"To always do as much as we can, in the way we can, to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it"~Kuumba!
Co-Founder and Board President
Turning Passion for People into Action
Academic Advisor: Leslie Windless, M.S., has worked at HFC since 2017. At HFC she has worked in the Office of Financial Aid before promoting into the role of Academic Advisor. Leslie earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in Psychology from Baker College and a master’s degree in human services from Walden University. She is currently pursuing her Ph'D in Human Services from Walden University.
Outside of her work at HFC, Leslie is an avid social justice advocate and serves on the board of the Dearborn Heights Community & Cultural Relations Commission, The Guidance Center Head Start, Transforming Minds Organization, Thrive by any Means Necessary, Dearborn Library Foundation and District 7 School Board. She is also an active member of the Dearborn & Dearborn Heights League of Women Voters and the Western Wayne NAACP. She has a passion for serving at-risk populations and advocating for disenfranchised populations.
Board Vice President
Turning Interest Into Action
Heather has been an educator for over 15 years and currently works in the office of Curriculum and Instruction for Detroit Public Schools Community District. In this capacity, she has done important work like leading a district-wide task force to improve Social Studies curriculum. Heather is also a lecturer in the College of Education at Oakland University. She received her BA in Secondary Education from Eastern Michigan University, an MA in Social Justice from Marygrove College, and a Ph.D. in Urban Education from Eastern Michigan University. Her research focuses on the dismantling of the School-to-Prison Pipeline, and anti-racist teaching. She has also served the community as a member of the Dearborn Heights Community Cultural Relations Commission, an NAACP voter organizer, and a volunteer with Ruth Ellis Center, and Freedom House.
Heather is also a wife, bonus mom, and fur mom to the cutest puppy ever.
Board Treasurer
Turning Interest Into Action
A proud native Detroiter, statistics would say that by his age, Byron D. Brooks (He/Him/His) would either be dead or in jail. Born in prison, and formerly homeless. Brooks was raised by his great-grandparents, Roscoe and JoEsther Corner, and through faith and perseverance, he was able to show society that he is more than a statistic. As an activist, philanthropist, social entrepreneur and transformational Speaker, Brooks is passionate about youth, black economic and community development, fighting homelessness, and being an advocate of change! He is also a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc
Brooks is passionate about social justice, equity, and bridging the gap between race, faith, and justice. Known as ”MoSoul The Hood Preacher” Brooks was licensed as a Minister of The Gospel at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church of Detroit on July 30, 2017, and is an advocate of Black Liberation Theology. He is a proud member of Hopewell Baptist Church in Detroit where KC Pierce ll is his Pastor. He is particularly interested in exploring ways to dismantle systemic racism from marginalized communities, and the educational system, while living out the vision of the talented tenth to promote social equity. His hope is to be a living example, and spread the spirit of the African Proverb, Ubuntu: I am because We Are!