Detroit is taking proactive steps to better serve its veteran community. Mayor Mike Duggan, along with Council Members Mary Waters and Scott Benson, have passed a resolution to establish an executive-level Veterans Affairs division within the Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity Department (CRIO). According to an official announcement by the City of Detroit, the division's goal is to connect veterans and military personnel to essential resources and benefits.
Recently appointed to lead the charge is Kwesi Betserai, officially titled the city's first Veterans Affairs Manager. "Our first order of business was to hire a Veterans Affairs Manager to spearhead strategies to inform our communities about the resources available to them," Anthony Zander, Director of CRIO, told the City of Detroit. Betserai, bringing over 28 years of military service, is set to bridge gaps between veterans and various services including jobs, housing, education, and health care. His extensive background includes serving in various operational capacities in the Middle East and, most recently, managing services for Wayne County's Veterans Services Division.
Betserai outlined his approach, noting the use of a data-driven methodology. "I am a data guy, so I’m driven by the numbers that tell me who and where our veterans are, what they need and how I can connect them with our services," Betserai expressed. His preliminary strategy includes organizing meet-and-greets and town hall sessions, aiming to directly listen to the community's needs before drafting a comprehensive plan to address them, as detailed in the city's announcement.
The CRIO, now expanding with the addition of the Veterans Affairs division, highlights Detroit's focus on civil rights and inclusion initiatives. The department oversees areas such as Civil Rights, Construction Outreach, Communications & Engagement, and specialized areas like the Office of Cannabis Affairs. With Betserai leading the new division, the goal is to support the approximately 84,500 veterans in Wayne County by improving access to and awareness of available benefits and resources.
