PROFESSIONAL: Economic Development, Banking, and Policy Expertise

With a diverse background in economic development, banking, and policy implementation, I navigate government systems to serve the community and ensure robust governance.

Key Roles and Achievements:

• Community Liaison, Lansing: Bridged communication between the community and local government.

• Policy Analyst & Small Business Developer, Detroit: Developed policies to foster small business growth and community development.

• Founder, Coleman A. Young Airport Task Force: Secured state and federal funding to preserve the airport.

• Business Liaison, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC):
  • Facilitated the opening of Detroit's first black-owned grocery store in over a decade.
  • Secured $1 million in small business investments for Districts 3 and 4.
  • Saved business owners $85,000 in property taxes.

• Commercial Lender, Michigan’s Only African American-Owned Bank: Ensured local small businesses had access to capital.

This background equips me with the skills to address community economic needs, foster business growth, and implement effective policies.

Personal Background - Family and Values

Bivings is the eldest of five siblings, a responsibility he takes seriously. Born and raised on the Westside, he humorously refers to himself as a "Westside Boy." However, he made a conscious decision to begin his career and purchase his first home in the Historic Jefferson Chalmers Neighborhood on the Eastside, earning him the moniker "Eastside Man."

Inspirations and Values

Bivings discovered his passion for policy during his studies at Howard University, particularly inspired by learning about the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. He chooses to be known as Bivings in honor of his grandfather, Thurman Bivings, a determined individual and member of Local 334.

Core Values

From his grandfather, Bivings learned the importance of:

• Hard Work: Embracing the value of a good day's labor.
• Dedication: Understanding that dedication is the key difference between success and failure.

His mother instilled in him a love for reading and critical thinking, empowering him with agency and courage. Through her rendition of "Be a Lion" from the 1977 Wizard of Oz, where she inserted his name, Bivings learned early on to envision himself as a stakeholder in society.