Growing up in the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor area, both Justin Harper and Jamall Bufford, the co-founders of Community, Revolution, Leadership (CLR) Academy, have long recognized the need for more youth-focused community programming and mentorship in underserved neighborhoods. As educators in public schools settings, they also both fully understand that many times the most meaningful impacts come when you fully understand the needs of the people you are serving, have deep relationships and ties to the community, and recognize the power of self-determination in creating lasting change.
Founded unofficially during the COVID lockdowns in 2020, the idea for CLR Academy (officially incorporated in June 2021) was born when community member Kelly Goolsby reached out to Jamall, who is also the Director of the Washtenaw Chapter of My Brother’s Keeper, to ask if there was anything he could do to help the kids in her Sycamore Meadows neighborhood in Superior Township.
Jamall knew just who to call, his longtime friend and ally in education-based social justice settings Justin, and asked what they might do to help. Soon they were showing up to the neighborhood each week to play games, teach sports, host community yoga sessions, offer mentorship and in general be a source of support and guidance for families and children living in a community that is often neglected or derided due to the economic status of its members. As many families struggled to manage work, childcare, schooling, health challenges and personal loss during this time, the need for free, safe, creative and physical outlets for youth in the midst of the often isolating and confusing times of the pandemic was palpable.
Now in its 4th year as an official organization, and managed primarily by Justin, the Director, the impact of CLR Academy across Washtenaw is outsized. CLR currently provides programming for K-8 youth at three locations across Washtenaw County, offering transportation, meals, and both summer and year-round options, all at no charge.
Recently, Riverwise editor Megan Douglass sat down with Jamall and Justin to learn more about the success of the program and understand what drives their passion to serve Michigan’s youth in such a powerful way.
Megan: Why did you think creating CLR was so important for your community?
Justin: Teaching in Ann Arbor middle schools really showed me how I could help students who are on the edge. I wanted to provide mentorship that helped them develop their goals, stay on track, and be well prepared for the future. We grew up in this community, and there has never been a lot of things to do for the kids, and so after Kelly reached out, I knew we could make a difference.
There is a lot of violence and crime and distractions in the area and lots of young adults and lots of kids. It’s one of the most impacted communities in the area with the most kids. And you know, I do have a heart for people in general, and I have a strong passion to connect with kids. I remember the good times when I was younger and the things I appreciated that people did for me. It’s important to have guidance and mentors. It’s important to be able to see yourself through other people and see positive examples. We really just asked ourselves, “How can we keep kids focused when there are so many distractions?” You know, we asked ourselves, “What is the impact that we want to have?” And we wanted to be able to build upon the ideas of being creative, being allowed to be your unique self. Being yourself is a movement for change.
Megan: What does community, leadership, and revolution mean to you?
Jamall: To me, all of those together means responding to an expressed need and trying to remove barriers to success and wellness. Community represents the people around you, could be your neighborhood, your family, your school, your work, but it’s more so feeling a connection to those people and the process of building that connection. Justin likes to say to the young people who participate in our program that “leadership is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.” It means trying to set a positive example, and that’s not bound by age, a positive example for someone younger or older than you. And it applies to any setting, sports, the classroom, your home, out in the world, anywhere. Revolution to me means being the change you want to see. If something is missing, add it. If no one is speaking up, use your voice and speak up.
Megan: What do you think has been the impact of CLR in the community? What do you love about your work?
Justin: I think it has brought people together. I think the connections between families and neighbors are wonderful. People are excited and happy to have us in those spaces. Parents are often looking for their kids to be involved, but because they can’t afford it they don’t have the same opportunities as other parents. Our programs are free of charge, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have deep value. We bring in different presenters and partner with organizations like Bilal Saeed’s The Mighty Oak Project of the Association Football Club of Ann Arbor, and athletes like Mike Hart and Latavius Murray of the Hart & Tay Train Foundation, who provide skills camps and opportunities for the kids; we teach about music, art, reading, and mindfulness.
We are reflective on the things we are learning, but we’re also having fun. We also do restorative circles. And in those circles, we emphasize that we are all leaders. We can hear and see each other. It creates a circle of trust for unity. It helps build rapport, relationships, and trust. We have a theme for the month, a word of the day…we start every day with a circle where we talk about how one thing, like perseverance, is tied to your day, your attitude, problem solving, asking for help, and controlling what you can control.
I love hearing that kids do better in school. I hear about kids who wait for us for hours before we show up when we’re coming to do our programs. We have a few locations through Avalon Housing, and sometimes the kids, you know, who can’t tell time, will just wait for us to be there. So hearing that the kids’ attitudes are better, because we work on building character and we really focus on harnessing and being reflective internally to see that growth externally, is wonderful. We often hear that this is the kids’ favorite thing they love to do all week, and that always makes me feel good in what I’m doing.
Jamall: I love hearing from parents about how much their kids enjoy CLR and how they miss it during off-seasons or when we go on breaks for a couple of weeks. I also love seeing when some young people may have an emotional outburst when competing in a sport, then they step away, or one of our coaches talks with them, and they come back refocused and ready to respect the community and compete with sportsmanship.
Megan: What are your hopes for CLR? What are you working on now?
Justin: I would love to expand all around the country. We have a sister program in Ballard near Seattle, and they saw the work and loved it so now we have a partnership with them as well. Anywhere there’s an opportunity to impact the areas that we can, we will. I feel like anything that can help make a difference in the community, I’m willing to do it.
We’re currently working on the parent café, a dance program, we’re teaching more about nutrition and developing our reading program which we are really excited about. We have a teacher who has been teaching for a long time and we actually teach the kids how to read. The parent café is relatively new but it’s a space for parents to be able to just talk and build bonds, bring up things going on in their world in order to support one another. It’s another community building opportunity to build trust and provide a support system, year round.
Really I just feel like everyone should take advantage. It’s a free program for boys and girls that will make a difference in your child’s life, with trained professionals and people that care. To be involved you just have to sign up. We don’t turn any kids away. If we can help, we’re not going to tell you no.
Learn more, get involved, enroll your child, support Michigan’s kids @ https://www.clracademy.org/
Justin Harper: Justin is a dedicated educator, mentor, and community leader with over 20 years of experience supporting youth in Washtenaw County. He currently serves as a middle school resource teacher in Ann Arbor Public Schools and is pursuing a Special Education Teaching degree through Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw ISD. He is a Commissioner on the Human Relations Commission, a member of We ROC, a board member of We The People Opportunity Farm, a mental health ambassador for Healing Brother’s United and serves on the steering committee for Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper. Through these roles, he strives to strengthen and advocate for his community, mentor and empower youth, and create safe, supportive spaces where young people can thrive.
Jamall Bufford: Seasoned microphone veteran Jamall Bufford, aka Buff1, has had a successful solo rap career and now has started making his mark as a DJ. His musical journey includes being a member of Athletic Mic League and more recently The Black Opera, Rap’s first performing arts group. Bufford’s background as a Hip-Hop artist and DJ led to him to share his passion for Hip-Hop with young people, Bufford is now the Director for Washtenaw County chapter of the national My Brother’s Keeper initiative. Prior to his WMBK role, Bufford spent years working at the Neutral Zone teen center as an Emcee Workshop Facilitator and Music Coordinator and as a Paraprofessional working with emotionally impaired middle school students in Washtenaw county.
