On April 26, 2025, the MRCC Union Hall in Warren, Michigan, hosted Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: A Second Chance Celebration & Resource Fair—a powerful and purpose- driven event centered on supporting returning citizens and the community organizations that serve them. As a volunteer through the State Bar of Michigan’s Young Lawyers Section, I witnessed firsthand how meaningful and impactful such events can be—not only for those seeking support, but also for the legal professionals who show up to help.

The event connected hundreds of attendees to critical services: housing assistance, employment programs, mental health support, and legal guidance. The Young Lawyers Section provided free legal insight to individuals navigating issues related to past convictions, nonprofit inquiries, and general legal questions. While we did not offer case-specific representation, the goal was to help attendees better understand their rights and identify available legal pathways. From explaining the basics of expungement law to helping nonprofit leaders understand compliance obligations, each conversation was an opportunity to equip someone with tools to move forward. One particularly memorable moment involved a man who had been home for just over a year after incarceration. He was eager to reconnect with his children and rebuild his life but didn’t know where to start. After we talked through his concerns and discussed how to pursue expungement and restoration of his driver’s license, his posture shifted—less hesitant, more hopeful. That brief exchange reinforced something I already knew: access to legal knowledge can be a catalyst for meaningful change.

In the afternoon, a panel discussion brought together state representatives, community advocates, and individuals with lived experience to address reentry reform and systemic challenges. The dialogue was thoughtful and solution-oriented, highlighting the barriers that persist, and the legal and legislative work still needed to ensure returning citizens are not permanently locked out of opportunity. It was clear that lasting reform requires continued engagement from both the legal community and the public at large.

As young lawyers, we often get caught up in our practice areas and the day-to-day demands of legal work. However, community events like this remind us why we entered the profession in the first place—to serve. Regardless of whether you practice family law, corporate law, or litigation, your skills can have a direct impact on someone’s future when shared in the right space.

Breaking Barriers, Building Futures was not just a resource fair—it was a real-time demonstration of how the legal profession can stand in solidarity with those working to overcome systemic obstacles. For me, the event reinforced the importance of presence, humility, and action. I left the hall that day with a renewed commitment to making myself—and my knowledge—more accessible to those who need it most.

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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.