Rt. Rev. Dr. Bonnie A. Perry of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Bonnie A. Perry is the 11th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. Following her consecration in February 2020, she made history as the first woman and openly lesbian bishop in Michigan. Her position oversees a diverse diocese of 76 worshipping communities and more than 14,000 baptized members. The diocese encompasses the Detroit metropolitan area and adjacent regions that stretch as far west as Lansing, Jackson, and Hillsdale.
Bishop Perry serves with a passion for congregational vitality, believing that all communities of faith should be relevant and engaged with their neighborhoods. She expanded the diocese’s race relations work and launched the Spirituality and Race Mission, which focuses on exploring issues of racial equity within the context of spiritual redemption. Recognized as a leader in the movement toward sensible and safe gun culture, Perry was elected a co-convener of Bishop’s United Against Gun Violence and co-founded End Gun Violence Michigan. Her expression of ministry also gives focus for equality in voting rights and LGBTQ+ full inclusion worldwide. In November 2023, she was appointed to serve on Michigan’s first-ever statewide LGBTQ+ Commission by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Bishop Perry resides in Detroit with her spouse, The Rev. Dr. M. Susan Harlow, a United Church of Christ pastor. They have two Australian Shepherds, Tali, and Jasper. When not busy as bishop, Bishop Perry is coaching and guiding sea kayak trips in the Great Lakes, off the coast of Mexico and the Scottish Islands.
Former Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence
Former Congresswoman Brenda L. Lawrence represented Michigan’s 14th Congressional District that included a portion of Detroit, the City of Southfield and 16 other cities located in Oakland and Wayne counties. Living in the 14th District her entire life, she was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November of 2014 and had been re-elected in 2016, 2018, and 2020. Upon her fourth term's expiration Brenda retired in 2023.
Former Congresswoman Lawrence served as Co-Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, 2nd Vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations. Also, she served as the Vice Chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee and on the subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services (LHHS), subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) and the subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG)and as a member of the House Committee on Government Oversight and Reform where she served on the subcommittee on Government Operations.
Born and raised in Detroit, Former Congresswoman Lawrence is a product of Michigan’s public-school system. She is an alumna of Pershing High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan University. Before she began her career in public service, the Congresswoman had a notable 30-year career with the U.S. Postal Service.
In November of 2001, Congresswoman was elected as Mayor of the City of Southfield. She was the first African American and the first woman to serve in that position. She previously served on the Southfield City Council, where she was elected President in 1999. Additionally, she sat on the Southfield Public School Board of Education where she served as President, Vice President, and Secretary.
Today, Brenda has "rewired" and serves as the Executive Director for the Spill the Honey Foundation, an organization dedicated to strengthening ties between the Black and Jewish communities.
Dan Korobkin, Legal Director ACLU of Michigan
Dan Korobkin became legal director of the ACLU of Michigan in 2019. He has been an ACLU of Michigan attorney since 2008, and served as deputy legal director for five years. His civil rights advocacy and leadership spans a wide range of issues, from criminal law reform to LGBTQ+ rights to freedom of speech and religion.
Dan’s passion for civil rights and civil liberties stretches back to 2002, when he helped the United States Department of Justice investigate systemic civil rights violations involving local law enforcement agencies and juvenile detention facilities. Later that year he became an investigator for the Public Defender Service of the District of Columbia, where he worked on major felony cases in support of that agency’s mission to deliver equal justice under law. The following summer he worked on death penalty cases in Alabama, Arkansas and Louisiana for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
In Michigan, Dan has been a leader in the ACLU of Michigan’s work to end juvenile life without parole, having litigated the pathbreaking Hill v. Snyder class action lawsuit from 2010 until a settlement was reached in 2020. He also helped spearhead the ACLU of Michigan’s debtor’s prison work, known for challenging the unconstitutional “pay or stay” sentencing practices in local courts.
More recently, Dan supervised the ACLU of Michigan’s class action lawsuit challenging bail practices in Detroit’s 36th District Court. In 2022, he argued and won Johnson v. VanderKooi, in which the Michigan Supreme Court held unconstitutional the Grand Rapids Police Department’s policy of taking people’s fingerprints when they had not been charged with a crime.
Dan also represented a class of schoolchildren seeking special education services in the wake of the Flint Water Crisis, and he was on the legal team representing Aimee Stephens, a transgender woman whose employment discrimination case led to a historic victory in the U.S. Supreme Court in 2020. In 2021, Dan was recognized as Lawyer of the Year by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Korobkin has a law degree from Yale Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College. Prior to working at the ACLU, Korobkin served as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge Myron H. Thompson in Montgomery, Alabama and to Judge Robert D. Sack on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He grew up in Ann Arbor.
Rabbi Jeffrey Falick - Secular Humanistic Rabbi
Secular Humanistic Rabbi Jeffrey L. Falick was appointed in July of 2013 to lead The Birmingham Temple as The Congregation for Humanistic Judaism was then known.
Originally a member of the Reform movement, Rabbi Falick became involved in Secular Humanistic Judaism in 2009 after a lifetime of searching and questioning. His involvement in the movement includes his roles on boards and executive committees of the Association of Humanistic Rabbis and the Society for Humanistic Judaism.
Rabbi Falick received his B.A. (1984) from the University of Texas at Austin, and his M.A. (1987) and ordination (1989) from the Reform movement's Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Subsequently, he served for eleven years as director of Hillel Jewish student centers at universities in Illinois and Miami and for thirteen years as assistant executive director and Jewish educator at the Dave and Mary Alper Jewish Community Center in Miami.
As a Jewish educator, Rabbi Falick has served as a faculty member at numerous schools and programs, including the Melton School and several congregational and community-wide youth programs. He has taught in the FedEd program of the Detroit Federation and is a popular speaker on subjects like "Who Wrote the Bible?" and "The Evolution of God." Rabbi Falick is also very active in the Secular Humanistic world and was recognized for his intra-Humanistic organizational efforts with the 2018 Freethinker of the Year award by the Center for Inquiry—Michigan.
Rabbi Falick is married to Arthur Liebhaber. His children and granchildren, Aliza (Jason) Mann, Jack and Alexandra Mann, and Ilana Falick live in the Baltimore, MD / Washington D.C. metro area.
You can find Rabbi Falick's Newsletter Commentaries at THIS LINK.
Je Donna Dinges, Founder & CEO, Margaux & Max LLC
Je Donna Dinges is the visionary founder and CEO of Margaux & Max, a boutique offering a well curated selection of previously loved fine women’s clothing and accessories. Known for her unwavering commitment to both style and social justice, Dinges has seamlessly integrated her passion for fashion with a dedication to anti-racism and community activism.
At Margaux & Max, Dinges has created more than just a shopping destination; she has created a platform for change. Through intentional partnerships, as well as inclusive customer service policies, and practices, Dinges fosters an environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just ideals, but core principles woven into the fabric of the boutique's identity.
Beyond the world of fashion, Dinges is a tireless advocate for social justice, leading initiatives aimed at dismantling systemic racism and promoting equality in all aspects of society. Whether through organizing community events, participating in advocacy campaigns, or championing new hate crimes legislation, Dinges leverages her platform to effect meaningful change and inspire others to join the fight for justice.
Prior to founding Margaux & Max in 2014, Dinges cultivated a wealth of experience in the fashion industry, as well as working with non-profit organizations, honing her expertise in working with diverse communities. This background, coupled with a deep-seated commitment to social responsibility, has positioned Dinges as a trailblazer in the intersection of fashion and activism.
Committed to making a tangible difference in the lives of marginalized communities, Dinges remains steadfast in her pursuit of a more equitable and inclusive world. Through Margaux & Max, and the Ethnic Intimidation Law Amendment Workgroup, and their advocacy efforts, Dinges continues to inspire positive change, one stylish step at a time.
Stephanie Crider
Stephanie Crider's credentials include National Facilitator for Racial Healing & Solidarity / Talk Show Host / Co-Founder, Police 2 Protectors / President, Crider Consulting Group LLC / LegalShield Independent Associate.
Stephanie writes:
"I empower individuals, schools, and communities by serving as a change agent and advocate.
My passion is encouraging and activating racial healing, solidarity, and justice through class/workshop facilitation, training facilitators, and training leaders to engage in meaningful community conversations.
Agape Social Justice LLC was incorporated to:
*Promote unconditional love, seek truth, and call for justice
*Confront issues that divide us and promote collaboration
*Provide a safe, brave space for difficult conversations
With LegalShield, we proactively protect individuals, families, business owners, and employees with legal, identity theft/restoration, and supplemental plans. Plans are available nationwide.
Nomi Joyrich
Nomi Joyrich is the Michigan Director for Jews for a Secular Democracy (JFASD) and a Consultant for Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network (MUUSJN). Nomi’s work supporting interfaith and social justice issues covers a lifetime of political activism at all levels of government. She holds a Bachelors in Minority-Majority Group Relations and Psychology, and a Masters in Social Work. Following an extensive career as Social Worker for nonprofit organizations and schools, she became a full-time social justice worker with a focus on reproductive justice and voting rights. Nomi helped enshrine reproductive rights into the Michigan constitution, pass a Michigan law to ban child marriage, and remove obstacles to voting in Michigan.
Rev. Horace Sheffield, III
Rev. Horace L. Sheffield, III, was born in Detroit, Michigan during the midst of the civil rights and labor movements. The legacy of his father, Horace L. Sheffield, Jr., who was the president of the Negro American Labor Council (NALC) helped shape and expose him to a great model of servant leadership and prophetic societal challenge. With this foundation social activism has been the driving force in many of his efforts to help move change in the black community.
Rev. Sheffield is the CEO of The Detroit Association of Black Organizations (DABO) where he leads and builds the Detroit community by developing the skills, abilities, and resources that organizations and communities need to be sustainable in this fast-changing world. The organization’s main purpose is to impact and enrich lives across the city of Detroit. DABO has had many successful initiatives under Rev. Sheffield including: COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, blood pressure management, hosting leadership training, HIV prevention, community development, and much more.
Rev. Sheffield is currently the president of the Michigan Chapter of the National Action Network (NAN), national chairperson of Restore Black Wall Street 2021 campaign, chairperson of the Detroit Ecumenical Ministers Alliance, lifetime member of the NAACP, and national board members of the Black Leadership Commission on Aide and the National Cares Movement.