Rotary Charities is thrilled to announce Mi Stanley as our new Director of Community Development!

In this role, Mi will help us continue supporting changemakers in our region by leading the Assets for Thriving Communities grant program and guiding our work to better incorporate equity and inclusion into everything we do.


With her thoughtful approach and deep commitment to listening and learning, Mi is excited to work alongside community members to create lasting, positive change in Northwest Michigan.


Mi brings a strong sense of curiosity and care to everything she does. Her work will focus on connecting people and ideas, helping communities move their priorities forward, and ensuring our work continues to reflect the unique strengths and needs of the region. We couldn’t be more excited to have her on our team!

Take a moment to get to know Mi through the Q&A below, where she shares more about her background and hopes for this role.

Can you tell us a little about your background and what led you to this role at Rotary Charities?

I was born in Traverse City and grew up in Leelanau County. After my undergraduate studies, I dedicated a service year to AmeriCorps in Kalamazoo at a housing nonprofit. I earned a master’s degree from Syracuse University while coordinating collaborative research projects and teaching English, primarily to international and non-traditional students.

Since moving back to Traverse City, Rotary Charities’ programs have enriched my professional development, most recently as the Director of Special Projects and Communications at Traverse Health Clinic. The connections I made in the community through Rotary Charities’ gatherings have enhanced my public-facing life as a City Commissioner and TCLP Board Member. My appreciation for the impact of Rotary Charities’ work and its focus on fostering a region that is inclusive, adaptive, and resilient drew me to the Director of Community Development role. 

What excites you most about joining Rotary Charities and stepping into this position?

I am excited to connect the people and organizations to the resources they need to be responsive to our communities’ needs. As a former educator, I’m also excited to collaborate on new Learning & Coaching services, particularly ones that help advance the organization’s equity and inclusion priorities. Overall, I am incredibly excited to be part of Rotary Charities' dynamic, forward thinking team. 

What do you love most about Northern Michigan?

I love introducing people to this amazing place we get to call home. Being a boomerang, I am constantly inviting  friends and family from all over the world to visit us. Of course, they’re always stunned by the area’s natural beauty, but the food and arts scenes, along with the warmth of the folks up here are wonderful bonuses. Seeing my hometown through fresh eyes helps me appreciate it even more.

How do you like to connect with others—professionally or personally—to build strong relationships?

I like to say that curiosity is my superpower. In truth, I’m a bit of an introvert, so asking questions is one of the ways I connect with people. It’s so interesting to me to learn about what’s important to the person I’m engaging with, how they see the world, and what’s on their mind. It also helps me find points of connection between that we can build a relationship on. Staying open – as well as curious – is how I go about building strong relationships.

What’s your favorite way to give back to your community? 

I definitely identify as “introvirtuous” – introverted but inclined to help – so my public role as a city commissioner is my favorite way to give back because it is one very real way that I can be of service to my community and help shape a future where everyone has access to the resources they need to succeed and thrive. 

Please join us in welcoming Mi to Rotary Charities! You can reach out to her directly at mstanley@rotarycharities.org to introduce yourself, share your thoughts, or simply say hello.