Karen Tyler-Ruiz, serves as the second Executive Director of the Center for Community-Based Enterprise, Inc, in Detroit Michigan. C2BE supports the creation of people-centered businesses, cooperatives, community and worker-owned enterprises, that are owned and run by their members. Worker-owners have an equal say in what their organization does and how it generates and uses profits. Tyler-Ruiz has spent the last 20 years of her career in community wealth building, constructing practical frameworks and strategies in support of Detroiters and Metro-Detroiters like herself. She believes every individual should be able to be housed, to work, and to earn with dignity and an in a way that supports a quality life for our families and local communities. Tyler-Ruiz’s collaborative accomplishments include brining a model to Detroit that tangibly increases an individual’s income by triaging hard & soft skill building, access to benefits, and 1:1 financial coaching. She catalyzed the creation of a construction pre-apprenticeship program bringing together unions and philanthropy focused on getting Detroiters into the unionized skilled construction trades which is now embedded in Detroit’s public workforce system. Tyler-Ruiz is fully bilingual English/Spanish with significant international experience and holds a B.A. from Grinnell College. Some of her credentials include being a 2021 graduate of Detroit Equity Action Lab, a fellowship of Wayne State University’s Law School; a 2020 graduate and student of the Landmark curriculum for living; a 2021 graduate of CooperationWorks! Co-op Toolkit Implementation; a 2017 Crain’s Leadership Academy Alumnus; and also holds a Housing Finance Professional certification from the National Development Council.