Meet Melia Howard, Detroit’s new deputy mayor and the second woman to hold the position.

DETROIT (WXYZ) — For the second time in Detroit’s history, a woman has been named the city’s new deputy mayor.

Melia Howard will replace Todd Bettison as Detroit’s interim police chief.

“It validated the views of many people in the community who have seen me work for decades. It confirmed to them that if Melia can do it, we can all do it,” Howard said. allowed me to be in this space because if they didn’t lift me up, I wouldn’t be in this space.”

Hear more from Melia Howard in the video below:

One-on-one with Detroit’s new Deputy Mayor Melia Howard

Howard has a long history of working in Detroit in a variety of positions, including director of community engagement and advising the mayor on area economic development issues. Before officially working for the city, she was a prominent community organizer and says she has always enjoyed serving her neighbors.

“Just being able to connect with people and just being able to give them the attention that they need and deserve and allow them to voice their opinions, but be solution-oriented and give them the help they need,” Howard said of her passion for bringing people together . to help.

She is credited with helping build community support for many of the city’s major development projects, ensuring they have a voice in the process and a role in shaping each project’s community benefits agreement.

Previously, Howard was the director of special projects and director of the District 5 Department of Neighborhoods.

She leads a Saturday job training program that, in partnership with the University of Michigan, provides support to adults and high school students.

“I loved walking around on Saturday mornings and someone would call and say, ‘Miss Howard, I need help,’ and I’d say, ‘OK, here I am,’” Howard said of her time as district manager.

Howard grew up on the east side of the city, near 8 Mile and Ryan roads, and still lives in the city.

“I am a daughter from the east side. We love each other very much. We always support our neighbors,” Howard said.

Her plans for the future include supporting the Mayor’s initiatives such as expanding programs to combat violence in the community, providing opportunities for job skills programs, supporting investment and progress in affordable housing, and improving the quality of life for Detroiters.

“People need to be heard, not just heard. They need to see the action behind all the communication and all the intentionality of what you bring to the space, and that’s what I do,” Howard said.

She prefers to be on earth, building relationships.

“I was always everywhere. I have a history, a history of masses, knocking on doors, campaigns. I’m all over the city at any given time, so people will see me on their doorstep,” Howard said.

Howard is also a big fan of Godzilla and B-horror movies, and even as a child wanted to be a lawyer, politician, mortician or forensic scientist.

“I grew up watching TV and I loved watching Quincy, and so when I was little I thought I was going to be Quincy when I grew up,” Howard said.

She credits her grandfather for introducing her to horror films, as well as her grandmother for her interest in politics.

“My grandmother was very into politics growing up, so she played WWJ all day every day,” Howard recalled.