09/01/2026
After deep reflection, I have made the decision to resign from my position with Michigan Liberation.
When we started this journey in 2018, Michigan Liberation was more than an organization. It was rooted in the belief that the people most impacted by incarceration and injustice should have the power to lead the movement for change.
Over the years, I poured a tremendous amount of myself into this work. Together, we organized communities, challenged systems, elevated the voices of formerly incarcerated people, and fought for dignity, freedom, and justice.
I am especially proud of the Michigan Black Mamas Bail Out and the work to challenge a system where someone's freedom can depend on how much money they have. That work reminded us that behind every jail cell is a human being, a family, and often children waiting for someone they love to come home.
I am proud of the campaigns we built, the communities we organized, and the people who stepped into their own power and leadership. Not every fight was won. But every fight mattered. And every victory, setback, relationship, and lesson helped shape me into the person and leader I am today.
Leaving has not been easy. When you help build something from the ground up, it becomes part of your identity. You remember the sacrifices, the uncertainty, and the moments when nobody else could see what you saw.
But I am learning that letting go does not erase what you built. Moving on does not mean you failed. And choosing yourself does not mean you have abandoned your purpose. Sometimes, purpose requires evolution.
Michigan Liberation will always be part of my story. I am incredibly proud of what we built and grateful to every organizer, community member, and directly impacted person who walked alongside me.
From incarceration to college. From organizing inside prison walls to organizing communities outside of them. My life has always been a story of transformation. And this moment is no different.
This is not goodbye to the work. It is simply the beginning of a new chapter.
I don't know exactly what comes next, but I am ready to find out.
I leave with gratitude for where I've been, pride in what we accomplished, and excitement for everything that is still ahead.
The next chapter is waiting. And I'm finally giving myself permission to turn the page.
With Gratitude and love,
Nicholas S. Buckingham
“Respect the Roots”
