Established in 2019, the Local Community Group works with WDBA and BNA as informal partners on the Community Benefits Plan implementation. This group includes 16 members that collectively represent the communities of Detroit/Delray, Windsor/Sandwich, Windsor-Essex County and the Greater Detroit Area. The Local Community Group provides valuable input and formal linkages to the region which enables the project team to better understand community and stakeholder perspectives in the delivery of the Community Benefits Plan. 

Responsibilities of Local Community Group members include: 

  • Participating in quarterly meetings. 
  • Providing input into the implementation of Community Benefits Plan initiatives.
  • Review community funding opportunities for Neighbourhood Infrastructure Strategy funding.

Read the Local Community Group Terms of Reference (Grupo de la comunidad local Términos de referencia).

Join the Local Community Group

Applications are being accepted until 4 p.m. EST on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, for six open volunteer positions to participate on the Local Community Group. Representatives are needed to fill two-year positions in the following roles:

  • The Sandwich/west Windsor Community (two positions available)
  • The Delray/Southwest Detroit Community (two positions available)
  • Windsor-Essex County (one position available)
  • The Greater Detroit Area (one position available)

Apply Now | Espanol

Applications will be accepted until 4 p.m. EST on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, and can be submitted:

  • Electronically via email to info [at] wdbridge.com in word or .pdf format noting “Local Community Group Application” in the subject line.
  • Via mail in printed format to the attention of Manager Community Benefits at WDBA Main Office, 100 Ouellette Avenue, Suite 400, Windsor, ON, N9A 6T3. 
  • By dropping off a paper copy at: 
    • the Sandwich Community Office at 3201 Sandwich Street, Windsor, ON (check website for hours of operation) 
    • Community Health and Social Services (CHASS) Center in Southwest Detroit at 5635 W Fort St, Detroit, MI 48209 or the Southwest Detroit Community Office at 7744 West Vernor Highway, Detroit MI (check website for hours of operation).  

Applicants will be sent an email confirming that their application has been received within three business days. 

The Local Community Group began meeting on a quarterly basis in fall 2019. New volunteers selected to participate in the group through this recruitment process will attend their first quarterly meeting in November 2023. 

Representatives from invited municipal, agency, First Nations and community organizations also participate as members of the Local Community Group.

Current group membership is below:

Sandwich Community Resident Teajai Travis Delray Community Resident Candida Leon
Windsor-Essex County Resident Randal Sasso Greater Detroit Area Resident Kimberly Simmons
Daily Cross-Border Commuter – Canada Clara Deck Daily Cross-Border Commuter- USA Simona Simion
Representative from Walpole Island First Nation Janet MacBeth Representative from Caldwell First Nation Alex Kajtar
Representative of the Windsor-Essex Community Benefits Coalition Mike Cardinal Representative of the Delray Community Advisory Group Simone Sagovac
Sandwich Business Improvement Association Mary Ann Cuderman City of Detroit – District 6 Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero
Windsor-Essex Economic Development Corporation Marion Fantetti Southwest Detroit Business Association Laura Chavez-Wazeerud-Din
    Detroit Economic Growth Corporation Mark Denson