News & Stories
Second Chances for Stronger Futures
Photo credit: Michigan Indian Legal Services
Image description: Two MILS staff members, Jeannie Brooks and Emma White Crow, working together in an office setting. Jeannie is wearing glasses and a green plaid shirt and is leaning toward a computer screen, smiling. Emma, seated in a black top, also wears glasses and smiles warmly. Behind them, a bulletin board is filled with papers, calendars, and notices.
With a mission to improve the lives of Native American peoples, families, and communities through legal assistance and advocacy, Michigan Indian Legal Services (MILS) has been serving the northwestern Michigan area since 1975.
MILS attorneys help individuals address the legal ramifications that have arisen due to unresolved generational and historical trauma, addiction, abuse, and more. For years, the nonprofit has also provided expungement services, but in 2021, when Michigan’s amended “Clean Slate” legislation came into effect, the organization took on even more cases.
“Setting aside eligible convictions improves employment opportunities, increases pay rates, and improves employment statuses, which especially impact women of color,” said Cameron Fraser, attorney and MILS Executive Director. “Additional positive life impacts include improved housing, the ability to afford nutritious food, improved access to healthcare, and more education opportunities. By removing the barriers created by old convictions, individuals are better equipped to participate fully in society.”
To adequately fund its expungement project, MILS applied for Community Foundation grant funding for the first time in its history.
“MILS began looking for additional funding to meet the needs of the clients we were serving in this area,” shared Cameron. “The fit between the Community Foundation’s diversity, equity, and inclusion funding goals and the goals of the expungement project aligned perfectly.”
In both 2022 and 2023, MILS received diversity, equity, and inclusion grant awards, enabling the local nonprofit to move its expungement project forward and create accessible educational materials. The first grant specifically funded the work, events, and costs associated with seeking expungements, while the second grant supported the creation of self-help and educational materials focused on topics such as Tribal law, identity theft, welfare, housing, evictions, and healthcare. MILS also received a diversity, equity, and inclusion grant earlier this year for education and outreach to Tribal survivors of domestic violence.
“With grant funds from the Community Foundation, we were able to create a uniform format for our educational materials to ensure maximum accessibility for those with learning and visual disabilities,” said Cameron. “We are continually developing more materials for our website.”
Thanks to MILS’ dedication and efforts, individuals and families are on the path to healing and improving their lives. MILS’ expungement project and public resources promote education and second chances, and our diversity, equity, and inclusion grant support has helped community members receive clean slates for a fresh start.
Story contributor: Alex Dailey