Stacy Stout values relationships, justice, community and her cultural roots. One way she demonstrates these values is by volunteering as a K-Connect board trustee, member of the GRPS Native American Education Program (NAEP) Parent Committee, service on numerous diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) committees, co-founder and active member of LatinxGR – a collaborative of five local Latinx led and focused organizations, and is a co-founder and board member of the Latina Network of West Michigan.  The Latina Network is a source of inspiration, healing, growth, support and community for Stacy and her young daughters who consider themselves “junior members” and pre-COVID, attended most Network gatherings and planning meetings with their mom. 

In professional settings, she lives these values as the Director of Equity and Engagement with the City of Grand Rapids and oversees the City’s community engagement, DEI strategies, framework, policies, and training. She also provides executive strategic leadership to embed equity into policy and practice throughout the organization for long-term change. Stacy brings a strong racial equity and community lens to the work, pulling on her lived experience and training as a former Michigan team member with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Dean of Students at Burton Middle School with Grand Rapids Public Schools, Education Director with the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan, and as the former Freshmen Academy Coordinator with Grand Valley State University working with incoming students of color.

She has been recognized with the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce ATHENA Youth Professional award, Young Professional of the Year award by the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber, Community Improvement award by the Grand Rapids Young Professionals, GR Business Journal’s 40 Under Forty designation, one of the 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan and received the 2018 national #NGen Leadership Award from the Independent Sector. She earned both her undergraduate degree in biology and her master’s degree in public administration with an emphasis in nonprofit leadership and management from Grand Valley State University. The recognition she values the most are messages and updates she receives from former students and youth she worked with through her various roles.

She resides in Grand Rapids with her partner, children and dog, Luna. Stacy, a self-proclaimed outgoing introvert, enjoys reading books by women authors of color, camping, strong coffee, laughing, baking, beach going, hosting get-togethers, trying new foods, gardening, and attending cultural events such as festivals, speakers and indigenous gatherings.