Reneé Fluker, founder and president of Midnight Golf in Detroit, MI has been announced as a speaker at the 2nd annual African American Golf Expo & Forum, August 27-31 in Charlotte, NC, at the Embassy Suites in Concord, NC. Jim Beatty, founder and organizer of the EXPO stated, “Reneé will share insights on how she built Midnight Golf into a nationally recognized community-based program.” The inaugural EXPO held last year in Atlanta drew over 450 people and had an economic impact of $700,000.
“Hotel rooms blocked for the 5-day event are quickly filling up and those wishing to attend the event should register and make their room reservations immediately,” stated Jim. HOTEL MUST BE BOOKED BY JULY 1, 2022 TO GET THE LOWEST RATE AVAILABLE. To register go to www. aagolfexpo.com/register-here
Reneé in her role oversees daily program operations and manages all phases of donor relations. She spends her evenings mentoring 250 metro-Detroit high school seniors each week. Since 2001, over 3900 students have matriculated through the program, with 90% enrolling in college.
The Midnight Golf Program started with 17 students meeting at Franklin-Wright Settlements, a small community center in Detroit, to learn golf skills. Today, the program has expanded to a 30-week curriculum for two cohorts that has helped thousands of metro Detroit’s at-risk high school students enter college and various professional careers. Students are educated on topics including financial literacy, college readiness and community activism—while being exposed to the game of golf.
A graduate of Wayne State University, Reneé uses her social work background to support students’ progression through the program. After 35 years of service, she retired from the Michigan Department of Human Services. She is a lifetime member of the NAACP and was inducted into the African American Golfers Hall of Fame.
Reneé is a member of the Michigan Chronicle Women of Excellence class of 2015, a 2016 Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated Women of Distinction Honoree, and received the 2017 Community Impact Award from the Wolverine Bar Association. Also in 2017, Reneé was named one of the Gary Burnstein Clinic’s Esteemed Women of Michigan and received the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Detroit: Irvin F. Swider Eternal Flame Award.
Reneé was named one of Crain’s 2018 Notable Women in Nonprofits and was selected for the McGregor Fund’s 2019 Miller Fellowship through which she embarked on a year-long sabbatical. In 2019, she was named one of the Payne-Pulliam School’s Women of the Year and was recognized as the Citizen of the Year by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated.
In 2020, Reneé was honored with the Community Enrichment Award by the General Motors African Ancestry Network, and in 2021 received the Community Service Award from the Ford Employees African Ancestry Network. She serves on the advisory board for African American Golfer’s Digest and the Gasper Financial Group Board of Advisors.
Reneé has a son, Jason, daughter-in-law, Christianne, and granddaughter, Jenavieve.
ABOUT MIDNIGHT GOLF
MGP has been acclaimed for its impact on the lives of at-risk youth in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Golf Magazine, and CNN. It is heralded in the community as a pillar of hope for students who do not typically have access to the professional and life skill development resources this program offers. With all of the praise, MGP receives the most poignant example of its transformative power on the lives of youth and its alumni who graduate from college and go on to the careers of their dreams.
ABOUT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN GOLF EXPO AND FORUM
The mission of the African American Golf EXPO and Forum is to promote the game, the business the industry the careers and the opportunities in the $84 Billion golf industry to African Americans.
The objectives of the EXPO are to:
- Promote Economic growth, diversity and inclusion in golf to African Americans and other underrepresented groups
- Provide a friendly and welcoming environment for golf industry leaders to develop relationships with African Americans who are entrepreneurs, community programmers and golf enthusiasts.
- Help grow the industry by featuring subject matter experts in learning forums, seminars and networking opportunities
- Provide funding to grassroots organizations involved in teaching and promoting golf to the African American community.
