VIDEOS

The Ascend Foundation and other corporations teamed up with Pontiac School District to put on this MEGA EVENT in the City of Pontiac, Michigan!!!

FSSA & Ascend Foundation along with some other corporate sponsors and philanthropist came together for our 5th year of providing food to some desolate mountain regions in the Dominican and building water wells for villages that don't have access to fresh running water.

For more go to www.oc115.com and search for Ascend Foundation

Mr. Kaino Phillips is a Pontiac product born and raised. He is the son of the late Mayor Clarence Phillips and Life Long educator, Lorene Phillips. After attending and graduating from Pontiac Northern High School, Kaino took his educational endeavors down to Grambling State University in Louisiana where he matriculated in the educational concentration of Pre-Law (Political Science and Mass Communications). It was during that duration where he catapulted into multiple leadership roles: President of the Student Affairs Commission, President of the Student Senate, Student President of Judicial as well as the Student Government Association Vice President to name a few. Upon graduating, he returned to Michigan where he continued his passion for change and upliftment. He did that by engaging in multiple leadership roles within numerous organizations within the walls of his community. These positions past and present include: Executive Mentor with the Youth Challenge Academy of Michigan, Mayoral Transitional Board, Graduate Advisor at Oakland University, Executive Board Member for The Young Adults for Change, Graduate Advisor for the Pan Hellenic Council at Oakland University , Executive Board Member of the Pan Hellenic Council as well as the Director of Membership Intake for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. to name a few. The one involvement that he prides himself on most is his many years of being a Motivational Speaker. Professionally, he has been in the field of corporate sales and management for close to 19 years. Engaging the youth has always been the pinnacle of his passion, Kaino lives by the belief that, “You shouldn’t complain about a problem unless you are willing to engage the problem.” “If you choose not to take actions then you have cast yourself in the role of an enabler and you forfeit your right to complain.” “Embrace your gifts and use them to make a difference.”

Kaino Phillips on the Pontiac High School Career Fair By: Tim Thompson - Tim Thompson, Photo Editor of The Oakland Press. Started in 1976. Published on: March 11, 2015 Source: http://www.tout.com/m/3jl2ty

Kaino Phillips of the Clearance Phillips Ascend foundation talks about holiday charity. Project going for two years By: John Turk - Police, Oakland County Board of Commissioners and general assignment reporter for The Oakland Press. Check the touts. Published on: December 21, 2014 Source: http://www.tout.com/m/0yxf4g

Former Mayor Clarence E. Phillips was born, raised and received his formal education in the city of Pontiac. He was a graduate of Pontiac Central High School. He was married to Lorene Phillips and had two sons, Kaino and Damani. Mayor Phillips served 4 years in the U.S. Air Force and is a Vietnam era veteran. His military record includes service of 10 years in the air force reserve as a human relations instructor. He was a graduate of the department of defense equal opportunity and management institute. He earned Associates in Arts degree from Oakland Community College, a B.A. in Sociology/Psychology from Oakland University and a B.A. in Secondary Education from Oakland University. Now retired, he taught for 25 years in the Oak Park School District. For seven of those years was director of the Alternative Education Center in Oak Park. His political background includes being a John F. Kennedy alumnus at Harvard University, 3 times elected to the Pontiac City Council, 3 years served as President of the Pontiac City Council, served on the city of Pontiac planning commission for 14 years. He was elected 3 times to the Michigan House of Representatives where he served on the House Appropriations Committee and in 2005 was elected mayor of the city of Pontiac. He served as mayor until 2009. Clarence Phillips was a member of the Oakland County Veterans group, Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion Post 20, and Kiwanis Club. He volunteered 25 years with the Pontiac schools’ athletic programs, serving as stadium public address announcer for the PCH/PNH football games, coached softball/baseball for 15 years and organizeda city wide free law fair. Additionally, he created the concept for the newly built Veterans Memorial in Pontiac, organized the Old Timers Annual Summer Picnic, the Pontiac Center Reunion and created the Annual Metro-Michigan High School Jazz Band Competition for high schools all over the state of Michigan. He was the recipient of numerous awards including the LCLAA Cesar E. Chavez Humanitarian Award, Lakeside Achievement Award, the Black History Month Service Award, the Greater Pontiac Community Coalition Award, the OCC Alumni of the Year Award, the American Legion’s Americanism Medal (highest award), and created "Community Perspectives ", a public service program on the state level generated out of the Capitol Building in Lansing for local cable television to name a few. His life's mission was to give all of himself for a purpose so much greater then ones existence. He did that until the day he left this world.