Eleanor Josaitis

Eleanor M. Josaitis is the co-founder of [Focus Hope Biography [http://www.focushope.edu/about.htm#josaitis] ] . She is engaged in building the legacy of the civil rights organization. For many years, she was the Associate Director of Focus: HOPE. Upon Father Cunningham's death in 1997, she became the Executive Director, and later the CEO. In 2006, she turned over the day-to-day operation to a new leadership team in order to focus her efforts on fund raising.

She has provided leadership and advocacy for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and has made important contributions to public awareness of hunger and malnutrition. Working with co-founder Father William Cunningham, she helped develop Centers of Opportunity education and training programs to help primarily underrepresented minorities gain access to jobs and careers. She serves on numerous board and committees, including The National Workforce Alliance Board, the Michigan Council for Labor and Economic Growth, and the Advisory Board for the Arab-American and Chaldean Council. In 2002 she was named one of the most influential women in Detroit by Crain Communications Inc.'s Detroit Business Publication.

Awards

* 1999 “Distinguished Warrior” by the Detroit Urban League
* Anti-Defamation League's Women of Achievement Award
* Arab American Institute Foundation's Khalil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Award
* Assumption University's Christian Culture Series Gold Medal Award
* Boy Scouts of America's Good Scout Award
* City Year Detroit Lifetime of Idealism Award [City Year Lifetime Achievement Award [http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdcd/Eleanor_M_Josatis_196456_7.pdf] ]
* Clara Barton Ambassador Award [Clara Barton Ambassador Award [http://www.semredcross.org/index.php?module=newsmodule&action=view&id=19] ]
* Detroit NAACP Presidential Award
* Education Award from Society of Automotive Engineers
* Ford Employees African-Ancestry Network's 2002 Heritage Award
* Jeffery W. Barry Award for Educational Excellence and Service from Walsh College [Jeffrey W. Barry Award [http://www.automationalley.com/autoalley/Automation+Alley/News+Room/Press+Releases.htm?ItemId=2219] ]
* Marygrove College's Theresa Maxis Award
* National Council of Negro Women's Achiever Award [National Council of Negro Women's Achiever Award [http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/index.php3?article=27Nov2002-2] ]
* Peacemaker Award from [Wayne State University] 's Center for Peace and Conflict Studies [Peacemaker Award [http://www.media.wayne.edu/2004/11/03/2004-community-peacemaker-awards-announced] ]
* The Detroit News Michiganian of the Year [The Detroit News Michiganian of the Year Award [http://detnews.com/specialreports/2006/michiganians/fulllist.htm] ]
* The National Council of Women of the United States Inc.'s Woman of Conscience Award
* University of Michigan School of Business Administration Leadership Award
* Wade McCree Award from the Federal Bar Association [Wade Mccree Award [https://www.fbamich.org/index.cfm?location=136&ParentID=1] ]
* Woman of the Year by YWCA of Western Wayne County [Woman of the Year Award [http://www.pressandguide.com/stories/072705/loc_20050727006.shtml] ]
* Wonder Woman Award by the Women's Survival Center of Oakland County
* National Caring Award from the Caring Institute in Washington D.C.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.ltu.edu/leaders/bio_112805.asp] Lawrence Technological University Interview
* [http://www.michiganhumanities.org/professionals/pros/josaitis.html] Michigan Humanities Council Bio
* [http://www.metrotimes.com/news/columns/18/jl/43.html]