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Deputy Assistant Director - Office of Partnership and Engagement from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

Panelist

Valentina Seeley is currently the acting Deputy Assistant Director at the DHS/HSI -Office of Partnership and Engagement (OPE) and OPE North Region Director responsible for stakeholder engagement, education, community messaging, community relations, and management of the Victims Engagement and Services line/assistance. She directly handles and supports local engagement activities for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and other local components.

Mrs. Seeley has over 25 years of combined legal, program management/HR, communications, and community relations experience. She began her legal career in 1999 in the Metro-Detroit area as an Immigration Attorney gradually expanding her focus to General Practice including family law, estate planning, and general civil litigation. She joined the federal government in 2009. She was employed with U.S. Department of State as an Adjudication Program Manager directing and managing the agency’s local adjudication passport program and agency staff in Detroit, Michigan.

In 2016 she joined the DHS/HIS - Office of Partnership and Engagement (OPE). Since joining OPE, Mrs. Seeley has participated in hundreds of community/stakeholder engagements, panel discussions,  and specialized trainings supporting local and HQ programs/policies on a variety of topics including human trafficking, cyber safety, community/police relations, victim assistance services and support, immigration priorities/policies, and numerous other law enforcement related priorities.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Michigan - Dearborn with a double major in Political Science and Hispanic Studies & Spanish and a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Detroit Mercy College of Law.

Commanding Officer of Major Crimes - Detroit Police Department

Panelist

Commander Kimberly M. Blackwell, a 28 year veteran of The Detroit Police Department, is currently the Commanding Officer of Major Crimes.

Blackwell is a proven leader! During her tenure, she has worked at the following Bureaus/Precincts/Units: 8th Precinct, Recruiting Unit, Executive Protection Unit, 12th Precinct, Internal Affairs Unit, Criminal Investigations Bureau, Detective Bureau, Support Services Bureau, City Council Executive Protection Unit, Chief’s Neighborhood Liaison Unit, Tactical Operations Unit, 11th Precinct, Special Victims Unit, and the 10th Precinct.

Born, raised, and educated in the city of Detroit, Commander Blackwell is a proud graduate of, as she refers to it, “The Cass Technical High School.” She furthered her education earning a Bachelor of Business Administration, and a Master of Business Leadership from Cleary University, with Summa Cum Laude honors.

Giving back to the community she grew up in is important to Blackwell that’s why she spends countless hours meeting with organized neighborhood groups which includes seniors, crime victims, the mental health community and our city’s youth. She also address quality of life issues, and educates teens on “How to Survive the Stop” -- encountering law enforcement while driving.

At the end of a long day, once she hangs up her uniform she becomes just “Kim,” a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and a trusted friend. She loves fashion, food and most of all she is a child of God.

Kim is the proud mother of 16 year-old twin boys, she has a twin sister, two other siblings and is the daughter of former Detroit Police Chief Chester Logan.

Those that know her well all have the same comments as it pertains to Kim’s character, “she is so nice,” she is so real,” she has never changed,” “she’s hilarious,” “she will do anything for you,” “she’s intelligent” and “she’s so much more than a pretty face.” Kim makes everyone feel as if she’s their best friend.