Spring 2012

Creed Stegall is such a familiar presence in our com-munity that it can be easy to take for granted the importance of his presence, as camera in hand, he circulates at almost every event and visits numer-ous offices, churches and other sites. Perhaps the best way to describe Creed’s impact on the DSO is as the connector: Creed is our unofficial liaison who brings information about re-sources (and about the exist-ence of the DSO) to members of the neighborhood. He also identifies people in need of our services and brings them to the DSO.

It turns out that Creed isn't the first person in his fami-ly to be a connector. His politi-cally active parents and siblings were all born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee where his dad worked in the nuclear industry. Concerned about the contami-nation that he knew existed, Creed’s father moved the fami-ly to Detroit--both to have a healthier place to live and to have more opportunities.

Creed was born in Detroit in 1950--the youngest of six and the first to be born in Michi-gan.

Creed’s father found work in the steel industry and this family regularly attended events like UAW meetings or Steelworker picnics. Creed's mother established an infor-mal “service office” in their home where she welcomed people who needed help, in-formation or a place to stay. Creed might have remained in Detroit, but in 1994 he was in-vited to Kalamazoo to speak at a Twelve Step meeting and he fell for Kalamazoo. "It seemed innocent to me and also foreign--in a good way."

Now living in Kalama-zoo, Creed worked in the build-ing trades as well as at Meals on Wheels as a cook. He began visiting various sites that re-ceived services from the pro-gram and made a strong con-nection with the Ecumenical Senior Center. Through his work there he became interest-ed in the lives of seniors and in their strong desire to balance independence with survival.

Throughout this time, Creed continued the political activism of his parents and par-ticipated in the Poor People's March (and the memorably muddy tent city) as well as the Black Power Movement and SNCC (Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee). De-spite the pull of the extremist movements, Creed remained resolute about his commitment

to non-violence. Along the way, he encountered a young Carl Levin who was on the city council in Detroit, and soon after, he also met an ambitious attorney general named Granholm.

In Kalamazoo, he found a mentor in Sister Betty at Borgess Hospital and she encouraged him to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) which allowed him to work for hospice and Visit-ing Nurses. In 1994, Creed met Ed LaForge who introduced him to the DSO where Creed began volunteering and they established a long friendship.

T H E D S O C O N N E C T I O N

STATE REPRESENTATIVE SEAN McCANN

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Creed at the Detroit Detroit Renaissance Center—2006

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Creed Stegall, Community Connector

Lt: Enjoying the “City of Brotherly Love” Philadelphia (2010) Rt: Creed & Rep. Bob Jones (2007)

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60th District Service Office

Examples of how the 60th DSO helps those in need: Tenant / Landlord — provided information, assistance & community resources to a resident to help avoid

an impending eviction. Housing information — helped a resident understand how to apply for an appeal hearing with MI State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). Food assistance — provided a referral to a local food pantry to a family who was awaiting a decision for a

Dept. of Human Services (DHS) Bridge Card. Unemployment matters — assisted a recently unemployed individual by providing information regarding

extensions that may be available. Treasury matters — assisted a disabled gentleman in completing his home heating credit forms. Human service — assisted affected families with information about the status of the changing DHS cash as-

sistance benefits.

—Deborah Gang

Creed began attending city commission meetings where he met a newly elected mayor, Bob Jones. From Bob he learned even further about the importance of information and how lack of it keeps people apart. It was around this time that Creed became serious about his cam-era and began to take it when he was with Bob--and then everywhere--so he could document civic life.

Creed is a delegate for Kala-mazoo City precinct 27 and embrac-es that office with respect and great energy. He regularly goes door-to-door in the precinct to be sure every-one knows about the home heating credit, the Meals on Wheels program or upcoming election information.

He is always aware of his other im-portant mission: to involve young people in politics at all levels, show them how it works, and show them how participating can make life more fair.

Perhaps that's a good closing line: Creed has devoted his life to making life more fair--whether by education, resources, direct service or working for a candidate. We all thank him for that--can there be a better life force? We at the DSO can probably speak for all of our support-ers in offering our best wishes to Creed as he recuperates from a life-saving liver transplant. Get well, Creed--we need you out there talk-ing, informing and connecting.

a. 2008 Inagruation, Washington D.C. b. 2006 with Howard Wolpe

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The first quarter of 2012 the DSO handled 77 individual constituent cases

c. 2007 with US Sen. Carl Levin d. 2006 with Gov. Jennifer Granholm

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Serving the Kalamazoo Community Since 1973

People make their way to the 60th DSO in a variety of ways People make their way to the 60th DSO in a variety of ways People make their way to the 60th DSO in a variety of ways ––– telephone, stopping by the office, etelephone, stopping by the office, etelephone, stopping by the office, e---mail & even social media. mail & even social media. mail & even social media.

A word from former DSO Director: Drue Kramer

This is the best job in the world---if one puts aside the uncertain nature of salary payment.

You learn to listen with an efficient, compassionate ear. You learn community and state government resources (and staff) and how to effective-ly advocate for the client. The problems presented to the office are real, most likely a bureaucratic tangle that traditional programs don’t quickly or efficiently handle. The DSO office has a unique problem solving tool – ‘legislator courtesy’ meaning immediate attention. Putting it all together meant being able to solve most of the problems presented to the office and could make staff feel like a superheroes.

The problems cover a wide range of issues: clarifying eligibility for food stamps, finding money to cover fuel oil, homestead tax application, Medicaid eligibility, connecting people with Family and Children’s services, responding to State Hospital complaints, solving tax concerns, referring seniors to Meals on Wheels, checking out nursing home complaints, helping to locate home health equip-ment and home health aides, connecting people to the court advocacy system, clarifying Small Claims Court eligibility, referring people to the Guardianship program, and helping people find the various Senior Centers or adult day care centers. In the old days, we also untangling veteran issues and social security or disability problems. Those were really federal level problems and we got our wrists slapped for making an inquiry from a state district office. But we usually got some attention and movement going toward solutions—and this is only the tip of the iceberg.

There were other kinds of opportunities as well. I always enjoyed going into the schools to talk about the legis-lative process, or sitting in on city and county meetings, as well as various agency meetings. It was a highlight to bring a Special Tribute from the State of Michigan to a celebration of someone being honored. And of course, there were also letters of sympathy.

Because the office grew much beyond the capacity for one person to cover all the needs, the DSO included college interns as advocacy staff. This meant not only providing problem solving opportunities for them in the office, but seeing the legislature in action both in committee and on the floor through trips to Lansing. Hard hitting advocacy is both demanding and tiring in the long term. The internship program brought an infusion of energy, and intellect into the DSO that has significantly contributed to the success of the office. I thoroughly enjoyed making this team ef-fort.

In sum, as I said earlier, “Best job in the world.” Drue Kramer DSO Director (1972-1978)

Often there are unique circumstances which complicate the problems that people face. Those circumstances can make maneuvering through governmental bureaucracy challenging.

Sometimes people lack the experience to “connect the dots” and utilize governmental or community resources that could potentially help.

Drue Kramer

Sean McCann State Representative 60th House District

60th District Service Office

315 N. Burdick Ave., Ste. 100

Kalamazoo MI 49007

(269) 382-4676

www.60thdso.org

Lansing Office

N-994 House Office Bldg.

P.O. Box 30014

Lansing, MI 48909

Phone: (517) 373-1785

Toll Free: (888) 833-6636

Fax: (517) 373-5762

SeanMcCann@house.mi.gov

Established in 1973, the 60th District Service Office is a nonprofit corporate entity established for the purpose

of providing Kalamazoo area residents with direct access to their government and increasing the responsive-

ness of the government to their needs and concerns. Services are provided without fee on an entirely non-

partisan basis. The 60th DSO is sponsored by the State Representative but relies on the contributions of sup-

porters to fund the daily operations.

Matthew Lechel, Chair Gary Swanson, Vice Chair Laurie Harbaugh, Secretary Fran Dwight, Treasurer Mary Brown Deborah Gang—Past Chair Ken Greschak Janet Jones

Ed LaForge Millie Lambert Alexander Lipsey Rep. Sean McCann Laurie Terlesky Cheryl VanEngen Julie Vogel, Staff Cheri Bell, Staff

60th DSO Board of Directors

Upcoming Events

Spring Brunch—May 20th **Details Inside**

Mary Brown Birthday Party—Aug. 17th