Lisa Coney is entering her third decade as a school social worker, but she hesitates to describe students as “at risk,” which is a common term in her profession.
“I call it ‘an opportunity,’ an opportunity to have a better outcome in life,” she explains.
“Meet people where they are, and respect the journeys they have taken,” she adds, describing her approach to her mission. “Allow them to develop a relationship that is one of trust and confidentiality. Always make sure to be nonjudgmental.”
And what about times when a teen still may stray on a harmful path, in spite of her best efforts? Fruitless? Hopeless?
“I don’t see things in that way,” Coney responds. “Even when I don’t see immediate change, I know I may have said something that’s going to stick with them.”
She served 17 years with Saginaw Public Schools in an array of capacities, starting as school social worker and then building liaison and project manager for various “safe schools” initiatives. She started and led training sessions for staff, students, parents and local partners in such areas as restorative practices, social/emotional health and wellness, and substance abuse education and prevention.
Since 2017, Lisa has worked with the countywide Saginaw Intermediate School District, where she is the school social worker and transition coordinator at the county’s Juvenile Detention Center School. This outreach serves the city district and 11 others within the SISD that cover the suburbs and the outlying smaller towns, where concerns with children and adolescents and teens also exist.
Lisa was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama. She graduated from Robert E. Lee High School, named for the Civil War general, and moved to Saginaw among family and friends to pursue her educational endeavors. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Saginaw Valley State University and a master’s from, Eastern Michigan University. She went on to receive her certification from the University of Michigan, and currently holds a state license as a master social worker.
During the middle 1980s, Coney launched her studies at Delta College with the intent to pursue a career in K-12 teaching. For her first on-site visit, she was assigned to the Saginaw High School classroom of Marshall Thomas, the now-legendary educator and coach.
“I don’t know that he remembers me,” she says with modestly. “There were two in the class — one male, one female — who appeared to be stressed. Mister Thomas, of course, was responsible for the entire group, but I was in a position to take these two aside and to attempt to communicate with them. From that experience, I decided I might be better fit to work in those sorts of smaller settings.”
Mobile previously was a civil rights stronghold for the historic 1955 bus boycott. Lisa’s experiences help her to appreciate that some of the young people under her guidance also come from difficult circumstances.
“Some people blame the victim,” she explains. “They say, ‘It’s all their fault. If they would just do this or do that, they would do better.’ But many times, they are the survivors of generational traumas and failed systems.”
She adds, “My purpose and passion is to help others, especially with the opportunity for young people to find their purpose and to find hope for a better future.”
Lisa has volunteered as secretary with the Saginaw NAACP, and also with the Saginaw Housing Commission and with jury selection at the courthouse. Her community and professional awards include 2005 Soror of the Year from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Eta Upsilon Omega, 2018 Community Leadership Award from the Chi Xi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and 2021 Orange Frog Happiness Advantage, bringing positivity to the workplace and an equity campaign to create a culture of diversity and inclusion.
She is co-founder of Saginaw Sorority Sisters, where the mission is to identify women of color within the Saginaw community to run for elected positions and support their endeavors for appointment to boards and commissions.
She is most proud that her two daughters, Andrea and Imani, have completed college and have launched successful careers. She is especially proud of the title “MeMe” as called by her grandson, Jameson.
