MONICA LEWIS-PATRICK FOR DETROIT CITY COUNCIL AT LARGE – A FIGHTER FOR THE PEOPLE

Monica Lewis-Patrick in green at right and Debra Taylor with bullhorn at left rally crowd of 10,000 against PA 4 in Lansing April 13, 2011.

 BY COMMITTEE TO ELECT MONICA LEWIS-PATRICK

MONICA CARES!

Monica Lewis-Patrick is not a politician, but is a public servant. She is also an educator, entrepreneur, activist, mentor, motivational speaker, story teller and the founder of a non-profit. Her family surname is “Lewis” which means – warrior. Ironically, she was born on a military base at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and entered the stage of life being prepared to stand up for, protect and support children, youth, families and the elderly. She has passionately delivered services for families in several states across the country, including communities in Michigan, Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia.

She is a divorced-single mother of three, a grandmother, helped to raise her nieces and nephews, and was the primary caregiver for her beloved grandmother, Ollie Mae Alexander (Granny) until her passing. Granny, along with her Mother (Ret. Master Sgt. & Combat Veteran – Sinora Horton Lewis) nurtured Monica during her childhood, which accounts for her love and respect for her “elders.” Nurturing, protecting and fighting for justice and opportunities have always been and are a way of life for Monica. It is who she is! Monica’s family tree also includes her great-uncle, the legendary Detroit Tigers star Willie Horton. Willie Horton is proud of his niece and has pledged to help her “hit it out of the park” in this campaign.

Council Member JoAnn Watson (center) with her staff members (l) Debra Taylor and Monica Patrick, consults with Council Members Brenda Jones and Kwame Kenyatta after the Council’s 5-4 vote for the sell-out Consent Agreement April 4, 2012.

For the past five years she has served and been mentored by the Honorable Council Member JoAnn Watson. Council Member Watson, along with several others, encouraged Monica to run for City Council (At-Large), due to her talent, passion and effectiveness in serving the citizens of the City of Detroit. After much prayer and spiritual counseling, she said “yes” to accepting this monumental task, as she steps up to RESTORE Detroit, RECLAIM Detroit, and REINVIGORATE Detroiters. As she embarks on this road to public service, Monica Lewis-Patrick notes, “It is an honor to be endorsed by such a great and yet humble public servant and icon such as Council Member JoAnn Watson. I do not take this lightly!” In addition, Monica has been endorsed by her. 

Angela Davis speaks in Detroit at rally Monica Lewis-Patrick helped to organize.

As legislative Policy Analyst for Detroit City Council, Monica has written legislation, conducted research, delivered consultant services to hundreds of Detroiters, made presentations at Block Clubs and conferences, and organized dozens of rallies hosting notables such as Angela Davis,  Dr. Maulana Karenga, Dr. Claud Anderson, Kwanzaa, Quality Education  and Economic Empowerment Session, among many others. She was the lead organizer of the largest rally in Detroit against the Emergency Manager Law, hosted at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Detroit, chaired by the Honorable John Conyers and the honorable JoAnn Watson, January 2, 2012.

Chris Griffith, Monica Lewis-Patrick and Sandra Hines celebrate the defeat of Public Act 4 at the polls Nov. 6, 2012.

This rally was instrumental in the referendum against the Emergency Manager Law on November 6, 2012. Monica worked with hundreds of other citizens from around the State of Michigan to collect and deliver over 223,00 signatures to defeat the unconstitutional Emergency Manager Law. Monica has learned her way around “City Hall,” better known by Detroiters as the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center.

Pastors speak at rally against PA 4 outside Gov. Rick Snyder’s home on MLK Day, 2012. Rev. Charles Williams II of NAN is at center with (l to r) Rev. David Bullock, speaking, Rev. Charles Williams, Sr. and Rev. Edward Pinkney of Benton Harbor.

She is a contributor and sometimes host on local talk radio and television, always seeking to enlighten the public about progressive issues related to city, state and governmental issues, citizens’ rights and current events. She also provides weekly policy updates at the National Action Network’s weekly meeting to keep citizens updated on policy issues and information, and is a co-founder of the grassroots organization “We the People of Detroit” which promotes education and self-determination throughout Detroit, while mentoring young people to become tutors, entrepreneurs, and scholars.

Monica Lewis-Patrick speaking at Hands Off Belle Isle rally Sept. 22, 2012, on behalf of Detroit’s children, youth and residents who love their island.

Monica has always managed to handle major multiple tasks well. While raising her family and attending graduate school, she made time to dedicate herself as an activist on behalf of young people, especially those young people who found themselves caught up in the judicial system, many times for petty offenses. She encouraged literally hundreds of parents, civic and business leaders to shine the light on the judicial to shine the light on the judicial system in the South and support their children and others in obtaining justice. After assisting a Michigan youth of 15 years old to obtain his freedom, after almost five years of incarceration from a felony murder charge of 25 years to life with no chance of parole, Monica decided that it was time to be proactive by helping to provide educational and enrichment opportunities to the youth in the states of Tennessee, Virginia and Michigan.

Monica’s Uncle Detroit Tiger hall of famer Willie Horton.

In the 1990’s she founded the non-profit Grand Slam, Inc. which provided supplemental school supplies, clothing, tutorial services, diapers/food, scholarships and college tours for newborns through the college level in two states. Needless to say her activism spans over several decades and continues to this day. It seems that standing up for the people is something that runs in her family. She often comments about how proud she is of her Uncle Willie Horton, because of the stand that he took during the Rebellion of 1967 (aka Detroit Riot). While in his Detroit Tiger uniform, he placed himself in between the tanks in the streets and the citizens of the City of Detroit in order to prevent a catastrophe and possible loss of life.

Monica Lewis-Patrick chaired rally against the appointment of Detroit EM Kevyn Orr in the Erma Henderson Auditorium March 6, 2013. Behind her are Mayoral candidates Tom Barrow and Krystal A. Crittendon.

As a founder of the grassroots organization, We the People of Detroit she played a lead role in the Get Out the Vote (GOTV) initiative and through a collaborative effort, VOTE VIP Slate (Protect Seniors and Working Class Families) was born. Through the VOTE VIP SLATE over 40,000 kicker cards were designed and distributed to help educate the voters around key issues such as: 1) Collective Bargaining 2) Emergency Manager Law 3) City of Detroit Charter Proposal C 4) School Millage, and other key issues. She personally participated in over 85 presentations at churches and block clubs to help educate the community on election issues during the November 2012 election.

Monica Lewis-Patrick speaks against Hantz Farms land grab at Council public hearing attended by over 600 people on Dec. 11, 2012.

She is a firm believer in maintaining and protecting the quality of life for Detroiters, senior citizens, children and those who may not have had the opportunities that she has had in life. As an educator and mental health professional with a background in criminal justice and a small business owners, she is clear that it is vital that all people have access to quality education, training, and employment opportunities. 

GO TO MONICA’S FACEBOOK PAGE & “LIKE” HER @ https://www.facebook.com/monicacares2014. Her website will be up shortly. Meanwhile, her campaign staff can be contacted at debra@monicacares.com; and vincent@monicacares.com .