PAST AWARDEES

THE LIBERATION AWARD AND SCHOLARSHIP

The Liberation Award and Scholarship provides resources for a young person excelling without family support and can be used for college tuition, as well as expenses beyond the classroom including, but not exclusive to rent, living expenses, educational conferences, instructional programs related to creative or artistic pursuits, graduate exam application fees, or textbooks.

2022 AWARDEE:

SARA COLLINS

Freshman, Spelman College

Sara Collins is a 2022 graduate of Renaissance High School and an incoming freshman at Spelman College, where she plans to study political science. She is an eager and hardworking student that holds many organizational leadership positions and community building skills.

Sara has worked with Life Remodeled at Durfee Innovation Society since 2020, where she volunteered to deliver food and other resources to families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, she has been highlighted by the Lean on We campaign in Metro Detroit and has been awarded two Spirit of Detroit awards for her community service. In 2022, she took a position as the social media strategist for a new nonprofit organization, The Konnection.

After graduation, Sara plans to go to law school and become an attorney in hopes of having an even greater impact on her community.

2021 AWARDEE:

B’NATHANIEL ORLU

Sophomore, Morehouse College

B’Nathaniel Orlu was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and is proud to be a product of the Detroit Public School Community District. Growing up, B’Nathaniel attended Charles L. Spain Elementary and Middle School before graduating from Cass Technical High School. 

During this time, B’Nathaniel developed a passion for community service and committed himself to learning about the gaps in his community and others like it, so that he could educate himself on ways to close those gaps. To accomplish the goals, B’Nathaniel participated in several extracurricular activities such as choir, the National Society of High School Scholars, Detroit Police Athletic League (Football), Youth Law Enforcement, Pathway of Excellence, Big Brother Big Sister, and several others. 

After graduating from Cass Tech, B’Nathaniel continued his studies at Morehouse College, where he is currently a sophomore majoring in music (vocal performance) and minoring in business management. In addition to his work in the classroom, B’Nathaniel also serves as the Public Relations Manager for the Morehouse College Glee Club and as a Youth Ambassador for Detroit Parent Network, where he helps to connect families and community members with valuable resources. He is also a co-founder of the community service organization, Black Determine Mines (BDM).

In the future, B’Nathaniel plans to continue his commitment to community and aspires to one day serve as the President of the United States of America.

THE VILLAGE AWARD

It takes a village to raise our youth—and teachers are an undeniable part of the village. The Village Award is available to Detroit teachers and can be used for classroom/teacher supplies, including but not limited to: art supplies, books, clothes for students, etc.

2022 AWARDEE:

SHERLINE JOACHIM SMITH

Middle School Language Arts Teacher, Pembroke Academy

Sherline Joachim Smith is a native of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She grew up in the Caring and Orphanage in Haiti which was founded and supported by missionaries and churches in Detroit, MI. In 2001, she was blessed with the opportunity to come to the United States to pursue her dream of obtaining a college education.

She attended Florida Memorial University in Miami, FL. with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. Ms. Smith speaks English, Creole, French, and Spanish. She is a professional educator who enjoys making a difference in the lives of both children and adults. She has taught for fifteen years in the Christian and Public-School systems in Miami and Detroit.

One of Ms. Smith’s future goals is to use her education and life experiences to inspire scholars everywhere to desire better and greater for themselves. She aspires to reach back as she progresses forward, aiming to hold the door of opportunity open for many others who will come after her.

Ms. Smith shares her story in detail in her autobiography, Along the Way. The greatest joys of her life (besides her scholars) are her very own two precious children, Grace Elizabeth Smith (7) and Josiah Smith (4).

2021 AWARDEE:

ALEXANDREA SOMERS

Elementary Teacher, Detroit Public Schools Community District

Alexandrea Somers (Also known as Drea) is an elementary teacher in Detroit and is entering her third year teaching a fourth-grade class.

Before teaching, Drea graduated with a BA from the University of Michigan where she worked with Detroit, Ypsilanti, and Southfield youth through America Reads Tutoring Corp and Wolverine Pathways. She has a passion for liberatory education and community action.

When she’s not in the classroom, she’s teaching tap dance at Detroit Culture Youth Company, enjoying one of Detroit's many farmer’s markets, or playing a flute or saxophone.

THE COMMUNITY KEEPER AWARD

We believe in lifting up those who lift up others. The Community Keeper Award is presented to a community member who is leading within a nonprofit or community-based organization directly serving their neighbors, bringing their community together, and inspiring others to do their part.

2022 AWARDEE:

MISHA MCGLOWN

Gallery Director, Irwin House Global Art Center and Gallery

Omo Misha means "Misha's children" in Yoruba. It is a name that has come to identify curator, Misha McGlown, and her multi faceted practice in the arts. Misha currently serves as Gallery Director for the Irwin House Global Art Center and Gallery in Detroit, MI, curator for the Windows on Amsterdam Gallery on behalf of City College Center for the Arts (CCCA) and has remained a member of the Arts & Education staff at Symphony Space since 2003.

Additionally, she has held the title of Program Director for both The Children's Art Carnival and the LeRoy Neiman Art Center in New York, and independently curated exhibits and cultural programming on behalf of a long list of institutions including CHRISTIE’S on behalf of CCCA, The Colored Girls' Museum (Philadelphia), New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at  Lincoln Center and NY Federal Hall on behalf of Community Works NYC, the Sugar Hill Children’s  Museum of Art & Storytelling, Columbia University, and The Arsenal/NYC Parks Department.

Her work as a visual artist has encompassed public art installations commissioned by the 125th  Street BID, the Harlem River Park Task Force, and UberEats on behalf of Harlem Park to Park; and she has received artistic awards and recognitions from the Detroit Fine Arts Breakfast Club, New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, UMEZ/Harlem Arts Alliance, and the Puffin Foundation.

Misha studied at Center for Creative Studies and Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. She is a two-time published author and has been a contributing arts and culture writer for Rolling Out Magazine, Detroit Metro Times, Huffington  Post, ArtSlant, and Of Note Magazine.

2021 AWARDEE:

DEVON BUSKIN

Founder and President, Detroit City Lions Youth Club

As the product of a caring community of coaches, mentors, and teammates, Devon Buskin is a true believer in the developmental power of youth sports. For him, athletics offered an opportunity to explore his strengths and build the skills he needed to be successful later in life. This crucial experience is something Devon works to pass along to future generations as the Founder and President of The Detroit City Lions Youth Club (DCL)

Founded in 2018, DCL provides over 200 young people ages 5 to 15 with equitable access to sports and skill-building activities. Under Devon’s leadership, the organization has expanded from its original football program to include 10 unique athletic opportunities including basketball, baseball, soccer, cheer, and dance, lacrosse, robotics, chess, hockey, and volleyball. Many of DSL’s youth participate in multiple sports, keeping them engaged and active year-round. The organization also offers wraparound family services and academic support to help create well-rounded student-athletes and ensure that participants can take full advantage of future scholarship opportunities. With the ultimate goal of exposing and connecting youth to successful sports career pathways. 

In addition to his role with DCL, Devon also serves as Director of Workforce Development at Greening of Detroit where he has led a Nationally recognized training program and employment of over 800 Detroit residents with a goal of 2500 into green-collar jobs that help revitalize their neighborhood and city. His passion for youth engagement also drives his involvement as the administrator of the organization’s Green Corps Youth Employment Program which employs over 100 students each summer, providing both work and college prep experience.

Over the course of his career, Devon has received several local and national recognitions for his work and mentorship including the 2015 National Leadership Award from the US. Department

of Labor, the 2009 and 2010 Parsons Brinkerhoff Leadership, the 2017 Excellence Under 40 leadership award, and was a 2018 Ford Motor Company Foundation Men of Courage recipient.  Devon was a fellow with the Aspen Institute, in partnership with JP Morgan Chase in 2018, and most recently he was inducted into the Samuel C. Mumford High School Hall of Fame in 2019.

Devon is a proud graduate and product of Samuel C. Mumford High School and continued his education at Western Michigan University. He is a proud husband and father of four children and is blessed to have a strong support system of family, friends, and community members to support him in his work.