Last week, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order No. 2022-7, which recreates the Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice in the Department of Health and Human Services.
“As chair of Michigan’s Juvenile Justice Task Force, I am proud of the progress we have made recently to close equity gaps in our juvenile justice system, reduce recidivism, and create opportunity for young people,” said Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “Today’s executive order will help us build on this progress, implement a data-driven approach to juvenile justice reform, and continue to make a difference for young people in communities across Michigan. I want to congratulate every member appointed today and welcome you to the task force. Together, Governor Whitmer and I are committed to putting Michiganders first and building a more equitable and prosperous Michigan where every young person has the resources they need to succeed.”
Executive Order No. 2022-7 abolishes the current Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice created by Executive Order No. 2017-12 and recreates the committee in alignment with the requirements of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. Under the executive order, the committee is tasked with the development and review of the state’s juvenile justice plan. Following the release of recommendations from governor’s Juvenile Justice Reform Task Force, the new Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice will include a tribal representative and increases representation of community-based services and supports for young people.
“I am excited that Governor Whitmer has issued an executive order re-constituting the Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice,” said Bob Higgins, chair of the Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice. “I look forward to working with my fellow committee members to ensure that we have an equitable juvenile justice system that supports our young people, their families, and communities.”
The governor appointed the following members to the committee:
• Maricela G. Alcala, of Kalamazoo, is the CEO of Gryphon Place, a southwest Michigan crisis intervention and community resource organization. Alcala is appointed to represent individuals with expertise and competence in addressing problems related to school violence and vandalism, including alternatives to suspension and expulsion. She will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2023.
• Kaj W. Althaus, of Saline, is a project coordinator for Live6 Detroit. He earned a Master of Public Policy in Criminal and Juvenile Justice from Pennsylvania State University. Althaus is appointed to represent members under the age of 28 at the time of initial appointment. He will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2024.
• Angela Aufdemberge, of Grosse Pointe Shores, is the president and CEO of Vista Maria, a non-profit child welfare agency that provides specialized residential treatment and community-based programming to children and families. Aufdemberge is appointed to represent victim or witness advocacy groups with expertise in addressing the challenges of sexual abuse and exploitation and trauma, particularly the needs of youth who experience of sexual abuse, exploitation, and trauma before entering the juvenile justice system. She will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2026.
• Nancy Becker Bennett, of Okemos, is the director of the grants and community services division for the Michigan State Police. Becker Bennett is appointed to represent public agencies concerned with delinquency prevention or treatment. She will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2023.
• Rayonte Bell, of Benton Harbor, is a county commissioner for Berrien County and the deputy director of Berrien Forward. Bell is appointed to represent a locally elected official representing general purpose local government and members under 28 at the time of initial appointment. He will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2024.
• Laura Benjamins, M.D., of Grosse Pointe Farms, is a professor for the Wayne State University Department of Pediatrics. Benjamins is appointed to represent licensed individuals with experience in preventing and addressing mental health and substance abuse needs in delinquent youth and youth at risk of delinquency. She will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2025.
• Jose M. Burgos, of Ecorse, is a reentry specialist for the State Appellate Defenders Office. Burgos is appointed to represent members must have lived experience with the juvenile justice system, either as juveniles under the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system, or as parents or guardians. He will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2026.
• John J. Casteel, of Plymouth, is a founding member of the Western Wayne County Care Management Organization Juvenile Advisory Council. He works as a technician with Aptive Environmental. Casteel is appointed to represent members must have lived experience with the juvenile justice system, either as juveniles under the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system, or as parents or guardians of someone under the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system and members under 28 at the initial time of appointment. He will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2025.
• Cecilia J. Chesney, of Traverse City, is the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan. Chesney is appointed to represent programs that provide alternatives to incarceration, including programs providing organized recreation activities. She will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2023.
• Cameron Clark, of Honor, is the court administrator and director of youth services for the 19th Circuit Court of Manistee County. Clark is appointed to represent public agencies concerned with delinquency prevention or treatment. He will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2026.
• Natalya A. Henderson, of Detroit, is a constituent affairs representative for Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence and an operation liaison for the Detroit Landbank Authority. She founded a female mentoring program called Sophisticated She and served as a youth program coordinator for Meaningful Power. Henderson is appointed to represent members under the age of 28 at the time of initial appointment. She will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2023.
• Bob Higgins, of Portage, is a former educator and safe schools consultant for the Michigan Department of Education. Higgins is appointed to represent individuals with expertise and competence in addressing problems related to school violence and vandalism, including alternatives to suspension and expulsion. He will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2026. The governor has designated Higgins to serve as chair of the Commission.
• Claudnyse D. Holloman, of Waterford, is the president and CEO of Voices for Children Advocacy Center in Flint. Holloman is appointed to represent private nonprofit organizations. She will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2026.
• Sandra M. Lindsey, of Lathrup Village, is the executive director of the Saginaw County Mental Health Authority. Lindsey is appointed to represent licensed individuals with experience in preventing and addressing mental health and substance abuse needs in delinquent youth and youth at risk of delinquency. She will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2024.
• Allie Greenleaf Maldonado, of Petoskey, is the chief judge of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, where she presides over juvenile justice cases, drug court, and juvenile drug court. Greenleaf Maldonado is appointed to represent individuals with expertise in tribal law enforcement and juvenile justice in tribal communities. She will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2026.
• Manda Mitteer-Maki, of Fruitport, is the deputy chief public defender for the Muskegon County Public Defender’s Office. Mitteer-Maki is appointed to represent attorneys who represent children and youth. She will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2025.
• Marcela L. Moralez-Morris, of Caledonia, is the juvenile services manager for the 17th Circuit Court Family Division on Kent County. Moralez-Morris is appointed to represent probation professionals. She will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2026.
• Brian Philson, of Onondaga, is the president and CEO of Highfields Inc. Philson is appointed to represent private nonprofit organizations. He will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2025.
• Sarah Prout Rennie, of Berkley, is the executive director of the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. Prout Rennie is appointed to represent victim or witness advocacy groups. She will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2026.
• MaryAnn Sarosi, of Ann Arbor, is the principal of Sarosi Group and a volunteer with the Washtenaw Equity Partnership. Sarosi is appointed to represent volunteers who work with delinquent youth or youth at risk of delinquency. She will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2024.
• Ali Sayed, of Dearborn Heights, is the CEO of HYPE Athletics, an organization that supports youth through athletics, tutoring, and social awareness. Sayed is appointed to represent programs that provide alternatives to incarceration, including programs providing organized recreation activities. He will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2025.
• Namita Sharma, of Kalamazoo, is a family court judge with the 8th District Court of Kalamazoo County. Sharma is appointed to represent juvenile or family court judges. She will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2026.
• Richard L. Smart III, of Southfield, is recently retired after serving as the deputy court administrator for the 3rd Circuit Court Juvenile Division. He is a current member of the Brilliant Detroit Board of Directors and Executive Committee and is a mentor for the Southfield Kappa League where he mentors high school students. Smart is appointed to represent volunteers who work with delinquent youth or youth at risk of delinquency. He will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2026.
• Jason A. Smith, of Ann Arbor, is the executive director of the Michigan Center for Youth Justice. Smith is appointed to represent private nonprofit organizations. He will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2026.
• Deandrea White, of Detroit, is a project analyst for the City of Detroit Mayor’s Office. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations, Policy, and Criminal Justice from Michigan State University. White is appointed to represent members under the age of 28 at the time of initial appointment. She will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2024.
• Cole Williams, of Grand Rapids, is a parenting consultant for the family courts of Kent and Ottawa Counties and the founder of The Delta Project. Williams is appointed to represent members must have lived experience with the juvenile justice system, either as juveniles under the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system, or as parents or guardians of someone under the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system. He will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2026.
• Jamie J. Wisniewski, of Adrian, is the chief assistant prosecutor for Hillsdale County, where she handles all the juvenile and abuse and neglect dockets. Wisniewski is appointed to represent prosecutors. She will serve for a term commencing August 2, 2022 and expiring August 2, 2023.
These appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
