Founder & CEO, 2025 Board of Directors, Team Members

Founder / Director

Stefan L. is a product of the Detroit public school system.  In order to graduate, he changed the direction of his life accumulating scholastic honors in his senior year. In 1996, Stefan was recognized by the city of Detroit with the "Spirit of Detroit" Award for turning his life around. 

Stefan obtained his BA from Wayne State University, where he worked as a student assistant in the Department of Athletics and Intramurals. 

In 2003, Stefan L. gained employment with Detroit Public Schools in a public safety with the school system.

In 2008, shortly after the birth of his daughter, he began a career with Department of Homeland Security. Stefan is currently pursuing his BSN at Wayne State University.

Stefan L. understands that a goal driven commitment, positive role models, and safe havens in the community are keys to keep young individuals safe and focused. He has donated, volunteered, and created avenues to help adolescents become successful through programming that introduces enrichment and awareness. He acknowledges that purpose and persistence are the keys to success.          

Board Chair President

Judge Miller is a Third Judicial Circuit Court Judge assigned to the Criminal Division. She previously served in the Family Division, Juvenile Section for over five years and lead the section as its Presiding Judge from January 2023 to May 2024.  She served on the 36th Judicial District Court bench from April 2006 through August 2019 where she was the Founding & Presiding Judge over Street Outreach Court Detroit, a specialty court program which assists Detroit's homeless population with clearing their driver's licenses and returning to self-sufficiency (www.streetdemocracy.org/socd).  

She also worked as an Adjunct Professor at Baker College from August 2012 to June 2020 where she taught Criminal Justice classes (Criminal Law; Criminal Courts; Legal Issues in Corrections; and Juvenile Justice Concepts) and a Humanities class (Philosophy of Ethics). In addition, Judge Miller was the Director of the Detroit Workforce Development Department, a Michigan Works! Agency, and has extensive experience as a labor and employment attorney from her years in private practice. Before becoming an attorney, Judge Miller held various positions which gave her skills and experience that uniquely qualify her to be a Judge.

She earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Michigan State University College of Law in 1996 and her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Sociology from Wayne State University in 1988. Judge Miller was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1996 and to the State Bar of Arkansas in 1997.

She is a past Chairperson and current member of the Foreign Language Board of Review.  Judge Miller is a Past President of the Association of Black Judges of Michigan; a Past Chair of the Women Lawyers Division of the National Bar Association; a Past President of the Wolverine Bar Association; and a Past President of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan. 

She is a member of St. Charles Lwanga Roman Catholic Church; a Golden Heritage Life Member of the NAACP; and a member of the State Bar of Michigan; Michigan Judges Association; Association of Black Judges of Michigan; Wolverine Bar Association; Straker Bar Association; Detroit Bar Association; the Black Women Lawyers Association of Michigan; the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Rho Omega Chapter; the Michigan Democratic Party; the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW); Trade Union Leadership Council (TULC); and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History (former Board member).

Throughout her career, Judge Miller has received numerous awards and honors from various organizations, as well as Federal, State, County, & City Resolutions and Testimonials.  Judge Miller is also a published co-author of two articles regarding employment law.

Board Vice-Chair

 Amir Keglar is currently a Detective with Detroit Public Schools District (DPS). He has over 20 years of law enforcement experience working with youth in the city of Detroit as a Peace Officer and mentor.

Treasurer 

Dr. Taryne Kavanagh attended A.T. Still University’s Missouri School of Dentistry and

Oral Health, a program that integrates the core disciplines of medicine and dentistry, that

prepares graduates to lead the future of greater access to and advocacy for dental health –

the gateway to overall, whole body health and wellness. In dental school, she received

extensive training in all facets of general dentistry. She graduated in the top of her

class with a Doctorate of Dental Medicine, along with earning a Certificate in Public

Health with a Dental Emphasis and receiving multiple awards.

Dr. Kavanagh moved back to her home state, excited to begin her career in dentistry.

She is passionate about providing her patients comprehensive dental care and

dental education that will not only benefit their oral health but their overall health

as well. Dr. Kavanagh is a member of the American Dental Association and Michigan

Dental Association.

She lives in Royal Oak with her husband, Steve, daughter, Evelyn, and their dog,

Walter. She enjoys running, traveling, and time spent with her family and friends.