Kristen Staley is the Executive Director of the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC), an autonomous agency housed within the Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. She supports 19 appointed commissioners and leads a dedicated team responsible for developing, implementing, and enforcing statewide standards on the delivery of public defense services. Kristen ensures the Commission’s work is appropriately resourced, meets all statutory and constitutional mandates, and is effective in improving and promoting best practices in public defense.

 

Outside of her work with the MIDC, Kristen has a decades long background in public policy development, advocacy, and technical assistance focused specifically on youth and adult justice initiatives at the federal, state and local systems. As Deputy Director for the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency, she helped increase resources and technical assistance for evidence-based programming among Michigan’s courts; led public policy initiatives to limit the adultification of youth in Michigan’s legal system; and spearheaded legislative and grassroots campaigns to safely reduce reliance on incarceration. Kristen is an appointed Commissioner on the Michigan Supreme Court’s Justice for All Commission, was a member of the Gault Center’s national advisory board and consults as a peer reviewer for the U.S. Office of Justice Programs. She also worked as a legal advocate in the Vermont Legal Aid’s Health Care Ombudsman Office, was an appellate clerk with the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy’s Juvenile Post-Disposition Unit and is an experienced facilitator of restorative justice panels. Kristen received her B.A. from American University and J.D. from the University of Louisville.

We have an opportunity to volunteer with the Greater Lansing Food Bank on Wednesday, February 19th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  We will be helping sort food at their regional warehouse that will get delivered to local food pantries.  The location is 5600 Food Court, Bath, Michigan. Please contact Jason Brunette if interested. Email:  Jason.Brunette@martincommercial.com 

Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee will be meeting immediately after Rotary this Friday, February 14th in the President's Dining Room.

A total of $45,000.00 was approved by the Rotary Club of Lansing Foundation Board for International Grants from the committee.  Each week we will highlight one of the non-profits receiving our checks.
 

The Haslett Rotary requested funds for a new used van that will be used as an ambulance In Lira Uganda. It is replacing an old van/ambulance that is not running well. The van/ambulance is used several times every week, to transport patients to the Agweng Medical Clinic or to the nearby government hospital in Lira Uganda (about thirty minutes away). The project is unique because there are few motorized means of transportation available. Ambulances in rural medical clinics, or even in hospitals, in Uganda are rare. They have received a check for $5,000.00.

Immediate Past President Nick Heriford ran the meeting for old times’ sake.

 

The reflection was given by Nicole Baumer, with a pre-reflection announcing that her resolutions start in February instead of January…so Happy New Year everyone! She then recited the “Do it Anyway,” poem by Saint Teresa of Calcutta.

 

Hari Kern played our Patriotic Song: My Country Tis of Thee. Although due to technical difficulties, many of us began singing: Oh Beautiful for Spacious Skies…attempting to fit it into the wrong melody.

 

Ernscie Augustin passed the blue box for the introduction of special guests and visiting Rotarians. There were four: Ben Bakken brought his daughter Clara Bakken, Ben Rathbun introduced his student intern Karma, along with Matt Mitchell, Barb Lezotte brought guest Nathan Houghton and Susan Angel introduced Tiffany Brown, a guest of Club President Rebecca.

 

The health of the club was announced as good; whereby Chris Holman reinforced that he was fine too. (No one asked, Chris!)

 

Terry Terry gave a short “special performance” poem titled, “Love Poem at Large”, which will be performed at Burning Desires, an afternoon of love poetry on Feb. 9th. He then introduced local Poet Laureate Ruelaine Stokes, who read a very witty poem she wrote in 8th grade, titled, “My First Poem.” The poem invited us to finish it however we wanted to! Her second poem, “Oh Washtenaw,” is a praise poem about the Grand River, which was formed just 11,000 years ago.

 

Chris Holman did the January birthday announcements, which yielded 100% participation, although with only 3 people in the month, how can one fail? So far in 2025, there is 100% participation! The question was about their favorite pet.

 

There will be a service project on Wednesday, Feb 19, 9-11 a.m. at Greater Lansing Food Bank, to which this editarian is highly supportive of! Contact Jason Brunette to RSVP.

 

Nathan Triplett introduced today’s speaker, Mark Totten, former U.S. attorney from the Western District. His topic was, “Keeping Michigan Safe – Threats and Responses.”

 

Mark said our Rotary District (6360) has special meaning to him because he received a Rotary scholarship at age 22. He went on a hiking and backpacking trip through Ireland, and during a rainstorm, a person stopped in his vehicle to ask if he needed a ride. It turned out to be a Rotarian at the club up ahead who asked if he was Mark Totten. In an ironic twist of fate, Mark was set to be the club’s speaker that week and the gentleman recognized him! He said that Rotary scholarship made such a difference in his life and career of service and thanked us for that experience.

 

Some of Mark’s presentation discussed the following that happened during his time in the U.S. attorney position:

 

1. Violent Crime: post pandemic it was the worst in 30 years. 90% of Kalamazoo gun violence was from juveniles. Gun violence became the #1 reason of death for young people in the U.S. He focused on the drivers of violence: those who were the shooters (which is just small group of people who need to be incapacitated), and those who are engaged in illegal firearms trafficking. Mark says we can never prosecute our way out of gun violence. It takes family, friends and community-based violence intervention programs.

 

2. Crimes Against Children: These crimes are becoming so much worse and more prevalent, especially sextortion through social media platforms. Mark recommends everyone talk to their children and tell them it’s ok if they make a mistake on social media…come to you anyway so you can help. 1-800-CALL-FBI

 

3. Drugs/Fentanyl: They were focused on dismantling the supply lines into our region. This is another area where we can’t prosecute our way out of this problem.

 

4. Public Corruption: [Note to readers: Apparently I didn’t take anything away from this section. My bad!]

 

5. Prioritized Work Around Civil Rights: Protecting civil rights was one of the reasons the Dept. of Justice was formed in 1870, after passage of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, and specifically to halt the KKK in the south.

 

Former President Nick announced next week’s speaker will be Kristen Staley, executive director of the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission. We will meet at our regular spot at Lansing Community College.

 

Nick ended the meeting with a hearty Go Green. Go White.

 

Email for Michelle Lantz:  michelle@glfoodbank.org