About Us
Who We Are
Accelerating collaborative action in Southeast Michigan’s nonprofit community.
coact /kō-ˈakt/ (v): to act or work together
Co.act Detroit is a hub that accelerates transformative impact with nonprofit and community organizations in southeast Michigan through collaborative idea generation, cross-sector resources, and equitable access to world-class programming and learning opportunities.
Our space serves as a natural place for nonprofits to connect, share ideas and develop solutions together. We build authentic community through cultivated conversations and events designed to build trust, deepen relationships and set the stage for collective impact.
But we are more than just a space. We source local and global wisdom to co-create programs and resources that meet nonprofits where they are.
Our Team
Allandra Bulger, Executive Director
Allandra Bulger is a forward-thinking creative and servant leader with experience in nonprofit leadership, organizational development, project management, program design and implementation, and community and economic development. As the inaugural executive director of Co.act Detroit, she is leading the development of a resource hub where Southeast Michigan’s nonprofit and philanthropic community connect and access the knowledge, skills and resources needed to collaborate, innovate and amplify impact.
Prior to joining Co.act, Allandra served as deputy director of Detroit Future City, where she managed the organization’s strategic priorities, internal operations and fiscal affairs while providing key leadership in strategic planning, management and connecting organization mission, vision, values, and programmatic priorities. She has also worked as a consultant at DEXDesign Associates, where she specialized in developing and delivering capacity building technical assistance to community based nonprofit organizations and small businesses, and she managed the Title IV-E Funding Program of the Wayne County Juvenile Assessment Center. She holds a master’s degree in public administration specializing in nonprofit organization and management from Oakland University, where she is also an adjunct faculty member, teaching courses on nonprofit management. Allandra has served as a Detroit Revitalization Fellow and is a graduate of Leadership Detroit Class. She is the co-founder and treasurer of D.Cipher, an arts-based mastermind collective and nonprofit serving the Detroit artist community. When she is not working, she enjoys songwriting, spending time with her energetic nephews, traveling and discovering new music.
Kyla Carlsen, Senior Director of Program Strategy & Innovation
In her role as the Senior Director of Program Strategy & Innovation, Kyla oversees the co-creation of capacity building programs and community-centered grant-making for social change organizations with an emphasis on equity and access, network building and cross-sector collaboration.
Kyla is Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified and has experience leading and managing teams, facilitating design thinking sessions to develop innovative approaches to solve problems, program strategy and implementation, project management, fund development and collaborating with stakeholders to scale impact. She previously served as Senior Operations and Financial Manager for the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, overseeing small business programs with a combined annual budget of $8mm and supporting commercial corridor development, increasing resident access to goods and services, and economic mobility.
Kyla has a background in finance, facilitating access to capital, capital readiness, and closing the racial funding gap for entrepreneurs and social impact organizations. She is passionate about innovating alternative social and economic investment strategies to achieve more equitable outcomes.
Kyla is an alumnus of the Detroit Global Shapers hub, an initiative of the World Economic Forum that connects a network of young leaders driving dialogue, action and change in their communities. She enjoys traveling, supporting small businesses, spending time with her ten year old pitbull, wine and cooking.
LeKelah Dewberry, Grants Program Coordinator
LeKelah Dewberry is a graduate of Wayne State University, where she earned a B.S. in Business Management. Her natural knack for business coupled with her educational background availed her more than 15 years of organization planning; improving processes and policies; and grants and contracts management for non-profit organizations; corporations; primary, secondary, and tertiary education; and government entities. Additionally, LeKelah’s passion for youth engagement and development has been expressed through mentoring and program coordination for over 23 years through youth-serving agencies and church ministries.
As the Grants Program Coordinator for Co.act Detroit, LeKelah brings experience supporting a grant fund and has extensive knowledge of the nonprofit landscape in Southeast Michigan. She also has a genuine heart for people. Outside of her work with youth and community, she also lends her talents to the real estate industry, helping people through the process of buying and selling properties in southeast Michigan.
When not at work, you can find her making great memories with her family and friends and traveling.
Jaclynn Louden, Community Manager
As Community Manager, Jackie is the smiling face you see when you walk into Co.act Detroit and oversees all logistical aspects of our collaborative convening space. If you have any questions about setting up a convening or training at Co.act, or want to take a tour, Jackie can help. Jackie previously served as Community Coordinator for TechTown Detroit and was an administrative assistant at the Center of Behavioral Therapy in Livonia. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering and helping others, learning new things and spending time with her family.
Esteria Rogan, Executive Assistant
In her role as Executive Assistant, Esteria provides high level administrative and operations management support to the Executive Director. She also ensures the smooth operation of Co.act Detroit with her robust knowledge of office management and support to special projects. Esteria has nearly 20 years of experience in managerial and executive administration in metro Detroit, working in diverse industries including non-profit, community development and real estate. Prior to joining Co.act Detroit, Esteria served as the Manager of Operations for Detroit Future City.
Esteria attended Macomb Community College, where she received certifications in project management and administrative assistance. She is also a certified housing counselor. Esteria is actively involved in her church where she serves on the Executive Board and serves as Chair for the Ameldia R. Brown Scholarship Fund. Esteria also enjoys event planning and currently serves as a MHSAA Basketball Referee.
Charnae Sanders, Program Manager
As Program Manager, Charnae plays a vital role in shaping our programming, including the Nonprofit Wellbeing and speaker series, special events, workshops, and more. She is also the talented and thoughtful host of Co.act Detroit’s Natural Collisions podcast. She is passionate about creating unique and unforgettable experiences through programs that equip and empower others with knowledge and resources.
A native Detroiter, Charnae’s passion for building up her community and bringing diverse and underrepresented voices and thoughts to the table motivates her daily. Prior to coming to Co.act Detroit, she served as the Public Programs Coordinator at the Detroit Historical Society. She is an alum of Central Michigan University with a background in journalism and a graduate of Communication and Media Arts High School. In her spare time, she enjoys writing poetry and stories, traveling, dancing the night away at concerts and exploring the city she calls home.
Mobolaji Ayeni, Digital Communications Manager
As Digital Communications Manager, Mobo manages and shapes Co.act Detroit’s communication strategies.
Prior to joining Co.act Detroit, Mobo worked as a Senior Communications Associate for EarlyWorks, llc, working on a diverse range of projects and campaigns in southeast Michigan’s nonprofit and philanthropic sector. Mobo has a Master of Public Affairs degree from Brown University and a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from Michigan State University.
Outside of work, Mobo enjoys reading, writing and painting.
Supporting Partner
Lauren Boone, Grants Program Manager
Lauren is the Activate Fund Program Manager at Co.act. She loves getting to know and supporting the grantees, awardees and service providers that are part of the inaugural cohort.
Lauren hails from Brooklyn, New York and has lived throughout southeast Michigan since 2015. She received her Masters in Public Health from the University of Michigan and has focused her work on nonprofit management and youth development. Previously, Lauren founded and ran a youth program in Detroit (“The Calmplex”) and has supported several nonprofits in various capacities in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Detroit.
When she is not working, Lauren can be found practicing tattooing.
Key Partners
Partnerships are the underpinning of our work. We inspire collaborative action and call on organizations to come together to solve our region’s most pressing challenges collectively.
Co.act was created to complement existing resources and support for the nonprofit community in SE Michigan. We work closely with intermediaries and cross-sector partners to drive transformative change. Below are a few of our most notable partners.
Core partners who have guided the development and launch of Co.act Detroit from the beginning:
Program development partners:
