Quion and Chakara Wheeler are a young family committed to our community. Quion, a Flint native and deputy sheriff, is finishing his Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership at Oakland University. Chakara has spent nearly 20 years in Flint, first as an educator and mentor working with young people from preschool through 12th grade, and now as a program officer on the Community Foundation of Greater Flint’s Community Impact team, where she advises our Youth Advisory Committees and supports the Flint Women and Girls Fund. Together, they are raising their daughter Nyomi and, as of this year, are the newest members of the Legacy Society.

We sat down with Quion and Chakara to talk about where they come from, what drives them, and why they decided to include the Community Foundation in their estate plans now, at this point in their lives.

At this stage of life, raising a daughter and still building your careers, what made you start thinking about legacy?

Quion: I have always been a future-oriented person. I’ve learned to appreciate the moment, but I believe planning for the next generation is huge. That is why legacy is important to me.

Chakara: I come from a family that didn’t have the financial means, but we had each other and would give our last. That mindset carried over into adulthood. Now that I have been blessed with greater resources, I feel a responsibility to share them, whether that’s my treasures or my time. As our family has grown and Quion pursues his doctorate, we’ve become more intentional about creating opportunities for others and ensuring the values we live by continue beyond us.

Quion and Chakara Wheeler are the newest members of the Legacy Society. They received their pins at this year's luncheon.

Chakara, you’ve spent your career investing in young people across this community. How does that connect to this decision?

Chakara: I’ve been in Flint for almost 20 years, and throughout much of that time I’ve poured into supporting and developing the leaders of tomorrow. But in recent years I found myself thinking more intentionally about how I would leave my mark when I’m gone. When I started at the Community Foundation, I thought, ‘Wow, this would be the perfect way to leave my mark.’ As I’ve grown in my career in philanthropy and gained a deeper understanding of the power of planned giving, I realized it was time to take the next step. Joining the Legacy Society felt like a natural extension of the work that has guided me throughout my life and career.

Quion, you’re still in the middle of so much, your career, your doctorate. What does it mean to make this kind of commitment now?

Quion: In my younger years, I made commitments without necessarily knowing what the outcome would be. Now that I am older and wiser, I realize the importance of legacy and what it means for a family. It took me almost ten years to decide to go back for my doctorate, and once I weighed it, I knew it was something I wanted to do. I see this commitment no differently, and I am looking forward to what it will bring.

Nyomi, Quion, and Chakara Wheeler

When you think about Nyomi and the community she’ll grow up in, what do you hope this makes possible?

Quion: When I consider my own childhood, I think about the foundational principles my parents instilled in me. I hope Nyomi will grow up proud of where she comes from and what she represents.

Chakara: My hope is that this commitment helps create a community where Nyomi has opportunities to be who she’s destined to be, thrive, and feel connected to something bigger than herself. More than anything, I want her to grow up proud of who and where she comes from, proud of what she represents, and inspired to make a positive impact in the community she lives and serves in.

Is there anything about where you come from that shaped how you think about giving back?

Quion: My entire life has been rooted in service because it is what I saw growing up. Growing up in Flint bred a special type of resilience that can’t be taught. The city’s reputation was always my motivation to strive for greatness. My father used to tell me: ‘You cannot possess what you are unwilling to pursue.’ Whatever you want out of life, you have to pursue it relentlessly or it’s just a dream.

Chakara: I was raised in a big family with big hearts. Community matters, and if you can help someone, you do it. We may not have always had an abundance growing up, but we were surrounded by people who were generous with their time, support, and love. Those experiences taught us that giving is also about showing up for others and investing in their success. Because of our backgrounds and upbringings, we’ve gained a deep appreciation for the people and organizations that helped open doors for us. Giving back is our way of honoring that and expressing gratitude for what we’ve received.

Quion and Chakara Wheeler are members of the Legacy Society of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. To learn more about joining the Legacy Society or including the Community Foundation in your estate plans, contact our Development and Donor Services team at development@cfgf.org or by phone at 810.767.8270.