Michele Legleitner

What does being a leader mean to you? 
Being a leader means knowing I can’t do it alone, making sure my words match my actions, staying true to myself, and turning every experience into a learning experience for myself and the people I surround myself with.

Being a leader means knowing I can’t do it alone, making sure my words match my actions, staying true to myself, and turning every experience into a learning experience for myself and the people I surround myself with.

 
What is your dream for kids?
My dream for all kids is to embrace their childhood, be allotted every opportunity for their emotional, physical, mental and educational growth, and never limit the strength of their dreams. The Alliance fits into this dream because not one agency can provide all the services our youth need; however, by working together we are able to provide a wider range of services to these youth to ensure that all of their needs are being met.
 
What is one concrete thing that could be done to improve the environment for social sector work in Michigan?
One concrete thing to be done to improve social sector work in Michigan is to break down the walls within the community; we cannot be effective in changing the climate for our youth in Detroit if the community doesn’t work together. Community partners and agencies will need to continue to foster positive relationships to ensure that the youth and families of Detroit are getting the resources they need for success.
 
How do you know you’re making progress?
I have always been a big fan of clearly defining goals for myself, so when I was hired on as the program director for the alliance, I, in conjunction with members from the four alliance partners, created goals and objectives. Every time I can check something off an objective, I know I have made progress.
 

One concrete thing to be done to improve social sector work in Michigan is to break down the walls within the community; we cannot be effective in changing the climate for our youth in Detroit if the community doesn’t work together.

One of the major things I was able to cross of the list was the creation of a real time website that tracks bed availability at each of the partner agencies. In other words at any given time all four agencies know if there is an open bed for a youth available. This eliminates calling around and wasting precious time.
 
What are you most proud of?  
I recently graduated with my master of social work degree. I worked full time while in school, so it was a long process but I am proud to call myself an MSW finally. I have been working in the social work field since 2007. I began my career at a local Wayne County community mental health agency. I started to work towards my master’s degree in 2008. I am proud that I have been able to use my graduate degree knowledge to help build this program from the ground up.
 
Reflecting on your career, what would you say was your greatest professional learning experience? 
By far my greatest learning experience has been becoming the program director for the Alliance. When I was hired, the only thing in place was an approved grant. It has been a truly awesome experience learning how to create something that means so much to me from the ground up.