Bio - Stapleton 4 State Rep 2012

Biography

Maureen L. Stapleton

State Representative
Maureen L. Stapleton
Candidate, State Representative
6th State House District
Democratic Party - Michigan

For nearly two decades, Maureen Stapleton has been a tireless and committed public servant whose focus has been on helping people and communities in Detroit prosper.

One of two children born to James and Ella Mae Stapleton, whose public service work came as a Detroit Police Officer and a Detroit Schools administrator, respectively, Maureen grew up on the city's northwest side. Through their example, Maureen learned the importance of a strong work ethic, the value of community service and the need to affect change.

"I learned at an early age about the need to serve others," says Maureen, who traces her first activism to trips with her mother to help at women's shelters. "I also learned at a very early age to take part in the political process."

That early age was 10 years old, when Maureen began helping pass out flyers for judicial campaigns. She continued her political activism later as a member of the15th Congressional District Democratic Party organization--now the 13th--where she served as Recording Secretary.

While attending Howard University in Washington, D.C., Maureen interned with U.S. Congressman John Conyers, D-Detroit, where she helped draft House bills and resolutions. She graduated from the historically black institution in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

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After brief work as a bank manager and 6 years of service with the Detroit Public Schools as a teacher and summer youth employment supervisor, Maureen was tapped in 1994 by Mayor Dennis Archer to serve with the City of Detroit's Youth Department. She spent six years in leadership roles with the Youth Department and the Detroit Recreation Department helping to capture federal and local dollars to improve the city's capacity to serve youth. Her work was varied and included assisting community organizations in their efforts to provide programs for young people and helping administer the Recreation Department’s $16 million recreation division budget.

Maureen joined the City of Indianapolis' Department of Metropolitan Development in 2000 as an Executive Assistant, and within 6 months was promoted to Administrator of the Division of Compliance, where she managed a 100-person staff, and a $9 million budget, and helped with the agency's training and recruitment. She served in that role for over two years, before making her way back home.

In 2003, she was hired by Wayne County and last served as the Director of Organizational Effectiveness. In 2009, under Maureen’s leadership, Wayne County received an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties for the creation of the division and the work that the division accomplished. Until 2009, the division was responsible for process improvement activities, training and development programs and strategic planning initiatives for the county's 5,000 employees.

Separately, Maureen has also operated her own private consulting business since 2003 and is now doing so full time. Her company helps organizations build capacity to better serve clients and make lasting impacts on the community.

Links Fundraiser

Away from work, Maureen has been active in helping to improve the lives of others. She has worked for 17 years as an advisor with the Co-Ette Club Inc., a leadership development program for high school girls, and is a past board member of the Horizon House, a day shelter for the homeless in Indianapolis. She is a current and active member of the Board of Directors of Karmanos Cancer Center and the Belle Isle Women’s Committee.

Maureen is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Links Incorporated and a member of Plymouth United Church of Christ. Maureen has spent the majority of her adult life as a resident of the District she seeks to serve and currently lives in downtown Detroit.

August 3, 2010 & November 2, 2010