Who We Are

Terry is a graduate of Wayne State University Law School. In addition, he holds a BS in Communication from Bradley University and an MS from Illinois State University where he studied organizational communication and rhetoric. Before law school, he taught courses in argumentation, persuasion, and speech writing for both Bradley University and Eastern Michigan University where he also coached their nationally ranked speech teams. Since law school, Mr. Bonnette has practiced at Nemeth Law, PC, representing and counseling management in labor and employment law. Since January 2020, he has been co-managing partner. Mr. Bonnette is a frequent author and speaker on labor and employment law topics.

Mark joined the Mosaic Board in 2022 after participating on the Programs Committee. In 2022, he also elected to take an early retirement from General Motors after 14 years in Finance. Prior to GM, he held Strategic Planning and Finance leadership positions for 16 years at Yazaki North America. He is devoting his time now to paying it forward. Mark is actively involved in not-for-profits including serving on the Board of COTS Detroit for over 18 years.

Diane Borgus Green is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She worked in the Counseling Division at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan as a Counselor (1975-2021) and was the Associate Dean for the Counseling Division (2005 – 2012). She served on the Board of Directors for Henry Ford Health System – Detroit Campus (1999- 2004), and currently serves on the Executive Board of Warrior Women Against Poverty, chairing their Program Committee. Diane is in her 14th year on the Mosaic Board (Secretary, Chair, Past Chair, Fund Development, Governance Committee). She received her Master’s Degree in Career Guidance and Counseling and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music – Vocal Performance, both from the University of Michigan. Diane is married to Saul A. Green.

Melissa is the Founder and CEO of Wise Digital Marketing. Melissa has established herself as a leading expert in the digital marketing industry with over 25 years of digital marketing experience with Fortune 500 companies in a diverse range of industries including Coca-Cola, AT&T, Ford, General Motors, Hallmark Cards, Lane Bryant, Best Buy, Facebook and Instagram. In her spare time, she enjoys having heated discussions on geeky, sci-fi topics with her husband, daughter, and son.

Judge Karen Braxton earned her Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Rochester and her law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. She was admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan in November 2003. She immediately entered private practice where she maintained a very successful practice that was devoted to criminal and family law. Her career path was and is driven by her desire to help others; she has demonstrated this by representing thousands of indigent individuals.

Judge Braxton was first elected to serve as Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit Court in November 2012, began her first term in January 2013, and was re-elected in 2018. She presides over delinquency, dependency, guardianship, adoption, and child custody matters. She is the current Presiding Judge for the Third Judicial Circuit Court’s Supervised Treatment for Alcohol & Narcotic Dependency Program, a juvenile drug treatment court program for youth with substance use disorders.

In addition to hearing hundreds of cases per year in the busiest court in the state and because of her judicial leadership, she is a member of the following local and national organizations: National Conference of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, National Association of Drug Court Professionals, Michigan Association of Drug Court Professionals and the Foster Care Review Board Advisory Board. Judge Braxton is an Executive Board member of the National Association of Counsel for Children. She is also certified as a Child Welfare Law Specialist through the same organization. This esteemed professional achievement signifies an attorney’s specialized knowledge, skill, and verified expertise in the field of child welfare law. Judge Braxton has presented locally and nationally, being asked to share her knowledge and experience in these areas. Additionally, Judge Braxton’s goal of making the lives of children and families better regularly requires her to interact with legislative leadership to assist them in their efforts toward doing the same.

Judge Braxton recognizes the importance of continuing judicial education as she enhances both her legal education and professional skills. Due to her extensive training and certifications, she has emerged as a leader and expert in Juvenile Justice Reform and Child Welfare. In 2021, Judge Braxton was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform. As a result of her work with the task force, she was selected by the Chief Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit Court to lead the court’s juvenile justice reform efforts. Judge Braxton was instrumental in securing a partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation and led her team through the prestigious and rigorous Georgetown Center for Juvenile Justice Reform Transforming Juvenile Probation Certificate Program. She serves on the Local Advisory Board for the Michigan Stop Overreporting Our People (MI STOP), a pilot community-based initiative through the ABA Center on Children and the Law to mitigate racism, bias, and hyper surveillance and overreporting of Black, Indigenous, and Latino/a families to the child welfare system by medical professionals. Additionally, she was recently appointed Chair of the Child Welfare Improvement Task Force.

Judge Braxton is often recognized for her exceptional work with youth and families. As a result of her dedication and passion for Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare, she has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Western Wayne NAACP Exceptional Leadership Award and was named one of the most Influential Women in Law in 2023.

In her spare time, she goes “Beyond The Bench” and regularly reads to elementary school children in Wayne County, participates in career days, and seeks out and visits community-based organizations that support youth.

Judge Braxton is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and is active in the Inkster Alumnae Chapter. She previously served as the Chair of the Social Action Committee.

Sjonne is an experienced Membership Development Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the sports industry. Skilled in Sales, Invoice Processing, Operational Planning, and Management. Strong community and social services professional with a Masters of Arts focused in Sports Administration from Wayne State University.

Dr. Jameel M. Smith is a dedicated healthcare professional and educator, currently serving as the Director of Psychotherapy Services for the Child & Adolescent Division at Henry Ford Health. Her leadership is essential in managing psychotherapy staff and developing operational strategies. In addition, she is a Clinical Assitant Professor, Voluntary Faculty in the Department of Pediatrics at Wayne State University’s School of Medicine, where she has contributed to the education and training of medical, social work, and psychology students.  Dr. Smith is deeply engaged in leadership and service roles within the Metropolitan Detroit Community.

Roy leads Clark Hill’s marketing, branding, and communications efforts, collaborating with the firm’s exceptional team of marketing and business development professionals. Roy has nearly 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, business development, and strategic planning, having worked at Deloitte Consulting, Oakwood Healthcare (now Beaumont), Trott Law (formerly Trott & Trott), St. Joseph Mercy Health System, and Kerr Russell, PLC. He has been heavily involved regionally and nationally in the Legal Marketing Association as a board member, content expert, and presenter. He currently serves as 2022 International President-elect for the Legal Marketing Association’s International Board of Directors. Roy was named a Michigan Lawyers Weekly “Unsung Legal Hero” in 2018. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Wabash College, and holds two master’s degrees: an MA in theatre from The Ohio State University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He has been involved in numerous nonprofit boards. He is a published author with two books Reel Roy Reviews, Volumes 1 and 2.

Kelli is a lifelong Detroiter and educator. She has been an English teacher in the Detroit Public School system as well as Edison Schools and Cornerstone Schools. She has Served as Director of Enrollment and Student Services at Oakland Community College and Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing at Miller College in Battle Creek, MI. Currently she teaches English Literature and Research Writing at Wayne County Community College and is Manager of Visitor Services at the Detroit Historical Society. Ms. Van Buren has a passion for her community and for young people as proven by her participation on the Board of Directors for Mosaic Youth Theater of Detroit, Matrix Human Services, and the Chandler Park Academy. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Education from Kentucky State University, and Master’s and PhD in Education from Wayne State University.

Yvette Drayton’s professional journey has been defined by a steadfast commitment to nurturing both her innate talents and her community. Currently, she serves as the Financial Coordinator for We The People of Michigan, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for equal rights within the Michigan community. With a career spanning over 30 years, Yvette has amassed a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the fields of Finance and Accounting. Her experience has traversed diverse sectors, from established corporate giants such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and governmental agencies like the State of Michigan to the privately owned Detroit Job Corp Center.

In parallel to her role at We The People of Michigan, Yvette is the proud owner of a small tax accounting and bookkeeping enterprise. Here, she provides invaluable tax planning solutions to small business owners, drawing upon her extensive educational background and hands-on experience. Her adeptness extends to fostering a collaborative team spirit, ensuring project completion within stipulated timelines.

As an Administrative Assistant, she employs her administrative acumen to facilitate seamless teamwork. Furthermore, Yvette remains at the helm of a small bookkeeping and tax accounting firm that is committed to guiding individuals and organizations in their efforts to acquire and manage debt effectively. At the core of this enterprise lies an unwavering commitment to the spirit of assistance – extending a helping hand to one another, fortifying the community, nurturing associates, and, above all, providing indispensable support to the clients she serves.

Dr. Rita Fields is the dual CEO of both 313 Industries, Inc. and Copper Phoenix Consulting,LLC. She serves as the Chief Talent & Strategy Officer for Lighthouse Michigan. She is also a professor in the school of management at the University of Michigan (Flint).

Dr. Fields is a member of the EDA University Center for Regional Economic Innovation (REI) at the MSU Center for Community and Economic Development, a board member of Creating Opportunities to Succeed (COTS) and is a member of the board of trustees at Mt Sinai Grace Hospital in Detroit.

Dr. Fields was selected to be a presenter at TEDx Detroit in 2015. In 2016 she was honored with a Women’s History Month Careers Mastered Leadership in Action Award. In 2017 she was a featured speaker at the Detroit Policy Conference. In 2018, she was selected to be an Innovation Fellow for the Center for Regional Economic Innovation and to serve as a reviewer for the 2018 Robert Woods Johnson Culture of Health Leaders Fellowship. In 2019, she was named Outstanding Lecturer in the School of Management at the University of Michigan (Flint). In 2020, she was named the inaugural Executive in Residence for the Community Impact Incubator based in Detroit, Michigan. She is a sought-after speaker for both her expertise in workplace culture and her transparent commitment to sharing her story of struggle and resilience. In 2022, she was named an inaugural member of the national Culture of Health Leadership Institute for Racial Healing (CoHLI) cohort. In 2023, she was invited to serve as a member of the Equitable Outcomes Advisory Board with University of Michigan’s Economic Growth Institute.

Lois McEntyre has a passion for making a difference, which has led her to a career rooted in helping people every day. Lois currently serves as the Group Manager, Customer Success Operations for Intuit, Inc., the business software parent company of Turbo Tax and Ouickbooks.

Previously, Lois worked as Director of Contact Center Operations for General Motors OnStar North America, managing the operations for nine inbound call centers, and the National Command Center located in General Motor’s headquarters in Detroit. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Virginia. Lois has over 25 years of professional experience working in several diverse industries including airline, automotive, banking, consulting and software development.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Lois currently resides in W. Bloomfield, Michigan. She has two adult daughters who are the joys of her life. She is an active community volunteer, and is a huge Michigan Wolverines football fan.

Melissa Thomas was born in Detroit MI in 1978.  She was a graduate of the First Class of Detroit HS for the Fine and Performing Arts (studying speech & theatre).  With an undying love of the Arts, Melissa continued to excel in Theatre classes at Michigan State University graduating with a B.S in Communications.

Two weeks after her college graduation, Melissa began her career as an Artist Development Representative with Warner Music Group.  This was a very exciting time in her life, the love for event planning began!  For many years artists visits, record signings, in-stores, and industry party planning dominated her thoughts.  Melissa won the coveted “Energizer” award for the promotional campaigns resulting in artist meeting platinum status.  After 7 years the entrepreneurial side of her took over becoming owner of Primadonna Bridal Boutique in Ferndale MI.

Currently, you can find Melissa enjoying life as the Director of Events at the Iconic Eastern Market Partnership since 2015.  Some of her signature events are Flower Day, Eastern Market After Dark, and the legendary Gala.

For almost 9 years the request for Saturday and Sunday events continue to grow.  Melissa is forced to turn away potential brides and corporate events because of the Farmers Market.  This has inspired her to open a venue (The Event House) to accommodate the growing need for small to midsize events.

Antuan Featherstone is Program Manager and Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. A Detroit native and proud graduate of Detroit Public Schools’ Cass Technical High School, Antuan brings a deep commitment to community and a passion for social justice to his work. As a collaborative leader with strong interpersonal skills, Antuan leverages his expertise to foster inclusive and equitable environments where all can thrive.

Antuan is a first-generation college graduate, he is grateful for the opportunities provided by the Cranbrook Schools’ Horizons-Upward Bound program, which played a pivotal role in his academic success. His educational background includes a Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership, Management, and Policy from the University of Michigan, a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Organizational Leadership from Alma College, and a Post-Bachelor Certificate in Information Systems Management from the Wayne State University Ilitch School of Business.

Antuan, his wife, and three children make the City of Detroit their home.