision level, were also acknowledged for their pivotal roles in the success of the breakfast.

Board Chair Elizabeth Agius opened the event with a warm welcome, expressing gratitude to the Village of Giving Members and all sponsors for their unwavering support.

The Children’s Center remains dedicated to its mission of providing evidence-based mental health treatments to the children and families, powered by the expertise of therapists, clinicians, and social workers along with the enduring support of their wider community

Detroit, MI – For personal reasons, Nicole Wells Stallworth has made the decision to step down from the position of President & CEO at the Children’s Center. We respect her decision and wish her the best in the future.

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Desiree Jennings as the new CEO. With a distinguished career at The Children’s Center since 2010, where she served in key executive roles, including Chief Sustainability & People Officer, Desiree is uniquely prepared to guide the organization through its next growth phase.

Under the leadership of former CEOs Debora Matthews and Nicole Wells Stallworth, Desiree has played a pivotal role in strategic initiatives and brings a wealth of experience in operational management, finance, and personnel management. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Business, equipping her with the knowledge and skills to drive the organization’s mission forward.

Elizabeth Agius, Board Chair of the Children’s Center, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “With her passion for children and families, her understanding of the challenges in mental health care, and her proven leadership qualities and vision, the Board is thrilled to have Desiree lead us into our next chapter. We are confident that Mrs. Jennings is the perfect choice for our organization, and we look forward to the positive impact she will have on the communities we serve.”

Desiree Jennings shared her vision for the future, saying, “I am humbled and honored to step into the role of CEO at The Children’s Center, an organization where I have dedicated much of my career. I am grateful for the support of our talented team and committed board. As we move forward, my primary focus will be on our mission to help children and families shape their own futures and supporting the team who work tirelessly to serve our families every day.”

It’s an absolute joy to see the smiles of children as their hope is realized and dreams are imagined. The Children’s Center is the place where that comes to life for so many of our families. That’s why it’s so important that we work in the most effective and expressive way to move forward in our mission.

I want to share two mission-focused moves with you. As you can see, the newsletter has a new look and feel. This precedes a larger brand refresh you will see in the coming months. Everything is softer and more vibrant, giving off youthful energy that reminds us that “the child is the center of it all.”

Next, for the greater part of my career, I worked to create a space where joy can thrive in Wayne County. And I have reached a place where I’d like to play a more complementary role. I will be retiring and passing the baton to another come this fall, but I will be here, cheering and championing the work through continued service joining your ranks as supporter.