We are excited to bring back our Board Member Spotlight  this fall. This month, we are highlighting Pura Strong, who describes herself as a devoted woman of faith, driven by an eager desire to ignite positive change in the lives of others. As a fierce leader, she dedicates her time to advocating for youth and families directly impacted by the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, both of which she experienced as a young person. Along with being a relatively new addition

Tell us a little about yourself. What is your connection to the justice system? My name is Michael D. Davis-Thomas, but most people know me as MDDT. My journey through the juvenile justice and child welfare systems has not only shaped my advocacy but also fueled my dedication to reforming these systems to serve vulnerable youth better.   From an early age, I was more than just a bystander in the justice system; I was directly impacted by it. Having spent over eleven years nav

This month’s Board Member Spotlight  features Dave Bartek, who currently serves as an independent consultant in both the nonprofit and private sectors. This allows him to share his long and deep experience in leadership, employee engagement, strategic development, and business planning, along with team and individual coaching.  Dave has held multiple and varied leadership positions over the last 25 years, coaching and mentoring on the finer points of leadership style and appr

*Note: The material that is mentioned in this interview may be triggering to some individuals. Topics include gun violence, familial loss, and wrongful conviction. Please take care of yourself and proceed with caution as you read. We are excited to share our second Board Member Spotlight , a blog series that showcases the incredible individuals who make up MCYJ’s board of directors. This month features Ronald Simpson-Bey, a national leader in the movement to decarcerate Ameri

We are excited to share our first Board Member Spotlight , a blog series created to showcase the inspiring individuals who make up MCYJ’s board of directors. This month features Paul Elam PhD, the Chief Strategy Officer for the Michigan Public Health Institute , or MPHI, a Michigan-based nonprofit focused on developing solutions to critical public health needs. In his role, Dr. Elam is responsible for helping to diversify MPHI’s portfolio to address cutting-edge issues that a

We are excited to add our first Youth Justice Advocate Profile to highlight the incredible individuals, alongside MCYJ, trying to make a lasting impact for youth in Michigan. This month we’re featuring an interview with Deshawn Leeth, the founder and executive director of Under Dawg Nation (UDN) , a nonprofit dedicated to helping at-risk youth who lack resources to help prevent violence and disengagement from school. His passion and dedication have led to the creation of inn