One of the most important jobs in the city of Detroit may be its District Managers – they’re people who have a direct impact on the lives of residents and neighborhood strength.

Mayor Mike Duggan recently announced the appointment of three new District Managers to the Department of Neighborhoods. Mayor Duggan created the Department of Neighborhoods when he took office in 2014 to establish a more direct connection between the Mayor’s Office and the city’s many neighborhoods.

District Managers are charged with addressing blight in neighborhoods, organizing block clubs and community organizations and helping residents access City services.

Since 2014, District Managers have played an important role in stabilizing neighborhoods by coordinating board ups, forming block clubs and neighborhood associations and promoting volunteer opportunities. They have helped bring more than 74,000 volunteers to the city, addressed more than 46,000 complaints and request for information as well as helped clean up more than 5,500 dumpsites.

There are two managers serving each of the seven City Council districts.

The new managers are:
· Letty Azar, District 4 Manager
· Kya Robertson, District 5 Deputy Manager
· Ammie Woodruff, District 6 Deputy Manager

Two District Managers were promoted:
· Erinn Harris, District 3 Manager (previously District 5 Deputy Manager)
· Ninfa Cancel, District 6 Manager (previously Deputy Manager)

Letty has spent 20 years in healthcare, home and community-based services, and political advocacy, mainly in healthcare operations and administration. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in education from Oakland University. Azar replaces Odell Tate, who served as the District 4 manager since 2014 and now handles community engagement and outreach for the Detroit Parks & Recreation Department. A Detroit native, Azar has two adult daughters and is a group fitness instructor and runs marathons. She serves on the board of the Great Lakes Burn Camp, a children’s burn survivor group.

Kya Robertson has worked as a caseworker for families and adults with mental illness. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Toledo, master’s degree in public policy administration from South University of Savannah, Georgia, and is working on a doctorate in public administration. Robertson is actively involved with the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and community outreach. She has a two-year-old daughter.

Ammie Woodruff has worked in the mortgage and hotel industries and, most recently, with Quicken Loans in community engagement, underwriting and cultural development. Woodruff is a graduate of King High School in Detroit and is close to completing her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Central State University in Ohio. Woodruff has an interest in entertainment and been writing and performing rap music for a number of years. She is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and hopes to start a non-profit organization that focuses on art and culture for youth.

In District 3, Erinn Harris has been promoted to District Manager replacing Garry Bulluck, who is now the City of Detroit Deputy Chief of Mobility Innovations.

In District 6, Ninfa Cancel has been promoted to District Manager replacing Rico Razo, who took a leave of absence from the City to serve as the campaign manager for Mayor Duggan’s re-election campaign.

Districts Managers’ Impact by the Numbers (since 2014)

The complete list of District Managers is:

District 1 – Crowell Recreation Center, 16130 Lahser Road
Stephanie Young, District Manager
Reggie Davis, Deputy District Manager

District 2 – Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers
Kimberly Tandy, District Manager
Sean Davis, Deputy District Manager

District 3 – Farwell Recreation Center, 2781 E. Outer Drive
Erinn Harris, District Manager
Ernest Johnson, Deputy District Manager

District 4 – Samaritan Center, 5555 Conner
Letty Azar, District Manager
Toson Knight, Deputy District Manager

District 5 – Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval
Vince Keenan, District Manager
Kya Robertson, Deputy District Manager

District 6 – Patton Recreation Center, 2301 Woodmere
Ninfa Cancel, District Manager
Ammie Woodruff, Deputy District Manager

District 7 – Adams Butzel, 10500 Lyndon
Ray Solomon II, District Manager
Mona Ali, Deputy District Manager

For additional information on the District Managers, go to www.detroitmi.gov/neighborhoods.

  Ammie Woodruff, detroit, District Managers, Kya Robertson, Letty Azar, Mayor Mike Duggan, Neighborhoods