Meet Our cohort of community leaders
Rev. Richard Bailey
Pastor for Truth in Action Ministries
Rev. Richard Bailey supports New Level Sports Ministries (NLSM), a faith-based youth development organization, and has long been involved with the community and the ministerial world. He has been a pastor in Battle Creek since 1990 and retired 10 years ago, but has never stopped serving the community through sharing his passion for religion. Rev. Bailey has served a number of organizations, including as a member of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), United Committee Ministerial Alliance, and now the Youth Village. In 1992, Rev. Bailey started a program called New Direction for Youth Action that served more than 60 young people every year for about three years. His mission is to provide support to rising leaders in his community. He hopes to see people prosper with the support offered from the programs such as The Village. Rev. Bailey’s love for people and Christ is what motivates him to continue to do his work and serve people around the area.
He is an alumnus of Kellogg Community College and holds a double associate degree and a bachelor’s degree from Miller College in Battle Creek. He was also part of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce Leadership Academy. His favorite work experience was being an elementary school bus driver in the Battle Creek area.
Damon Brown
Founder of R.I.S.E Corp.
Damon Brown is the founder of R.I.S.E Corp., a nonprofit organization that helps at-risk youth realize their potential through life-altering strategies that address their social and emotional well-being. Brown started his career as a legal coordinator at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility, where he assisted with legal matters and worked with patients to strengthen their commitment to treatment programs by using cognitive behavioral therapy. Brown earned certification in recognition therapy, smart recovery, drug and alcohol counseling, and social and emotional learning. In 2016, Brown started a Battle Creek chapter of the youth mentoring program called The Big Homies Club, where he offered summer programs and worked with juvenile boys in social and emotional learning groups. He also led a bi-weekly social and emotional learning course at Northwestern Middle School. By 2017, Brown teamed up with Tim Reese, a former Battle Creek Public Schools principal, to start the grassroots organization R.I.S.E Corp. As a former offender himself, Brown works to share his life experiences with young people to help guide them toward successful, productive lives.
Dr. Elishae Johnson
Founder, Eudemonia Counseling Services
Dr. Elishae Johnson is a psychotherapist and system director of business health services at Bronson Healthcare Group. Dr. Johnson also owns Eudemonia, PLLC, providing telehealth counseling and consultation. She has served previously as a community educator and therapist at Sexual Assault Services, a child forensic interviewer at the Child Advocacy Center, a psychotherapist at LifeCoach Psychology, and a substance abuse therapist at Psychological Consultants. Dr. Johnson has provided training and educational workshops on trauma, substance abuse, interpersonal violence, equity and inclusion, and mental health in marginalized communities for community organizations and school districts including Western Michigan University, the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Association of Michigan, and the African American Mental Health Symposium. With a passion for philanthropy, Dr. Johnson is engaged with many community groups and initiatives. Dr. Johnson holds a bachelor's degree in communication studies, a Master of Arts in counseling, and a PhD in Counseling Psychology from Walden University. She is also a Michigan-certified advanced alcohol and drug counselor.
Pastor Christopher J. McCoy
Pastor of New Level Church
Pastor Christopher J. McCoy is the Pastor of New Level Church (formally Faith Assembly Christian Fellowship) in Battle Creek, succeeding his father, Bishop Eugene McCoy, in 2008. He has been a resident of Battle Creek for over 35 years. In 2001, Pastor McCoy founded New Level Sports Ministries (NLSM), a faith-based youth development organization centered on the academic, personal growth and physical development of young people. The mission of New Level Sports Ministries is to maximize and balance the intellectual, spiritual, mental and physical elements of all participating youth. To date, New Level Sports Ministries has served more than 18,000 youth and has a staff of more than 100 volunteers with partners in Battle Creek, Jackson, Kalamazoo, and Albion.
Pastor McCoy holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in Public Affairs Management and Economics. He worked as an insurance salesperson for eight years before opening an independent Allstate insurance agency and earning national sales recognition.
Jose Luis Orozco, Jr
Executive Director of Voces
Jose Luis Orozco, Jr. is the executive director of Voces in Battle Creek. He began this role in February 2020, just three weeks before the initial COVID-19 shutdown. Voces is a nonprofit organization serving the Latino and Hispanic community of Greater Battle Creek and Southwest Michigan, providing support in areas such as community engagement, language programs, youth programs, parent programs and ESL classes. Orozco’s career in education is extensive and ranges from experience as an assistant principal, elementary school teacher, high school counselor, and evening G.E.D teacher. He is passionate about helping students, families, and communities to maximize their potential. Orozco holds a master’s degree in counseling and guidance/school administrator from the University of Texas-RGV. Additionally, he is a licensed professional counselor. Orozco received his bachelor’s degree from Wabash College where he double-majored in classics and Spanish. Seven years ago, Jose and his family relocated from the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas to Battle Creek.
Tha Tin Par
Executive Director of the Burma Center
Tha Tin Par is the executive director of Burmese American Initiative Inc. (Burma Center) in Battle Creek, Michigan. She was a part of the Burma Center board of directors since 2019 and became the executive director one year later after the retirement of Martha Thawnghmung, one of the founders of the Center. Par is a social change activist with a background in facilitation, curriculum development, community organizing, and youth programs. She is passionate about creating an inclusive and equitable world by dismantling all forms of oppression. Par’s passion for social justice and equity stems from her faith as a Christian and her personal life experiences as an Asian American woman. Prior to joining the Burma Center team, Par co-founded the Truth and Titus Collective, which is a consulting agency dedicated to fostering, co-creating, and sustaining organizational change with equity at the core. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s in Social Work from the University of Michigan. Par is a limited licensed master social worker and certified professional life coach through Leadership That Works.
Deboraha Sallee
President of the A. Philip Randolph Institute
Deboraha Sallee, president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) - Greater Battle Creek Chapter (GBCC), is one of the original organizers of the chapter and has been with the organization for 41 years, serving as president for 36 years. APRI was founded on the need for social, political and economic justice for blacks and all dispossessed Americans. Sallee was also instrumental in organizing APRI throughout Michigan. Deeply involved with the Second Missionary Baptist Church, she is serving in the Ministries of Deaconess, Inspirational Choir as the first vice president, Sisterhood, and as a Praise Leader. Leadership positions within the church include the Ministries of Trustee and Youth Ministry. Within Second’s New Vision and Outreach Ministries, her leadership positions include: the Music Ministry Workshop, After School Literacy Incentive Program and NorthSide Senior Meal Program. Sallee is a retired member of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local #527 and an original organizer of SEIU Unit #26, City of Battle Creek Employees. On the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations Labor Council, she sat on the executive board as the first African American woman for recording secretary, secretary, and treasurer. Sallee also sat on the Tri-County Labor Agency for Human Services, Inc. board of directors. Sallee worked in the finance department as an account clerk and as the payroll officer for the City of Battle Creek, retiring in December 2001 after 33 years of service.
Kyra Wallace
President/CEO of the Southwestern Michigan Urban League
Kyra Wallace is the president and CEO of the Southwestern Michigan Urban League (SWMUL), leading the organization’s work to help African Americans and others in underserved communities achieve their highest true social parity, economic self-reliance, power, and civil rights. Wallace joined the SWMUL in 2006 and held a variety of positions before becoming president and CEO. Wallace has dedicated more than 23 years of her career to the education and nonprofit sectors. She currently serves as the vice president for the Battle Creek Public Schools Board of Education and is a member of the Battle Creek Chapter of the NAACP, BC Vision Steering Committee, Population Health Alliance, Battle Creek Homeless Taskforce, Battle Creek Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. and the leadership team at Glory 2 God Ministries. She was also appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to serve on the State Complete Count Committee. Wallace holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Western Michigan University in education and is also a certified life coach and entrepreneur.