From the Chief’s Desk

Dear Third Circuit Team,

Here’s to hoping that April showers have brought plenty of May flowers into your life by the time you are reading this.

Please know that many team members are continuing diligent efforts to address your concerns and requests to increase efficiencies, resources and best practices so that we can all have ever improving work environment and resources. Again, please do not hesitate to reach out with any ideas and concerns

And know that you and your opinion is valued by this court.

Best,

Honorable Patricia Perez Fresard

We are pleased to announce Nikki Wright as Human Resources Director for the Third Circuit Court.

Nikki is an accomplished employment and business attorney as well as an executive leader. With 29 years of experience in both legal and business fields, Nikki provides invaluable expertise to organizations as a human resources partner helping to navigate employment regulations, workforce hiring/retention challenges, and business compliance while fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.  



Nikki’s skills and experience working with multi-level organizations are expansive. While serving as Assistant Vice-President and Director at Wayne State University, Nikki oversaw regulatory compliance of the university’s equal opportunity efforts including anti-discrimination, sexual harassment, compliance training, affirmative action compliance, Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, and ADA compliance for the university’s nearly 5,000 employees and 26,000 students. Her responsibilities included developing and implementing strategic initiatives to support fair search and hiring practices for faculty positions, as well as collaborating with stakeholders at all levels to create, implement, and enforce policies/practices. Nikki also served as Co-Chair of the Faculty Hiring and Retention Committee established to support university efforts of diversity, equity, and inclusion.



Nikki’s broad experience also includes serving as Assistant General Counsel for (then) Detroit Public Schools where she focused on employment and labor law; serving as senior human resources employee relations consultant for the Detroit Medical Center; and leading her own law practice representing government and private entities in a range of human resources/employment, labor relations, compliance and transactional matters. 

Born and raised in Detroit, Nikki graduated from Cass Technical High School. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1991 from Wayne State University and earned a Juris Doctor in 1994 from Wayne State Law School. After receiving her law degree, Nikki served as a legal clerk to the Honorable Fred L. Banks on the Mississippi Supreme Court in Jackson, Mississippi. She is licensed to practice in Michigan and Texas. Nikki earned a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University in May 2021, and serves on the DEI Committee of the American Bar Association. She is mother to one son, enjoys supporting charitable causes, and mentoring others. In recognition of her professional accomplishments and contributions to her community, Nikki was awarded a 2021 Michigan Chronicle Women of Excellence Award.

Nikki’s passion lies in helping organizations strategically obtain their goals while maintaining compliance and supporting a welcoming environment. She is excited to join the HR team of the Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan as HR Director. 

FOC Welcomes Two New Employees

Helen Hsu joined the FOC Legal Department as an Associate Attorney. Prior to her legal career, she was a Strategic Planner in Marketing and Advertising. Helen is originally from Michigan and is an avid Wolverine fan (Go Blue!). Outside of work, she enjoys volunteering for animal shelters/rescues, spending time with family, friends and, of course, her fur babies. She also likes to take road trips and travel abroad. Helen dreams of taking a road trip across the country in an Air Stream one day. This year or the next, she hopes to travel to her parent’s hometown and meet relatives, see their childhood homes, and eat lots of good food.

Donna Jadeed joined the FOC Case Establishment Department as an Information Specialist I. Donna is a native New Yorker transplanted in Detroit, Michigan by way of a few other states. She describes herself as an open minded, strong, independent and confident woman who enjoys learning all she can. Her most prized possession is her integrity. Donna is also a life coach and a licensed Unitarian minister able to perform weddings of all types.

Third Circuit Court’s Budget and Finance Team

Victoria Kendrick is the oldest of four, one of God’s favorite children, her nieces and nephew’s favorite aunt, wife of a very happy husband, and mother of four extraordinary people, one Aussie, and a rabbit. She enjoys traveling, spending time with family and saving a buck. Victoria has over 10 years of experience in the accounting/bookkeeping field, working for companies such as Greektown Casino, Centria, Detroit United, and Aragona Dentistry before joining the Third Circuit Court’s Budget and Finance Team.

The Benefits of Creating an Inclusive Workplace

An Inclusive workplace welcomes and supports all of its staff and their differences. It shows that the company or entity understands that people have a different way of processing information, interacting with others, and achieving goals. It also ensures equal opportunities for everyone to succeed by making the employees feel comfortable asking for what they need. Making resources available to any employee to use on their own enhances flexibility, ensures higher rates of productivity, and improves morale.

Celebrating the end of Ramadan with a healthy snack.

THE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION CALENDAR

The Third Circuit Court Diversity and Inclusion Team’s Mission: "We appreciate our common connection and respect our diverse and unique human experiences. We move forward as an inclusive organization as we provide accessible and equal justice."

The Court’s Diversity & Inclusion Team strives to ensure the values of its diverse bench, staff, and court users are acknowledged and reflected in our delivery of service as well as our work environment.

In that spirit, the team creates and shares a monthly list of various holidays and observations along with some celebration suggestions. We invite our work community and the community at large to contribute.

MAY 2024

Month-long observances:

ALS Awareness Month

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Better Sleep Month

Jewish American Heritage Month

Mental Health Awareness Month

National Foster Care Month

Week-long observances:

May 5 – 11: National Pet Week

May 6 – 10: Teacher Appreciation Week

May 6 – 12: Children’s Book Week and National Nurses Week

May 13 – 19: National Stuttering Awareness Week

May 15 – 21: National Vegetarian Week

May 1 – May Day

May 1 – National Interpreter Appreciation Day

May 2 – National Brothers and Sisters Day

May 5 – Cinco de Mayo

May 6 – National Nurses Day

May 7 – National Teacher Appreciation Day

May 7 – National Foster Care Day

May 9 – National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day

May 12 – Mother’s Day

May 12 – National Mental Health Provider Appreciation Day

May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia

May 17 – Malcolm X Day

May 18 – Armed Forces Day

May 19 – Stepmother’s Day

May 20 – National Women in Aerospace Day

May 20 – National Rescue Dog Day

May 21 – World Meditation Day

May 21 – Pesach Sheni (evening of May 21 to nightfall on May 22)

May 25 – National Missing Children’s Day

May 27 – Memorial Day

Source: https://www.today.com/life/holidays/may-holidays-and-observances-rcna76128