Michael D. Davis-Thomas

Resilient, mission-driven professional with over a decade of leadership experience in juvenile justice reform, foster care advocacy, education leadership, and systems transformation. Adept at bridging lived expertise with public policy innovation, program evaluation, and community engagement. CEO, consultant, published author, and nationally awarded advisory council chair recognized for commitment to public service, DEI advancement, and youth empowerment. Proven record of spearheading legislative change, enhancing educational outcomes, and building sustainable programs impacting over 5,000 youth across Michigan and beyond. Dedicated to building equitable systems that honor resilience, amplify marginalized voices, and drive measurable change.

• Certified Peer Support Specialist
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI)
• Trauma-Informed Care Certification
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Certified
• CPR/First Aid Certified
• Certified Life Coach

• Chair, MDHHS Juvenile Justice Advisory Council
• President, MDHHS Statewide Foster Care Advisory Board
• Federal Technical Advisor, OJJDP & ACF
• Founder, MOTT Fostering Achievement Program
• Founder, Resilient Voices & Beyond Foundation (in development)

1.

Leadership Impact

(Quantifiable Outcomes)

• Led a statewide juvenile justice advisory council representing over 20 counties and influencing policy change for 10,000+ system-involved youth.
• Chaired foster care advisory board initiatives that increased youth advisory participation by 30% statewide.
• Built education department infrastructure at a secure youth facility, raising credit recovery rates by 22% within one year.

2.

Program Development & Growth

• Founded MDDTSpeaks LLC, securing contracts with 10+ organizations within the first 18 months.
• Developed and launched the Resilient Voices & Beyond podcast, growing an audience across 15+ states and 3 countries within the first year.
• Designed and implemented new intake and academic tracking systems for students in secure treatment facilities, reducing paperwork processing time by 40%.

3.

Policy & Systems Reform

• Contributed technical recommendations to federal NYTD reviews leading to measurable improvements in youth services compliance in 7+ states.
• Advocated for trauma-informed policy recommendations adopted by MDHHS, affecting practices across over 50 child welfare agencies.

4.

DEI and Community Engagement

• Facilitated DEI consulting and training sessions reaching over 500 professionals in child welfare, education, and justice sectors.
• Secured community partnerships and sponsorships for educational initiatives benefiting more than 1,000 underserved youth.

5.

Awards & Recognition

• Nationally awarded Spirit of Youth Award in 2025 for outstanding contributions to juvenile justice reform.
• Inducted into the Black Former Foster Youth Hall of Fame in recognition of lifelong advocacy work.

6.

Professional Growth

• Presented keynote addresses at 10+ national and regional conferences on juvenile justice, foster care, and system reform.
• Served as Technical Advisor to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), contributing to national strategy development on youth justice issues

• Public Speaking: Delivered keynote addresses at national conferences focused on juvenile justice, foster care reform, and DEI.
• Publications: Featured in Shoutout LA Magazine and Bold Journey Magazine; Author of Resilient Faith: Devotionals for Life’s Journey.
• Professional Development: Trained in Public Policy Analysis, Grant Writing, Federal Compliance Review, and Trauma-Informed Educational Practices.
• Technical Skills: Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Canva, Podcast Production (Anchor, Riverside.fm), Data Analysis (Excel, Tableau).
• Volunteer Leadership: Serve as volunteer leader and youth mentor with Foster Greatness, NFYI, and local advisory committees supporting system-impacted youth.

• Spirit of Youth Award, Coalition for Juvenile Justice, 2025
• Black Former Foster Youth Hall of Fame Inductee
• Advocate of the Year Nominee, National Foster Youth Institute
• Featured in Shoutout LA Magazine & Bold Journey Magazine

• Stakeholder Engagement & Coalition Building
• Qualitative & Quantitative Research Methods
• Program Fidelity Monitoring & Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI)
• Grant Budgeting & Funding Compliance
• EHR & Case Management System Proficiency (SACWIS, MiSACWIS, Apricot)
• Policy & Procedure Development
• RFP/RFI Response Development
• Culturally Responsive Program Design
• Lived Experience Integration Models
• Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR)
• Human-Centered Design for Systems Change
• Advisory Council Facilitation & Governance Support
• Multi-Year Strategic Planning Implementation
• Monitoring & Evaluation Framework Development
• Workforce Development & Pipeline Strategy