2019 Ramadan
"Seeking Justice Together"
“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness.” (5:8)
Welcome to the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion 2019 Ramadan Appeal homepage.
This is the fifth consecutive Ramadan Appeal, begun by our former board chair and dear colleague, Ghalib Begg.
During the 78 years, the Roundtable has been standing against harm to our neighbors because of their religion, race or other identities, we have enjoyed a long history with the Muslim community.
STAFF
Steve Spreitzer
Co-Executive Director
Steve served as Interim President and CEO from August 2013 until July 2014, Director of Programs from 2008 to 2013, managed the Roundtable's Interfaith efforts from 1996 to 2008 and Walk2gether Michigan from 2004 to 2008. Steve received his Masters in Social Work at Michigan State University, where he studied the role of the faith community in advancing social justice. Steve has worked in community mental health, criminal justice ministry and legislative advocacy. He has received recognition from the World Sabbath for Religious Reconciliation, the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan, the Catholic Youth Organization and the Hindu American Foundation
Yusef Shakur
Co-Executive Director
Yusef Bunchy Shakur captures the essences of what life was like for a misguided and angry gang banging boy surviving the mean streets of Detroit in the 80s. In his critically acclaimed memoir, "The Window 2 My Soul", Shakur educates the reader on how he became a social predator and takes you inside the prison walls, where he met his father for the first time, who ultimately redeemed and transformed his own life and passed those lessons on to his misguided and angry son. As a neighborhood organizer Shakur has dedicated his life to community-based initiatives such as the annual Restoring. The Neighbor Back To The Hood Backpack Giveaway that is hosted in his old neighborhood. Over 10 years this neighborhood festival has distributed over 6000 backpacks filled with school supplies to Detroit youth. read complete bio here
Cheryl Birks
Finance Manager
Stacey Stevens
Co-Director of Programs
Cheryl has been with the organization over 11 years. She has a diverse work background having worked in the private and public sector. Her experience includes working in the banking, managed care, and human service fields. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University, Master of Arts in Human Resource Management from Marygrove College and Master of Education in Instructional Technology, with an emphasis in Performance Improvement and Training, from Wayne State University.
Supporting the organization's efforts to do regional organizing around racial equity and youth voice work in Michigan. During her time at the Roundtable, Stacey co-authored Imported from Detroit, published in The Journal of Law in Society (Vol. 15(1), 2013).
Prior to her work at the Roundtable, Stacey was the Domestic Issues Coordinator for the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit, building support and awareness of justice and peace issues among Metro Detroit parishes on issues such as urban sprawl and poverty.
In 2015, Stacey was a member of the first cohort of the Detroit Equity Action Lab through the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights at Wayne State University. She is passionate about community organizing, ground up change, and youth. Stacey holds a Bachelors degree in Sociology and Anthropology and is the honored mother to Linnah and Mac.
Izzi Figueiredo
Youth Leadership Coordinator
Dez Squire
Senior Racial Equity Community Organizer
Izzi Figueiredo is the youth organizer at Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion and loves helping people connect, learn from one another's experiences, and reflect. They have spent the majority of their career in the social justice world, gaining experiences in areas such as facilitation, education, and event planning. While organizing is their primary job function by day, Izzi also enjoys drawing and cooking with friends.
Dez Squire is the Senior Racial Equity Community Organizer for the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion. Dez oversees programming related to the Roundtable's traveling exhibition called "We Dont Want Them": Race and Housing in Metropolitan Detroit, which talks about the history and impact of housing segregation in the metro region. She also works with the Roundtable's team to engage and partner with communities and entities as they organize for transformational systemic change around racial justice issues impacting their most vulnerable members. She believes that understanding history and the social dynamics for racism and oppression will lead to a better understanding for the experiences of today and create more effective change. Dez has a Master’s in Social Work – Community Practice/Social Action from Wayne State University and a Juris Doctor from WMU Thomas M. Cooley Law School.