More on SHINE: Starting in March, 2024, LAITR partnered with Ypsilanti Township to provide litter clean-up/beautification services to high-needs zones in Ypsilanti Township. Since launching LAITR’s first work program via SHINE, we’ve partnered with the YDDA and you can now also see us cleaning up the Downtown District of Ypsilanti.

These partnerships have enabled LAITR/SHINE to employ justice-involved individuals in need of work. We strive to cultivate a safe, equitable, supportive and collaborative work environment for our employees and hope they gain skills, pride and comradery during their work with us.

Our favorite thing to see is the community support for our guys’ work that we’ve received! The honks, waves and stopping to say thanks or provide water mean a lot to us. It shows positive community integration, reduced stigma on a population that has historically been marginalized and gives us hope for the future in trying times.

As of August 2026, we have transitioned SHINE to our team lead’s nonprofit, DM19 Collaborative Reentry Services (DM19). Leroy Harris has worked with SHINE since SHINE’s first day! He then was promoted to team lead and supervised the work crew as they performed their work throughout Ypsilanti. Through his hard work, he has grown into the role as Executive Director at DM19 and will continue to lead SHINE under his nonprofit.