About First Steps Kent
Our community vision is that every young child in Kent County will enter kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed in school and life. First Steps Kent is working with our community partners to make that vision a reality.
First Steps Kent is an independent nonprofit organization founded more than ten years ago.
Learn more about the history of First Steps Kent and the Early Childhood System in Kent County.
Our Team
The First Steps Kent team is committed to ensuring every young child in Kent County will enter kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed in school and life.
Heather Boswell
Vice President
hboswell@firststepskent.org616.632.1016Cati Cortes
Interim President & Financial Accountant
ccortes@firststepskent.org616.528.4547Shelby French
Office Operations Manager
sfrench@firststepskent.org616.378.6272Evan Hile
Data & Outcomes Coordinator
ehile@firststepskent.org616.528.4559Kyle Johnson
Funding Administrator
kjohnson@firststepskent.org616.528.4616Jill B. Salisbury
Fund Development & Project Manager
jsalisbury@firststepskent.org616.632.1004Kristen Sobolewski
Project Director
ksobolewski@firststepskent.org616.632.1011Megan Streng
Communications Director
mstreng@firststepskent.org616.528.4552Christine Timbol Larson
Senior Funding Administrator
ctlarson@firststepskent.org616.528.4548Daniel VanderMolen
Project Manager
dvandermolen@firststepskent.org616.528.4560
First Steps Kent Commission
The First Steps Kent Commission is committed to making Kent County a community in which all young children and their families can thrive. The Commission serves as our Board of Directors.
- Kate Pew Wolters
Co-Chair, Kate and Richard Wolters Foundation - Lew Chamberlin
Co-Chair, West Michigan Whitecaps - Bob Herr
Secretary-Treasurer, Community Representative - Amanda Barbour
Children’s Healing Center - Kristina Donaldson
Parent Leader - Rev. Howard C. Earle, Jr.
New Hope Baptist Church - Lynne Ferrell
Frey Foundation - Claire Guisfredi
North Kent Connect - Hanna C. Jaworski, MD
Spectrum Health - Melinda Johnson, MD
Community Representative - Ron Koehler
Kent Intermediate School District - Dr. Juan Olivarez
Community Representative - Kelsey Perdue
Michigan League for Public Policy - Anthony Queen
Parent Leader - Milt Rohwer
Community Representative - Beca Velázquez-Publes
Urban Core Collective - Michelle Van Dyke
Heart of West Michigan United Way - Carl Ver Beek
Community Representative - Joslyn Ward
Parent Leader - Sean Welsh
PNC Bank - Doug DeVos, Emeritus
Amway


Funders
We want to thank our generous funders for their support of First Steps Kent and their commitment to young children in our community.













Financial Reports

- Meetings
- Minutes
Meetings
Up Next
January 27
8-30 - 10-30 am
First Steps Kent Commission Meeting
Virtual
March 24
8-30 - 10-30 am
First Steps Kent Commission Meeting
TBD
May 26
8-30 - 10-30 am
First Steps Kent Commission Meeting
TBD
July 28
8-30 - 10-30 am
First Steps Kent Commission Meeting
TBD
September 29
8-30 - 10-30 am
First Steps Kent Commission Meeting
TBD
November 17
8-30 - 10-30 am
First Steps Kent Commission Meeting
TBD