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March 20, 2026, Adrian, Michigan – In a Black History Month presentation, Black Firsts: the Present, Sisters, Associates, and community members of Adrian heard of the experience of four Black professionals from Jackson, Michigan, who are the first Black person in their role.
“The program is about our Black Firsts – how we celebrate when our Black leaders accomplish those high-achieving goals,” said Mykayla Giles, Director of the Congregation’s Office of Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion while introducing the program. “It’s such a monumental event, but we seldom hear from them about their experience.”
Mykayla introduced the panelists, who are also her mentors. Serving on the panel were Christopher Simpson, Jackson Chief of Police; Kelly Crum, Executive Director of School Climate and Curriculum for Jackson Public Schools; Daniel Mahoney, Jackson Mayor; and John Willis, Jackson Chief Equity Officer.
As moderator, Mykayla’s questions to the panel focused on the various challenges that they faced as they took on their roles, including what inspired them, their reaction when they realized they were breaking new ground, how they navigated spaces in which they were the only Black person, and the systematic changes they believe still need to be made.
Watch a recording of Black Firsts: The Present.
Caption for above feature photo: Panelists for Black Firsts: The Present are, from left, Christopher Simpson; Kelly Crum; Mykayla Giles, moderator; Daniel Mahoney; and John Willis.
By Nancy Mason Bordley Director, Office of Dominican Charism
March 19, 2026, Adrian, Michigan – The Holy Spirit is stirring again in the Dominican Family.
The Dominican Life Collaborative is an organization rooted deeply in the charism of St. Dominic and freshly responsive to the needs of our time. This new expression of Dominican life, this authentic Dominican vocation, invites women and men to live the Gospel through prayer, study, community, and preaching, woven intentionally into the realities of everyday life.
This new form arises from the same Dominican fire that has burned for more than 800 years:
Members of this new form are not stepping away from the world but stepping more deeply into it – as contemplatives in action; witnesses of hope; and companions to the poor, the searching, and the forgotten. Their preaching flows not only from words, but from lives shaped by the Gospel and attentive to the cries of our world.
On November 18, 2025, a livestream for Sisters and Associates outlined a pathway for moving into the future, since Associate Life, as we have known it, will be coming to an end. We are now delighted to announce the emergence of the Dominican Life Collaborative, a new form of Dominican Life that will offer current Associates and new seekers an opportunity to discern their call to continue living the charism in a new vocation.
We invite you to pray with us, to listen for God’s call, and to walk with us as this new expression of Dominican life takes shape. Whether you are discerning, curious, or simply grateful for the ongoing creativity of the Spirit within the Dominican Family, we welcome your presence and your prayers. Contact the Leadership Team (listed below) through me with any questions or suggestions.
St. Dominic, pray for us! May this new form of life bear fruit for the Church and for the world.
Leadership Team Jane Bertsch Jo Curran Judi Engel Dee Joyner Laura Law James Mallare Rosemary Martin Celeste Mueller Kathy Woods