On August 25, 2024, the YLS partnered with House Representative Donovan McKinney, Senator Stephanie Chang, Young Minds In Transition (Y.M.I.T.), Project Clean Slate, Michigan Families For Fair Care, and others to host a Back to School Resource Fair at Pershing High School from 2pm-5pm. The goal of the event was to provide free resources to Detroit students who may not be able to afford new school items such as the over 400 backpacks that were given away for free. 

The YLS specifically sponsored the food, which covered a food truck that served free specialty meals for all of the guests. Along with the food, as a YLS member, I was able to host a “Q&A” session with guests where they were able to ask legal questions and receive guidance on the next legal steps to help their cases. Along with Project Clean Slate, we were able to direct multiple individuals towards expunging their records to open greater opportunities for them and their families. 

In her commitment to community engagement YLS President, Tanya Cripps-Serra, and her husband and child, came to the event to speak with residents and offer any insight as needed. Thanks to her support, Senator Change and House Representative McKinney would like to partner for future events to bring resources to the community. We also recruited a young lawyer, who happens to be House Representative McKinney’s wife, to future YLS meetings in hope she will join. She, like some other young attorneys, did not realize all the resources the YLS provides and allows access to.  Overall, the event was an overwhelming success and YLS was able to make a difference in the community. Many people who showed were not expecting guidance with their legal issues; however, once there, they began to flood me with questions. I appreciated the opportunity to help so many in such a short time. Thank you YLS. 

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Darnell T. Barton is the current SBM YLS Treasurer as well as a Criminal and Civil Rights Attorney at Barton Law, PLLC.