Our Team
D4's staff is passionate about using its array of experiences to achieve a more equitable and prosperous Detroit. The staff's expertise is supplemented by the tremendous skills and diverse perspectives provided by our board of directors - which represent the core sectors of our coalition: community organizations, faith based institutions, organized labor, and environmental advocates.
Sam Butler
Executive Director
Sam Butler has over a decade of experience working with community groups throughout the City of Detroit, leading neighborhood planning processes, and conducting residential and commercial market analyses for low-income neighborhoods. Prior to D4, Sam was Director of Planning & Technical Programs at Michigan Community Resources and served as Interim Executive Director of Creekside CDC. Sam has a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan.
Jeffrey Jones
Director of Community Organizing
Jeffrey Jones has dedicated his career to strengthening Detroit neighborhoods and improving the quality of life for all residents. Prior to joining D4, Jeff served as Community Manager for the Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative and as Site Director of the Historic Sophie Wright Settlement, now home to the Boggs School. Jeffrey has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Michigan - Dearborn and is a Master’s Degree candidate in Urban Planning at Wayne State University.
Francis Grunow
Director of Policy and Research
Francis Grunow is a native Detroiter, urban policy consultant, writer, and part-time parade maker. In previous lives, he has been a law student, director of Detroit's architectural preservation organization, Midtown retailer, documentary filmmaker, and an urban planner in New York City. Francis loves cities, believes that they contain more answers than questions, and believes one of Detroit’s more compelling lenses for policy work right now is D4’s ability to offer multiple perspectives on the complex issues facing the city.
Talice Sagerer
Outreach Associate
Talice Sagerer has experience in economic development, real estate, marketing, and fashion. She is currently studying economics and anthropology at the University of Michigan. While pursuing her undergraduate studies, she worked for Keller Williams Realty and Century Partners. She has also volunteered with Eviction Defense, helping families in disadvantaged areas facing foreclosure and eviction. Talice is passionate about the intersection of community development and real estate and recently became a licensed real estate agent in Michigan.
Our Board of Directors
Tanise Hill, Metro Detroit AFL-CIO, President
Vas Jacobs, West Village Neighborhood Association, Vice President
Sandra Stahl, Citizen Detroit, Secretary
Kristen Smith, Corridors Alliance, Treasurer
David Dobbie, American Federation of Teachers Michigan
Pastor Louis Forsythe, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church
Lee Graham, Operating Engineers 324
Antonio Green, West Grand Boulevard Collaborative
Robin McCants, Evangelical Lutheran Church
David Reynolds, University of Michigan - Dearborn
Simone Sagovac, Southwest Detroit Community Benefits Coalition
Sandra Turner Handy, Michigan Environmental Council