Meet our Leadership Team

Our Board of Directors are young professionals who are passionate about making Grand Rapids a diverse and inclusive community to live, work and play. With the support of our amazing Advisory Council of seasoned professionals, we are able to help advance and retain young professionals of color in our community.

Board of Directors

Erica Soto

Executive Board, President

Erica Soto has lived in and served the city of Grand Rapids for over 15 years. She is a mother and dedicated community leader. She joined the BL²END Board of Directors in 2017, as Marketing and Communications Co-Chair. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree from the University of Phoenix in 2017.

Erica’s leadership experience includes advocacy for under-served communities, youth development and programming, bilingual education, and community connection. She is a graduate of the Latino Talent Initiative through Ferris State University and serves as the Kids Summit Coordinator for the City of Grand Rapids Neighborhood Summit. Erica was recognized as a Top 50 Latina in Michigan in 2018 by the Hispanic/ Latino Commission of Michigan, for her service and leadership in the community. She believes all professionals of color deserve intentionally created spaces that support their growth and uplift them to their highest potential.

“Like tiny seeds with potent power to push through tough ground and become mighty trees, we hold innate reserves of unimaginable strength. We are resilient.”

Catherine DeVrye

Craig C. Thompson

Executive Board, Vice President

eboard@grblend.org

Craig C. Thompson was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Craig is a graduate from Grand Valley State University where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality & Tourism Management. Craig currently works for the City of Grand Rapids, a Human Resources professional. He joined BL²END Board of Directors in 2017 as a Project Coordinator, then transitioned to the Marketing team as Marketing Communications Chair, and currently serves as the Vice President. Craig is passionate about serving the community and helping support minority businesses. Craig is also a dedicated member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

President Barack Obama

Christy Bell

Executive Board, Secretary

community@grblend.org

Christy Bell was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Christy is currently obtaining a degree in Health Administration from Davenport University. Christy currently works at D.A. Blodgett – St. John’s with families as they are beginning the adoption process. Christy is very passionate about helping others and advocating for those who do not have their own voice. She is also an avid volunteer and enjoys supporting organizations such as Red Project, West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC), Grand Rapids Public Schools, Renaissance COGIC, Girls Growing 2 Women (GGIIW), and Lupus Foundation. Previously Christy has served on the board as Community Outreach Chair. Currently, Christy serves as the Executive Board, Secretary.

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”

C.S. Lewis

Naomi Magallán

Digital Marketing Chair

marketing@grblend.org

Naomi was raised in Gary, Indiana. She is a graduate of Kendall College of Art and Design, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design in 2008. She is the Principal Designer at Seventh Creative in Grand Rapids and is also a Community Builder at Urban Core Collective. Currently she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Innovation at Grand Valley State University and will graduate in April 2021. Naomi is the 2019–2020 Orosz Fellow at the Johnson Center for Philanthropy, researching effective nonprofit board development. She has been the Diversity & Inclusion Director for AIGA West Michigan since 2017, a local chapter of the Professional Organization of Design. Naomi is passionate about using design and research as tools to work interdisciplinarily and to create systemic change across sectors and industries.

“The heart of justice is truth telling.”

Bell Hooks

A Letter From our Founder and Visionary

A letter from our visionary

ERAYNA GAMBLE SARGENT

BL²END was created out of a desire for belonging. During my college years and at the start of my career, I would be in many situations where I was the only person of color. On an everyday basis, I went to work in an office of over 500 people and somehow, I was one of only 5 people of color – and the only one under the age of 30. As a recent graduate of GVSU, I knew that there were other driven young professionals in the area eager to develop professionally and grow their social network of other like-minded individuals. While I will always appreciate the Grand Rapids community for allowing me to start my professional career, I often felt alone and that the face of “success” rarely looked like mine. I gathered a group of some of the smartest, strongest young professionals in the city and developed a plan to test this theory.

What we quickly recognized was that creating a sense of belonging for one community does not mean that there should be a sense of exclusion for another. We named the organization BL²END to be an invitation to all that want to help others while helping themselves. This is a major reason why years later, it is still making a positive impact on the Grand Rapids community. So, to all that have joined and to future participants, I hope that this organization does for you as it has for me. I hope it helps you better understand the perspective of others and the power inside of you.

Mix…Mingle…BL²END!

Erayna Gamble Sargent | Founder