LAITR -Life After Incarceration: Transition & Reentry

06/15/2026

We are so proud of Daiquan from our SHINE team for launching his new car detailing business! Check out their flyer below to see what he has been working on 🚗✨

06/12/2026

Why do occupational therapists love gardening? because they offer so many opportunities for growth, for plants and people! Gardening supports strength, coordination, sensory engagement, problem-solving, and emotional well-being, all while connecting us with nature. Every seed planted is a chance to nurture independence, confidence, and meaningful participation in everyday life. 💚🌼 Thank you Ypsilanti Township, MI - Government and Washtenaw County Conservation District for making this happen with us!

05/07/2026

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Antonio Cooper and E-Current Magazine for taking the time to learn more about LAITR and share our story.

Over the past year, our nonprofit has continued working to provide holistic and accessible OT services for justice-impacted individuals in our community. We truly believe community engagement and partnerships are key to helping our clients thrive and successfully transition forward.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to highlight our mission and provide more insight on what is going on. Check out the article to learn more about LAITR and the work we’re doing!

Life After Incarceration: Transition and Reentry (LAITR) serves as a unique resource for formerly incarcerated individuals in the Ypsilanti area, offering therapy, job opportunities and the key steps necessary to help anyone returning home from life behind bars transition to a life of normalcy. Acco...

04/21/2026

Wow! Thank you DTE Energy Foundation for supporting our work. We are grateful for this funding we plan to use to expand access to our occupational therapy services. This allows us to keep going towards our vision of a world where JII have access to equitable opportunities, including occupational therapy, to pursue the lives they want to live.

Please check out the DTE Energy Foundation at: https://empoweringmichigan.com/foundation/ to see all the projects they are supporting.

04/01/2026

It is Occupational Therapy month!!! Still wondering what OT is? Still calling us your PTs?

“Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants focus on the things you want and need to do in your daily life. Occupational therapy intervention uses everyday life activities (occupations) to promote health, well-being, and your ability to participate in the important activities in your life. This includes any meaningful activity that a person wants to accomplish, including taking care of yourself and your family, working, volunteering, going to school, among many others.” - https://www.aota.org/about/what-is-ot

Make sure to tell the next OT you see you know occupations mean more than work, you will be sure to impress them! Yay OTs!

03/24/2026

Our SHINE team turned two years old! What a ride it has been 🌟 Our team is led by Leroy Harris who has been working at SHINE since day one! They are out there every day helping and cleaning the community.

Thank you to our partners, Ypsilanti DDA Community and Ypsilanti Township, MI - Government for your support and investing into your community members.

A HUGE shout out and thank you to our current team:

Leroy Harris
Daiquan Robinson
Shihab Jackson
Terry Brewer
Lovotny Shannon
Mark Stewart
Marquetta Clements
And Willie Percy

SHINE ON!

01/21/2026

First poem entry done ✅ and don’t worry there is plenty of time for you to get a personalized poem from Higher Thought EnT!

Here’s how:

Donate at https://givebutter.com/poetry or click the link in our bio to get started. The process is easy! Donate $20 for a digital copy or $25 for a physical copy + a rose quartz stone.

‼️Leave a message with your donation that contains the following: a theme (ex: Valentine’s Day) and two words or sentences (ex: love and Pisces)

Make sure to leave your email or address so we can send you the poem!‼️

01/16/2026

Former SHINE crew member, Dr. Dyson X Slater, released a new book “DON’T FAIL!!! Command and Manifest Your Greatness” on Amazon. We encourage you to check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Fail-Command-Manifest-Greatness-ebook/dp/B0G2L726ZQ

Congratulations Dyson, we are excited to read it ourselves 💜

01/13/2026

Not sure what to get your bestie for their birthday or Galentine’s Day? Do you need a personalized unique gift for Valentine’s Day or Groundhog Day? Just need to tell a friend, family, teacher or coworker thank you? Get them a personalized poem from Higher Thought💜

Donate at https://givebutter.com/poetry or click the link in our bio to get started. The process is easy! Donate $20 for a digital copy or $25 for a physical copy + a rose quartz stone.

‼️Leave a message with your donation that contains the following: a theme (ex: Valentine’s Day) and two words or sentences (ex: love and Pisces)

Make sure to leave your email or address so we can send you the poem!‼️

We love poetry at LAITR! Sometimes, poetry is incorporated in our interventions for leisure exploration, communication, and/or emotional management. Writing poetry helps to improve reflection, insight, creativity, expression, compassion, mental health, critical thinking and so much more. Sometimes, our clients will post their poetry on our newsletters (the best!)

We hope you love your poem and thank you Higher Thought EnT

01/08/2026

Words cannot begin to describe the energy of last night’s New Year event. At LAITR, we are so filled with love and gratitude for our teams and our community. You continue to show up time and time again. This was an extra-special night as we celebrated our 2025 accomplishments, handed the ED baton to Elyse Boyle publicly, celebrated Dyson’s new book & celebrated the things to come this year. We are so grateful to our gracious host, Sierra, not only for holding such a beautiful space for the event but for her ongoing support in humanity in general. LAITR & SHINE loves and thanks all of you