At Kids Moving & Thriving, our team is committed to upholding our core mission: to create access to affordable, inclusive physical activity programming for K-8 youths throughout greater Kalamazoo. With the aim of ensuring that every child reaches adulthood at a healthy weight, our team works tirelessly to create, promote, and host a range of events, from family relays and fun runs to triathlon training camps and winter break activities.
Carl Roberts has been a part of Kids Moving & Thriving since its’ inception in 2012. He has served as Co-chairperson from 2012 through 2017.
Carl earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from Western Michigan University. Recently Carl was inducted into the WMU College of Engineering and Applied Science Alumni Excellence Academy.
Carl began his professional career with Eaton Transmission Division in 1968. He retired from BorgWarner in 2007 as Vice President of Engineering for their Thermal Systems Division. He served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972.
Carl has been and remains very active in a number of community service organizations including Kids Moving & Thriving, Mt. Zion Baptist Church Trustee Board, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Scholarship Board, Western Michigan University Engineering Design Technology Department Advisor, WMU National Society of Black Engineers Chapter Advisor, WMU Human Subjects Institutional Review Board and Kalamazoo County Land Bank Board.
Carl is happily married to Mary. They have one son, Edward.
Sandy Barry-Loken joined the Kids Moving & Thriving Board in 2019. She serves as Vice President for Grants at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. She previously served as the Director of Greater Kalamazoo Girls on the Run and worked in higher education prior. Sandy serves as a co-chair and founding member of KZCF’s Anti-Racism Transformation Team and serves on the Advisory Board of the Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care. She earned a master’s degree in Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations. Sandy is an avid runner and believes in the power of movement to foster healthy mind, body and spirit. She is married to Brian and they have 3 children – Nicholas, Carly and Mallory.
