The Joe D. Sutton Call to Justice Awards honor those that share the mission of Elder Law of Michigan, Inc. to advocate for, educate, and assist those in need, with a continued focus on older adults and persons with disabilities. Contributions to the Call to Justice Awards benefit various programs of Elder Law of Michigan, and provide services to thousands of seniors and vulnerable adults.

Your contribution to the Call to Justice Awards, will help to recognize the important work of our honorees and will provide support for Michigan Seniors. Contributions are not required to attend the Call to Justice Awards, but are greatly appreciated and your support goes a long way in providing seniors across Michigan with access to  services. Even if you are unable to attend the Call to Justice Awards, your contribution will help provide seniors with much needed services. 

2019 Honorees

Southeast Michigan – Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at 6pm
HopCat, Detroit (4265 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI‎)

Phil Hart – Undersheriff, Saginaw County

Phil Hart resides in Genesee County, Michigan and is a graduate of Elizabeth Ann Johnson Memorial High School in Mt. Morris. He attended Mott Community College obtaining an associate degree in general studies and he holds a bachelor’s degree in management and organizational development from Spring Arbor University. Phil also attended the 228th Session of Northwestern’s Police Staff and Command, the 233rd Session of the FBI National Academy and the 203-11th session of the Secret Service Dignitary Protection Seminar.

Phil Hart began his law enforcement career in February 1983, with the Clio-Vienna Police Department after graduating from the Flint Police Academy. He joined the Michigan State Police (MSP) in September 1985 and retired in March of 2012 as Flint Post Commander. Phil worked several different areas within the MSP during his career to include uniform patrol, narcotics, auto theft, post detective, FBI Task Force Agent, Unit Commander and Post Commander. While assigned to Headquarters and the Training Academy, Phil was a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Elder Abuse; whose focus was to determine what steps would be required to enact proper protections for the Michigan’s elderly population through enhanced investigative resources, training for the elderly and updated laws. Phil is still involved as a member of the Elder Policy Coalition.

In April 2012, immediately after retiring from the MSP, Phil took on the position as Jail Administrator at the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. He stayed in this position until September 2014, when he accepted an appointment as Undersheriff to the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Office. Phil stayed with the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Office until March of 2019 when he resigned to pursue other opportunities.

During his 36-year career in law enforcement, Phil has devoted himself to the safety and protection of the residents of Michigan, especially those who are often the most vulnerable and least able to defend or safeguard themselves.

Phyllis Edwards - Executive Director, Bridging Communities

Phyllis J. Edwards is the Executive Director for Bridging Communities, a non-profit organization in Southwest Detroit whose primary focus is eldercare and community development. She is the board chair for Aging Services Consortium for Detroit, treasurer for the Southeast Michigan Senior Regional Collaborative, member of the advisory board for the Detroit Area Agency on Aging 1A, and board chair for Community Development Advocates of Detroit (CDAD). Nationally, she is a board member for Self Development of People, National Association of Nonprofit Organizations and Executives, and previous member-at-large National Association of Social Worker (NASW) Board of Directors.

Bridging Communities is a grassroots organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for elders in the Southwest Detroit area by meeting their needs; and the needs of the surrounding neighborhoods through creative collaboration, advocacy, and innovative programming. Bridging Communities provides bilingual, professional, assessments for those 60 and greater in the Southwest Detroit area utilizing dedicated volunteers and partners to fulfill identified unmet needs. Bridging Communities offers comprehensive services ranging from professional case coordination by staff to volunteer services such as friendly visits to reduce isolation, safe and supportive transportation to medical appointments, Friendly phone calls, holiday remembrances, supplemental food program delivery, minor home repairs, lawn and snow maintenance, Intergenerational opportunities, educational workshops, and neighborhood revitalization efforts.

Dustin Foster – Cooley Law School Auburn Hills, Estate Planning Clinic

A Professor of Law at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, Dustin S. Foster is the Director of both the Family Law Assistance Project (FLAP) and the Estate Planning Clinic (EPC).

FLAP and EPC are collaborations between Lakeshore Legal Aid and WMU Cooley Law School. Prior to joining the faculty at WMU Cooley Law School in 2008, Mr. Foster was an associate attorney with Bernick, Omer, Radner & Ouellette, P.C., practicing in the areas of estate planning, probate, elder law and family law.

He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Oakland County Bar Association. He is also a Michigan Bar Foundation Fellow and an Oakland County Bar Foundation Fellow.

Mr. Foster is a co-author of LexisNexis Practice Guide: Michigan Estate Planning (Matthew Bender, 2018) and a recipient of the ICLE Probate and Estate Planning Certificate.

Karen Adcock – Director, Auburn Hills Senior Center

Karen is the Director of the City of Auburn Hills Senior Services Department where she oversees the Senior Services Department and the city Community Development Block Grant programs. Karen has been with the city for 19 years. Karen holds an Associate Degree in Gerontology, a Bachelor of Applied Science with a major in Health Care Administration and a minor in Sociology. She is a graduate of Leadership Oakland XII. She has a certificate in Aging and Disability from Boston University, and is a graduate of the American Society on Aging (ASA) Leadership Program. She also earned a Certificate in Serve Safe Food Management and Allergens and is a Home Safety Specialist. Karen has over 35 years of professional experience in the field of Gerontology including working in nursing homes, home care, Adult Day Care (specializing in Alzheimer’s), and senior centers.

Karen helped develop a relationship with the Oakland University Physical Therapy Department which has become part of several research projects on Community Based referrals for Physical Therapy, including a current project reaching out across the state. She was part of a team published in the Home Health Now Journal. Karen was a Co-chair in leading the city to being recognized by both the State of Michigan as a Community for a Lifetime and the WHO Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities and AARP Livable Communities.

Karen belongs to the Michigan Association of Senior Centers where she has served on the board as Vice President, Conference Chair, Training Chair, and Membership Chair. She also serves on the Baker College of Auburn Hills Human Services Advisory Board, the Community Coordinated Response Coalition of Oakland and Wayne Counties, and Rochester College School of Nursing Community Advisory Board. Karen belongs to the National Council on Aging, the National Council of Senior Centers, Auburn Hills Noon Optimist Club, Auburn Hills Community Council, and the American Society on Aging. She has received recognition from the Oakland County SAVE (Serving Seniors who are Vulnerable and Elderly) for her work in the field of elder abuse prevention and received the Community Service Award from the Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce.

   Presbyterian Villages of Michigan

Presbyterian Villages of Michigan (PVM) will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2020 and has long been recognized as a premier provider of senior living and services. A nonprofit, faith-based organization and recognized leader in the aging field, PVM has 34 locations which include independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, memory care, and respite services, throughout Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Recognized as an innovative leader, PVM was an early adopter of home and community-based services.

The organization’s goal has always been to deliver an environment that positively transforms senior living and services, while enhancing the communities it serves. PVM is also a leader in helping enrich the lives of those who prefer to remain in their own homes through a variety of home and community-based services.

PVM is a co-sponsor of two regional Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), one in Southeast Michigan and the second in Central Michigan. Combined, these programs serve an additional 1,000 individuals through coordinated care resources that address their medical, social, and physical needs. In many senior living locations, service coordinators are available to assist residents with accessing services and planning assistance. As a partner in CareSync Solutions, PVM assists seniors wherever they may live with a variety of services that help them remain independent. It’s an approach that allows choice in how they choose to live and age.