VCD Invites the Community to an Expungement & Empowerment Event Offering Fresh Starts
We’re excited to invite you to a Community Empowerment Expo on Wednesday, April 15, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Victorious Believers Ministries, located at 624 S. Outer Drive in Saginaw. This free event will bring the community together and provide individuals and families with a fresh start and new opportunities.
Whether you’re seeking employment, looking to continue your education, in need of legal guidance, or simply ready to take the next step in your personal growth, we’ve created this space with you in mind. We encourage you to bring your resume and come prepared to engage, because this is a place where opportunities and preparation meet.
We’ll begin at 4 p.m. with community stakeholder sessions, including an Expungement Workshop led by Saginaw County Clerk Vanessa Guerra and criminal defense attorney Jeremy L. Tatum, alongside a powerful youth empowerment session led by Dr. Marvin Cotton Jr., founder and CEO of Better Not Broken LLC, a Detroit-based organization centered on mentorship, advocacy and personal development, with an emphasis on justice reform and community impact.
At 5 p.m., we transition into our Career and Resource Fair, where you’ll have direct access to local employers and organizations offering employment opportunities, educational pathways and supportive services designed to help you succeed.
The evening will continue with a second Community Empowerment Session at 6:30 p.m., again led by Dr. Cotton, whose message of resilience, transformation and purpose continues to impact lives across communities. Having been a free man for the past five years after being exonerated following a wrongful conviction in 2001, Dr. Cotton carries no anger from his past experiences. Instead, he has dedicated his life to inspiring others as a motivational speaker and advocate for justice reform—encouraging individuals to embrace growth, purpose, and second chances while never taking freedom for granted.
A major focus of this expo is expanding access to expungement and second chances. Through Michigan’s Clean Slate law, more than 1 million residents have already had qualifying convictions cleared, including hundreds of thousands who are now conviction-free. However, many individuals still need guidance navigating the process, and we’re committed to helping bridge that gap. We understand that clearing a record can open doors to meaningful employment, increased income and long-term stability, and we believe everyone deserves that opportunity. By bringing legal professionals and community resources together in one place, we are helping remove barriers and create real pathways forward.
Throughout the evening, you’ll also be able to connect with a strong network of community partners who are invested in your success, including Michigan Works! Great Lakes Bay Region, the Saginaw Police Department, UAW, the Michigan Department of Corrections, the City of Saginaw, Covenant HealthCare, Delta College, Solutions Behavioral Health and Saginaw Valley State University. Each of these organizations plays a role in strengthening our community, and together, we are creating an environment where support, opportunity and empowerment intersect.
This event is more than just a resource—it is a pathway toward restoration, opportunity, and hope for the entire community. We believe that real impact happens when we come together with purpose, and this Community Empowerment Expo is a reflection of that belief. So we invite you to join us, bring someone with you, and take advantage of everything this evening has to offer. Your next opportunity, your next connection, and your next step forward could all begin right here with us.
