Our Story

The vision for the organization began in 2012 when Rabbi Bennett, in his Yom Kippur service, encouraged his temple members to volunteer in Detroit. His message resonated with Diane ל״ז and Dr. Melvyn Rubenfire, who believe that Detroiters need greater access to healthy food. 

Dr. Rubenfire who is the Director of Preventive Cardiology and Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan believes that education is essential to sustaining health and wellness.  He was inspired to translate his nationally recognized preventive cardiology approach into a community-based wellness model for Detroiters, forming the basis for PHC’s nutrition education programs. Working in partnership with Hartford Memorial Baptist Church and the leadership of the Northwest Activities Center, PHC was founded.

PHC VALUES

…an evolving vision with endless opportunities

EVIDENCE MATTERS
​We challenge our assumptions through continuous evaluation so that we are able to refine as we innovate!

FEEDBACK MATTERS
We take care to listen to our community, families, teachers, donors and volunteers

FUN MATTERS
​We play because creativity and imagination spark students’ engagement and problem solving skills.

THE TEAM

Bernadette Doré, JD, M.Ed 

​Executive Director 
bdore@projecthealthycommunity.org
313-433-0718

Karen Rubenfire, LMSW*

Chief Operating Officer
krsherbin@projecthealthycommunity.org
248-892-4585

Lisa Bauer, MPH, BSN, RN

Director of Programming & Development
lbauer@projecthealthycommunity.org
517-927-8404

Katie Riddle

Assistant Director of Foundation & Corporate Relations
kriddle@projecthealthycommunity.org
​313-702-0229

Aryeh Perlman

​Social Media Manager
aryeh@projecthealthycommunity.org

Lauren Moll

Grants Manager
lmoll@projecthealthycommunity.com
248-412-3307

Mitchell Hoyer, MPH

Lead Research Fellow

Malaka Cegers

Research Fellow

Abby Waldorf

Repair the World Fellow

RESEARCH FELLOWS AND INTERNS

Mitchell Hoyer, MPH
Malaka Cegers
Brenna Dressler, MPH (candidate)
Sarah Brooks, M.Ed (candidate)

EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANTS

Randee Bloom, Ph.D
Ife Hampton, M.Ed
Barbara Samson, M.Ed

REPAIR THE WORLD FELLOW

Abby Waldorf

​BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Project Healthy Community Executive Board at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, 2018.

Melvyn Rubenfire, MD*
​President

Stanley Finsilver*
Vice President

Shirley Myrick
Vice President

John Marx
Secretary

Larry Matthews
Treasurer

at-large members

Rev. Charles C. Adams

Rabbi Josh Bennett*

Joshua Cascade

Mindi Fynke

Paul Hack

Harold Kulish

Matt Lester

*Founding members
Lisa Corey
Diane Rubenfire ז״ל

Advisors
Community Advisory Board

Ali Ahmed
​Randee Bloom, Ph.D
​Lisa Corey*

Bob Emmer
Ben Falik
Amina Iqbal

​Ira Jaffe
Sally Krugel
Ronald Lockett

Careers

No current job openings.