As the number of MVDC Projects and Programs continues to grow, the five-member Trustee Board decided to commensurately increase its Trustee leadership by adding four new members. Following a formal sequence of recruitment, vetting, nomination and election, we are pleased to announce the election of the following Trustees:
Rev. Ernest Belisle
Since July of 1991, Rev. Belisle has served as Pastor of the Chilmark Community United Methodist Church. Born in Belize and educated both in the West Indies and in the US, he has a broad and deep history of serving communities outside the US in Panama, Jamaica, Belize and Guyana and in the US in New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. His service has been both pastoral as well as in a number of regional church leadership positions.
Joyce Stiles-Tucker
Joyce is a Licensed Social Worker and is Director of the Tisbury Council on Aging. She is active in a variety of volunteer activities including 30 years as an EMT for the town of Tisbury and in administrative support in the ER at Martha’s Vineyard hospital. Her broader range of contributions to her island community includes serving as Vice-president of the Martha’s Vineyard Literacy Board and Board memberships of Hope Dementia & Alzheimer’s Services of Cape Cod & The Islands, Inc., the Cape Cod Needy Fund Board, and the Dukes County Health Council.
Christenia (Chrissie) Laury
Chrissie is Program Coordinator for the Island Wide Youth Collaborative at Martha’s Vineyard Community Services. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in art, she developed a strong background in library services at held positions in several public libraries. Chrissie was previously the Record Management Coordinator for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) where she was responsible for all legal, historical and governmental records for the Wampanoag Tribal Government and Administration. She also served as Transcriptionist for the Wampanoag Health Services, the Tribe’s Environmental Council, the Aquinnah Climate & Energy Committee, and is a current member of the Chappaquiddick Island Environmental Committee.
Michelle Vivian-Jemison
Michelle’s professional focus has been on digital media and engaging island residents with technical support, information and education since she moved to Martha’s Vineyard 14 years ago. For the last 10 years, she has been Instructor and Access Coordinator at MVTV where, in her engagement with people “from 8 to 80”, she has authored many classes and workshops that have created her own technical branding within the community. She has also logged hundreds of hours attending and preparing broadcasts for various Board of Selectmen’s meetings of all six towns as part of MVTV’s service to the community. Before moving to Martha’s Vineyard, Michelle’s professional career consisted of Human Resources Administration, Workers’ Compensation Caseload Administration, and overall Office Administration in various types of businesses. She was also a jazz musician and vocalist for many years.