At Unity Fund, we highlight and assist the candidacies of LGBTQ+ candidates for legislative, executive, and judicial offices on the local, county, and state level in Michigan, with a primary focus on Southeast Michigan and Michigan statewide offices.
All Unity Fund-endorsed candidates are thoroughly vetted by our Board of Directors. We’re proud that nearly all of our endorsed candidates have won their races. Help us keep the streak going!
Whether you’re thinking of running for office, already seeking endorsements, would love to volunteer, or are considering joining our Board of Directors, we would love to hear from you! Growing our community grows our impact.
Whether you help through monetary donations, volunteering your time, or spreading our mission through word-of-mouth, thank you. We couldn't accomplish our goals without the help of supporters like you.
Rian Brooks
President
Rian believes in direct community engagement as a path to creation of community and advancement of LGBTQIA+ rights and freedoms. As such, Rian has served on LGBT community boards in several states, including in New York City, as Director of Community Relations for Out Astoria, as well as serving as Associate Commissioner for Stonewall Sports Detroit, a non-profit intramural sports league serving the queer and allied communities of Metro Detroit.
Drew Fitzsimmons
Director
Drew comes to Unity Fund with a diverse background. He served as an Intelligence Officer in the US Army, including a deployment to Afghanistan, and later transitioned to employment with CIA; he now works in the tech industry. Alongside his professional endeavors, Drew's dedication to advocacy dates back to his time at West Point, where he founded the institution's first gay-straight alliance “Spectrum” following the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Rolanda Kelley
Vice Chair
Rolanda's historic election to Ferndale's City Council as the first lesbian to be elected marks a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ and female representation. With over two decades of leadership experience, she's a force in advocacy, fostering diversity, inclusivity initiatives and championing LGBTQ+ protections both locally and statewide. Rolanda's strength lies in her ability to cultivate relationships with legislators and stakeholders, driving positive change.
Kevin Kresch
Director
Kevin is an attorney in Hazel Park and a graduate of Wayne State University Law School, and Oakland University where he studied political science. A proud member of the LGBTQ+ community Kevin brings over a decade of political experience to the Unity Fund board.
Ryan Maffesoli
Director
One of the founding members of Unity Fund, Ryan has been an active member of Unity Fund since its inception. He has spent 20 years in the VFX and animation field with a focus on technology creation and team efficiency through software tooling. Ryan is dedicated to helping increase LGBTQ+ representation in all levels of our government and supporting the LGBTQ+ community in all its expressions and forms.
Joshua Miller
Director & Chair of the Board
Though now an assistant prosecuting attorney in Oakland County by day, Josh’s involvement in and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community long precedes his legal career. He attended college at Oakland University, where he served as treasurer and president of the GSA and on the advisory board of the Students, Administrators, & Faculty for Equality (S.A.F.E.) on Campus Program.
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