About Us
Staff Members
Staff Members

Bonnie Billups, Jr.
Executive Director
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Bonnie Billups, Jr. began his career in supportive services for families and youth at a young age. He first became involved with Ann Arbor’s own Peace Neighborhood Center as a child enrolled in the agency’s Youth Programs back in the early 1970s. Proving himself to be a reliable and mature young man, Bonnie was hired on as a Program Assistant at Peace in 1976. He continued in that capacity through 1985, helping the agency expand and establish many long-standing services such as Peace’s Summer Day Camp program in 1982. Bonnie left the agency in 1985 to travel to California and pursue a career in music. While in the Los Angeles area, he continued to work in the youth development field as a Youth Lead Specialist at Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services. In 1991, he returned to Ann Arbor and Peace Neighborhood Center as the agency’s Program Director, a role he took on to great success for over 15 years. In 2006, he took over for the retiring Rose Martin as Peace Neighborhood Center’s Executive Director and continues to lead Peace in its role as a pillar of the youth and family service nonprofit community in Washtenaw County. Bonnie also has continued in his musical career as an instructor at Washtenaw Community College in the School of Music and Performing Arts. Bonnie is a member of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Blue Ribbon Committee where he helps to advise the school district on decisions and strategies to provide effective service to at-risk youth. He is also a founding member of the Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth, serving on its Steering Committee and helping to define that collaborative’s role in establishing the best possible safety net for young people in Washtenaw County along with the other member youth development agencies. Bonnie is proud to have served the youth and families of Washtenaw County for almost 40 years and to lead Peace Neighborhood Center into its fifth decade of its longstanding mission to break the cycle of poverty in our community.

MaryAnn Johnson, LMSW
Youth Programs Director
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MaryAnn has been a part of the Peace Neighborhood family since 2010. While in college at the University of Michigan, MaryAnn volunteered as a tutor and program assistant. Since then, MaryAnn has held different roles at Peace, including coordinating Ninth Grade Academy, volunteers, and children services. In 2018, MaryAnn earned her Master’s degree in Social Work and returned to Peace as Youth Programs Director. MaryAnn, her husband, Matt, and their black lab, Ruby, love exploring the Westside of Ann Arbor.

Suzanne (Sue) Upton
Development Director
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Ella Olive
Office Manager
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Cornelius Olive
Building Maintenance Supervisor
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Lauryn Comer
College & Career Prep Coordinator
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Beginning in 2019, Lauryn joined the Peace Neighborhood Center staff as a Programs Assistant working primarily with the middle school youth in Leadership Development Camp. In the fall, she works in both the REACH after school program for elementary youth and the Alternatives for Youth after school program for middle schoolers. Spring 2021 saw her promotion to the College & Career Prep Coordinator role.
“I’m excited for the school year,” said Lauryn. “I can’t wait to meet all the kids I’ll be working with, build bonds and help them to reach their goals for the upcoming school year and beyond.”

Anabel Cruz, BSW
Satellite Centers Youth Program Coordinator
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Taylor Gamble
Alternatives for Youth Program Coordinator
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Taylor comes to Peace having already created her own program designed to help middle school girls set smart life goals and develop strategies to reach those goals. Known as Girls That Rock, Taylor’s program has run at three schools in the Belleville School District, Belleville High School, Owen Intermediate School and McBride Middle School.
Having moved around quite a bit in her youth, Taylor has a real appreciation for the challenges that middle school youth face when it comes to connecting with their peers and feeling a lack of support from their community. “When I was younger, there was a lot of ‘you’ll figure it out’,” she said. “But, I think young people need a lot more than that to really be successful. I look forward to helping make that happen.”

NaTiyah Hugan
West Arbor Program Manager
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Bernice Hardman, LMSW
Family Enrichment Coordinator/Field Placement Supervisor
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Raven Vawters
Children Services Coordinator
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Elanda Curry, BSW
Case Manager
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Kelly Martin, BSW
Case Manager
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Dana Peterson
Youth Specialist
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Allison DeWolf
Programs Assistant
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Dwight Johnson
Programs Assistant
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Deshawn Leeth
Programs Assistant
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Solomon Putten
Programs Assistant
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Jeremiah Young
Information Technology Assistant
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Latricia Juide
Kitchen Manager
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Keira Overstreet
Kitchen Staff Member
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Larry Mitchell
Transportation
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John Ulmer
Transportation
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Shalina Rankin
Marketing Communications Manager