The Detroit Justice Center (DJC) is a non-profit law firm working alongside communities to create economic opportunities, transform the justice system, and promote equitable and just cities.

• We are committed to individual and collective liberation—and recognize the two as inseparable.
• We come to this work with a sense of responsibility, and a deep desire to use our training and talents to serve our community.
• We work with our clients in a way that cultivates dignity and autonomy. We respect and honor each person’s humanity, we seek to understand their stories and circumstances, and we hold their freedom dreams as sacred.
• We are committed to democratizing access to the law. We regard clients as partners in our mission. Rather than serving as gatekeepers, we aim to share tools so that people can understand, navigate, and transform disempowering systems.
• We approach our work with a sense of joy, creativity, and purpose. We are nimble problem-solvers who look for innovative ways to respond to our community’s needs and expand our collective understanding of what is possible.
• We value our relationships above all. We work at a pace that allows us to build deep trust with our partners and clients. We reach out to others for support and direction, and we communicate with self-awareness, empathy, and humility. Should conflicts arise, we are committed to calling each other in using practices that restore rather than punish.
• We are hopeful; we believe that the best possible outcome is attainable and we work toward it.
• We help our clients gain economic independence, and work to redistribute power and wealth. We work toward a society in which abundance is shared for the collective good.
• We take our cues from movements that are fighting for racial justice and economic equity.
• We are committed to cultivating the leadership of marginalized individuals and groups, including Black people, people of color, indigenous people, immigrants, women, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, people involved in the criminal legal system, and people who have loved ones currently or formerly in the criminal legal system.
• We value the collective wisdom of intergenerational experiences, and harness the power it brings to our work.
• We seek a balance of “defense, offense, and dreaming.” We must do what we can to alleviate present suffering. We are also committed to transformational change and building a template for a more just society. It is not enough to focus on what we are fighting against; we must focus on what we are fighting for. We invite people to dream of a better future and to work toward it with us.

DJC accepts gifts primarily from individuals, foundations, and organizations that share a commitment to our values. We reserve the right to decline gifts from individuals or institutions that advocate viewpoints or take actions that fundamentally contradict those values.

DJC does not generally accept direct corporate donations. However, DJC will consider employee recommended gifts including matching contributions, donor advised funds, employee designations and support from employee sponsored resource and affinity groups. In some specific instances, such as mission-aligned social justice focused funds, DJC may accept or pursue financial contributions or grants from corporations. These considerations are made on a case by case basis with the members of the development team. Considerations above $50,000 are reviewed with and approved by DJC’s Executive Director. Considerations of $250,000 or above are reviewed and approved by DJC’s Executive Director and the DJC Board of Directors.

This policy may be amended from time to time at the Detroit Justice Center’s discretion.