Welcome to the Justice League of Greater Lansing Michigan (JLGLM) timeline. This document traces the organization’s development from its founding in 2021 through its major reparations milestones. It presents an evidence-based record of JLGLM’s partnerships, congregational commitments, financial investments, scholarship distributions, homebuilding projects, public education efforts, regional collaborations, and expanding community impact. It orients readers to JLGLM’s mission and shows how faith-based reparations in Greater Lansing have grown through sustained, locally governed commitments.
Founding Leadership
The founding leadership brings deep personal and professional grounding in justice work.
Ms. Willye Bryan
Ms. Willye Bryan grew up in the segregated South, where early exposure to racial inequality shaped her commitment to justice and community repair. Before founding the Justice League of Greater Lansing Michigan, she built a four-decade career as a classical biological control entomologist, serving with both the U.S. Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) and Michigan State University. Her scientific accomplishments include more than 35 peer-reviewed publications, contributions to invasive-species management, and co-editing Memoirs of Black Entomologists (JLGLM, n.d.-e).
At USDA-ARS, she organized the agency’s first Black History programs in the Mid-South region, advancing internal diversity and historical awareness. Alongside her research, she taught, mentored emerging scientists, and led community education initiatives connecting science, equity, and public service. Drawing on her civil-rights activism, scientific leadership, and decades of outreach, Ms.. Bryan founded JLGLM in 2021 to address racial wealth inequity through faith-based reparations focused on education, homeownership, and business development under an African American Advisory Council
Mr. Prince Jerold Solace
Mr. Prince Jerold Solace, president and co-founder of JLGLM, is a Lansing native. His professional work has included developing cross-cultural communication frameworks, and guiding institutions in understanding how historical racial harm shapes present-day outcomes. This communications and systems-change expertise shaped JLGLM’s public education strategy, media presence, and regional partnerships. Solace’s leadership frames reparations as a relationship-centered, faith-rooted practice, positioning JLGLM as a regional model for community-based repair and long-term wealth-equity initiatives. He has represented the League in state and regional media, coordinated multi-congregational partnerships, and led JLGLM’s scholarship program and public forums.
JLGLM is governed by an African American Advisory Council composed of community leaders from multiple sectors who oversee all reparations distributions.
Reparations Framework: Three Pillars
In 2021, the Advisory Council adopted a three-pillar reparations framework designed to address specific, historically produced barriers to wealth for African Americans:
1. Educational scholarships
Addressing their exclusion from federal education benefits, segregated and underfunded schools and persistent literacy and college-access disparities.
2. Homeownership
Responding to Black-white homeownership inequity in light of the national disparity data: Black home ownership at 43.9% versus 65.7% for other groups.
3. Business Entrepreneurship
Countering barriers caused by discriminatory lending, exclusion from postwar federal wealth programs and lack of start up capital.
These pillars specifically address documented wealth barriers: segregated schools and unequal GI Bill access (education), redlining and mortgage discrimination (homeownership), and credit discrimination and exclusion from federal capital programs (entrepreneurship). The Advisory Council’s oversight links each investment to specific, historically grounded harms and a descendant-focused reparations logic.
Chronological Development, 2021–2025
January 2021
At First Presbyterian Church of Lansing, Ms. Bryan convened informative discussions on the economic aftermath of slavery and the moral obligation of faith communities to respond with material repair. The focus was the white-black disparities represented in the pillars. The emerging model centered on primarily white congregationally-supported reparations directed toward education, housing, and entrepreneurship for descendants of enslaved African Americans in Greater Lansing.
Founding Vision and Purpose
Leadership and Advisory Formation
June 2021
A leadership team formalized JLGLM’s governance model and created the African American Advisory Council to manage all reparations distributions.
July 2021
First Presbyterian Church of Lansing became the first congregation to make a formal reparations pledge, committing $100,000 in scheduled installments.
First Major Congregational Pledge
Early Recurring Commitment
Sycamore Creek United Methodist Church made the next early commitment, pledging 1% of its endowment annually for three years (Lansing City Pulse, 2023).
Include article
October 2022
First Public Presentation
(Rev. Jimmie R. Hawkins)
JLGLM delivered its first formal public presentation in partnership with Rev. Jimmie R. Hawkins, Director of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Office of Public Witness. On October 14, 2022, JLGLM hosted a book discussion and signing for Unbroken and Unbowed: The History of Black Protest in America at Socialight Society, a Black-owned bookstore in Lansing. On October 15, 2022, Rev. Hawkins led a public discussion and signing at the Downtown Capital Area District Library. These events marked JLGLM’s first community-facing introduction of its reparations framework and explicitly linked the local model to national scholarship on Black protest, public witness, and faith-based justice work.
January 2023
Apology at Lansing Reachout Christian Center
JLGLM coordinated a public apology and reparations event at the Lansing Reachout Christian Center, a predominately African American house of worship located on the southside of Lansing, aligning a liturgy of repentance with a call for structural action (JLGLM, 2023). Organizers prioritized visibility, interfaith participation, and media access, signaling a shift from internal congregational work to civic-focused public witness.
“An apology frees and liberates both groups. It frees White people from any guilt. And when you get rid of the guilt, then you’re ready to work and improve this society.”
April 2023
First Presbyterian Church of Holt
First Presbyterian Church of Holt chooses to participate in the work of reparations as an expression of faith, repentance, and hope. Acknowledging the ongoing harm caused by racial injustice, the church pledged $20,000 to support the Justice League’s efforts, trusting that this commitment will help advance healing, equity, and restorative justice in our community.
May 2023
Quaker Meeting in Lansing Joins
Red Cedar Friends Meeting (Quakers) made a payment of $7000 at the end of its fiscal year in hopes of continuing such payments annually.
June 19–20, 2023
Second Public Apology at the Capitol (Juneteenth)
Dozens of faith leaders and community members gathered on the Capitol lawn to deliver a formal apology for slavery based on the PC(USA) litany of repentance. WKAR’s Colin Jackson reported participation from faith communities across the Lansing region (Jackson, 2023). State Senator Sarah Anthony, whose district includes Lansing, welcomed and encouraged those gathered.
“This work is about repair. It is not charity, it is a moral response to a historic harm.”
(Justice League public remarks)
August 2023
Edgewood United Church Contributes
“As part of our call to practice reparations, our congregation on June 11th voted unanimously to contribute $100,000 of congregational endowment to the Justice League of Greater Lansing Michigan as repentance and repair for the historical damage of slavery and its aftermath. In addition to the congregational contribution, a number of individuals from Edgewood and beyond contributed from their personal resources. Total reparation payment, $173,260”.
All Saints Episcopal Church Contributes
All Saints Episcopal Church in East Lansing presented $130,470.62 to JLGLM, one of the League’s largest single congregational gifts. The presentation occurred in the church sanctuary, where clergy and congregants delivered the check to Ms. Bryan and President Solace.
September 2023
Coalition Growth and Press Attention
Regional media described JLGLM’s trajectory from 2021 conception to a maturing multi-church fund structure. The Lansing City Pulse referred to JLGLM as “Lansing’s real Justice League,” and The Chronicle News emphasized that acknowledgment of harm was being followed by tangible repair (The Chronicle News, 2023; Lansing City Pulse, 2023).
October 2023
Local United Nations Association Honors Ms. Bryan
The United Nations Association–USA, Greater Lansing Chapter honored Ms. Bryan as a “2023 Global Goals – Local Leader” during its UN Day celebration. The award linked JLGLM’s faith-based reparations model to UN Sustainable Development Goals including No Poverty, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, and Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions. Regional reporting documented the ceremony and highlighted Bryan’s leadership.
“My life has been shaped by segregation. That history shaped my commitment to stand in the breach and insist on repair.”
(WILX, 2024)
November 2023
Recognition in the Congressional Record
U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin issued a formal commendation recognizing JLGLM’s reparations work. The statement was entered into the Congressional Record on November 2, 2023, marking the first national-level acknowledgment of JLGLM’s model. Slotkin noted the League’s leadership in faith-based reparations, its community partnerships, and its impact on racial equity efforts in mid-Michigan.
Second Fall Celebration
JLGLM held its second annual Fall Celebration at Gregory’s soul food restaurant. The program highlighted the milestones achieved and impact made during the organization’s first two years of operating.
December 2023
Reparations Monday Recognition
JLGLM recognized “Reparations Monday” as a dedicated giving day focused on advancing Black-led reparative justice efforts. The Chronicle News reported that JLGLM had raised over $350,000 since its founding. (The Chronicle News, 2023).
March 2024
The Unity Spiritual Center of Lansing makes a reparations contribution to the Justice League of Greater Lansing, Michigan.
June 2024
Coalition Growth and Press Attention
Regional media described JLGLM’s trajectory from 2021 conception to a maturing multi-church fund structure. The Lansing City Pulse referred to JLGLM as “Lansing’s real Justice League,” and The Chronicle News emphasized that acknowledgment of harm was being followed by tangible repair (The Chronicle News, 2023; Lansing City Pulse, 2023).