Liz is an artist and community organizer. Liz combines years of nonprofit leadership experience, from the NAACP to United Way, with their lived experiences as a survivor, healer, and Detroit-rooted organizer to advance community-based networks of care, safety, and justice where all can thrive. Embracing the belief that “care is the antidote to violence” (Saidiya Hartman), they organize with the Detroit-based Healing By Choice! collective and are deeply committed to strengthening networks of community care and safety throughout Southeast Michigan and beyond.

Sheri is a learner, wanna-be radical, struggling-to-be pacifist, mama to chosen family, occasional writer, dog caregiver, Catholic worker, non-violence trainer, and organizer. Sheri lives at Peace House, Ypsi — a house of hospitality in the tradition of the Catholic Worker Movement, which aims to help people to gain the tools, skills, and confidence to bandage their own and other’s wounds — and to confront and dismantle the systems that cause the bleeding. Sheri founded and coordinates the daytime warming shelter for Washtenaw County, a democratically-governed space run by the homeless community for the homeless community. Contact Sheri about workshops available in Ypsi. Sheri prefers to communicate via text.

Amal is a first generation Tigrayan; she understands relationships as central to our fight for liberation. Leila Khaled and Malcolm X are some of her biggest inspirations, and she enjoys reading, learning new skills, and finding the joy in the struggle!

“Hi, My name is Essence. I work as a part-time Responder for CBS.

I’m a licensed clinical therapist and currently in school obtaining a second Masters in Public Health.

My passion and commitment is making seemingly invisible people visible; those individuals who have struggles that most of the world ignores.”

Tyler is a crisis responder for CBS, where he supports individuals through moments of conflict and crisis with compassion and care. Currently studying social work, Tyler is focused on building a career grounded in destigmatizing mental health, harm reduction, and systemic change. His work is driven by his commitment to disrupting carceral approaches and helping build a more liberated, community-focused world. 

Nia’s work mainly revolves around community care, communications, and advocacy.

Nia works to create non-carceral crisis response and spaces where people can show up with care, compassion, and accountability.

Nia’s central belief is that community is the first and strongest form of care. It takes a village.