United Way of Genesee County, serving Genesee and Shiawassee Counties, has partnered with Consumers Energy to identify an outstanding community volunteer in Genesee County.
Sheveze Anderson volunteers tirelessly in her community, not only because she believes it is her mission to do good work, but because she knows what it is like to have the proverbial "shoe on the other foot." Growing up in inner city Flint and Saginaw, Sheveze was raised by a mother who relied on welfare, as well as friends and family to provide for her children. Sheveze has gratitude for those who came out to help her and her family, and she wants to continue that cycle of goodness. As a manager with Consumers Energy, Sheveze has found a career path that not only provides financial security, but also affords continuous opportunities for personal growth and giving back to the community.
Sheveze has dedicated countless hours to service, both through the employee volunteer program at Consumers Energy and in her own spare time. With her Consumers Energy team, Sheveze has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, the Crim Fitness Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters Reading Program and Lunch Buddies, as well as volunteer events for Earth Day and the annual Walk for Warmth. On her personal time, she volunteers as a board member with the Center For Hope and Elga Credit Union. One of her favorite volunteering experiences is with Ebenezer Ministries' Street Ministry Outreach program, where she assists every month with homeless shelters, pop-up church, and feeding people who are experiencing homelessness.
And as if Sheveze's plate isn't full enough, she is also committed to Whenupray, the online mental health and wellness platform she operates alongside her daughter. Hosting an annual expo in the city of Flint, Sheveze and her daughter aim to grow this platform and incorporate other Michigan cities in their mission to bring mental health, awareness and resources to the forefront of the community conversation, helping remove stigma and normalize mental health. This, according to Sheveze, is truly a passion and where she dedicates her greatest time and energy.
Sheveze is a Flint resident, where she lives with her husband of 40 years, who also volunteers with her doing street ministry. Sheveze counts it as a blessing that she gets to volunteer with her grandchildren, whom she often times brings along to volunteer activities so that they can get an early start on helping their communities.
Celebrating 34 years of employment with Consumers Energy this May, having worked in their offices in both Flint and Saginaw, Sheveze sees that the future is bright: "There are always opportunities to help, to give back, to do more. I continuously try to find a way to be effective where I am, and I am always looking for opportunities to make Consumers Energy a great place to be and an asset to the communities where we live and work."
Consumers Energy is committed to having local team members support area nonprofits and volunteer programs. According to their website, "More than 4,000 employees and retirees volunteer across Michigan annually."
To learn more about how you can volunteer in Genesee County, visit www.geneseeserves.org.
