Executive Director
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Yolonda Lavender is a native of Kalamazoo, MI. She serves as the Grant Program & Partnerships Director at the Stryker Johnston Foundation. As a change agent and thought leader, Yolonda embodies the principles of trust based grant making. This is a part of her daily work and is present in her community advocacy. Yolonda earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology with a focus in Nonprofit Leadership and a Masters in Public Administration from Western Michigan University. Reimagining philanthropy has been a focus for Yolonda educationally and professionally. She works to continuously improve the sector and beyond. Yolonda believes “to eliminate philanthropy’s inherent power dynamics, we have to name and claim the power in the room”.

Lindsey Hemmerlein is from Kalamazoo, MI. She serves as the Operations Director at the Stryker Johnston Foundation. She earned both of her graduate degrees in Organizational Change Leadership and Education from Western Michigan University. Lindsey has been working in the nonprofit sector for over 10 years. She has experience in grant writing, organizational design, and youth development. Lindsey believes in the power of collaboration that is centered on the people impacted. She believes in telling the whole truth. Lindsey reminds us of Ayanna Pressley’s words “those closest to the pain, should be closest to the power.”

Leatrice Fullerton was born and raised in Kalamazoo, MI. She serves as a Resource & Relationship Partner at the Stryker Johnston Foundation. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work from Western Michigan University. Leatrice has spent over a decade serving the Kalamazoo community in the nonprofit sector as a volunteer and employee. She believes that everyone should be given the opportunity to thrive in accessible and inclusive communities where diversity is embraced, valued, and respected. Leatrice says, “I proudly reside at the intersection of several different marginalized groups; my race, my disability, and my gender.” She has made it her goal to positively represent and advocate for these communities in all that she does.

Jennifer is from Gary, Indiana and serves as Stryker Johnston Foundation’s Resource and Relationship Partner. Jennifer earned her degree from Western Michigan University in Sociology and Race and Ethnic Relations, and completed WMU’s signature program in Diversity and Inclusion. She began her career in the nonprofit sector, working for ERACCE (Eliminating Racism & Creating/Celebrating Equity). In her tenure, Jennifer served as an anti-racist facilitator and organizer to work alongside institutions to address how eliminate systemic racism. Jennifer brings experience in grant writing, creation of organizational processes and understanding how intersectionality is essential for sustainable, systemic change. Jennifer is excited to bring her learnings, in order to be a part of generating access, for people doing the work to serve their communities. Jennifer believes that access to resources, accountability, and an abundant worldview are keys to think of as we dream of what a sustainable, equitable society with power to the people.

Laura Galaviz serves as the Grants Manager at the Stryker Johnston Foundation. She earned an undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University and a Masters from Sarah Lawrence College, both in Writing, and is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Program Evaluation at Michigan State University. Laura spent the past 15 years teaching in higher education and working in the nonprofit sector, the last five as the director of a community scholarship program. She is passionate about working behind the scenes to remove barriers in processes and systems that have historically served to  exclude communities from philanthropy. Laura believes "systems tied to wealth often come with an invisible set of rules and requirements that maintain the status quo. Explicitly stating or eliminating these can connect powerful work to necessary funding.