As one of the original employees at Clark Park, Dora Anaya has helped to cement the community aspect of sports programming since 1998. Previously, she worked as an assistant teacher at the schools Holy Redeemer for two years and Maybury elementary for eight. Her own kids wanted to play sports, which brought Ms. Anaya to the park herself. Now, after her kids have graduated, they regularly volunteer at the park and give back to their community. She has helped build the soccer program, which is affiliated with Detroit Pal, to include around 300 kids each year. She is a part of the HEE healthy eating everyday program and active living program, and through the National Kidney Foundation she facilitated nutrition classes for the kids of Clark Park. As an integral part of a predominantly Spanish-speaking area, Ms. Anaya leverages relationships with the senior centers, schools, and community groups in an effort to connect southwest families to one another and create positive adult role models for the children of the community.
