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.
Jennifer Headley-Nordman
President
jheadley-nordman@firststepskent.org616.528.4619Heather Boswell
VP of Community Investments
hboswell@firststepskent.org616.632.1016Cati Cortes
VP of Finance
ccortes@firststepskent.org616.528.4547Awilda Diaz
Project Coordinator
adiaz@firststepskent.org616.528.4559Elyse Greene
Funding Administrator
egreene@firststepskent.org616.528.4658Shelby Glover
Office Operations Manager
sglover@firststepskent.org616.378.6272Kristen Sobolewski
VP of Early Care and Education
ksobolewski@firststepskent.org616.632.1011Megan Streng
Communications Director
mstreng@firststepskent.org616.528.4552Christine Timbol Larson
VP of Impact
ctlarson@firststepskent.org616.528.4548Jasper Tinoco
Data Specialist
jtinoco@firststepskent.org616.528.4626Daniel VanderMolen
Director of Policy and Grants
dvandermolen@firststepskent.org616.528.4560Kiana Garcia Zaderej
Funding Administrator
kzaderej@firststepskent.org616.528.4616
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 - Josh Sayles
Secretary-Treasurer, Ernst & Young - Leah Atkins
Parent Leader - Amanda Barbour
Children’s Healing Center - Emily E. Cantor
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP - Guillermo Cisneros
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Kevin Clay
Pridgeon & Clay - Rev. Howard C. Earle, Jr.
Beacon Hill - Hanna C. Jaworski, MD
Corewell Health - Melinda Johnson, MD
Pomelo Care - Ron Koehler
Kent ISD - Flora Ma
Parent Leader - Krashawn Martin
City of Wyoming - Kelsey Perdue
Corewell Health & Grand Rapids City Commissioner - Anthony Queen
Parent Leader - Milt Rohwer
Community Representative - Randy Thelen
The Right Place - Michelle Van Dyke
Heart of West Michigan United Way - 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
September 26
8-30 - 10-30 am
First Steps Kent Commission Meeting
Hybrid
November 21
8-30 - 10-30 am
First Steps Kent Commission Meeting
Virtual