The West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology welcomes Jamon Alexander as its new President and CEO.
Alexander's background includes working as the Director of Workforce Development at WMCAT, spending six years growing the nationally-recognized program, which provides holistic support and career training to adults seeking living-wage careers in the healthcare industry.
WMCAT engages adults in tuition-free career training and leadership development as well as connects high school students to creative exploration through the visual arts and media.
"At WMCAT we are rooted in community centering the needs and the voices and the lived experiences of our students and our family. That drives our values that are rooted in equity and innovation,” Alexander said.
Prior to coming to WMCAT, Alexander led fundraising and volunteer initiatives at the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, Spectrum Health Foundation and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation, and the Heart of West Michigan United Way.
Alexander told WGVU his rise to this new position would have been a surprise to him six years ago, but is excited, prepared an eager to take on the role.
He cites his own personal experiences as a method of compassion and leadership, specifically how he saw a door of opportunity open for his mother in her battle with drug addiction.
"For first 14 years of life, my mother wrestled with drug addiction...The story ends well my mother has been sober for 22 years and we have a great relationship... but that was the nature for first 14 years," Alexander said.
As Alexander remembers his mother's stories of her road to sobriety he recalls a local rehab center who let her in despite being at capacity and having a policy against accepting walk-in guests, saying it's that kind of support he hopes to bring to others.
"The woman told her 'I could see it in your eyes. You appear to be ready to me, and I knew that the condition you were in I simply couldn’t turn you away.' For me, my work at WMCAT has been a metaphor for that story. The difference is now I’m on the other side of the door of opportunity for our students," he said.
In a statement Tim Williams, WMCAT Board Chair, said "
“On behalf of the WMCAT Board of Directors, I am very excited about the future of WMCAT under Jamon’s leadership.He is well positioned to both guide and amplify WMCAT’s innovative leadership and community impact. The Board and I look forward to supporting Jamon and his leadership of WMCAT."
The new CEO told WGVU he is excited to continue the organization's work in equitable opportunities across the board.
"I see me, I see my family and I see our story inside of the mission here at WMCAT,” Alexander said.