About Judge Mathis: Triumph over Adversity
|
Posted By: on September 03, 2005 Judge Greg Mathis was elected to Michigan's 36th District Court in 1995. His election became a national success story and a symbol of hope for urban youth who are struggling to overcome the modern-day pressures and hardships of poverty, drugs and violence. A former street youth and high school dropout, Mathis' lawlessness brought him before a judge who cared, a judge who ordered the teenaged dropout to get a G.E.D. or face jail time. He obtained his G.E.D. as ordered by the judge and went on to become a committed civil rights activist, public servant and the youngest elected judge in the state of Michigan. Currently he is the star of Warner Brothers', "Judge Mathis." Judge Mathis' civil rights and public service career began at Eastern Michigan University where he led the "Free South Africa" and voter registration campaigns on campus. In 1983, after graduating from college, he joined the staff of Detroit City Councilman Clyde Cleveland and continued his civil rights activities as an activist with Reverend Jesse Jackson's Operation P.U.S.H. In 1986 through 1993 he worked for legendary Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young as Manager of Detroit Neighborhood City Halls. Judge Mathis is committed to helping troubled youth in and out of the courtroom. In 1986, Mathis and his wife co-founded Young Adults Asserting Themselves (Y.A.A.T.), a non-profit youth agency that serves thousands of young people. The foundation counsels youth from the ages of 17-25 about career and job opportunities, provides job training, and offers school and job placement services. The foundation has also opened four pre-schools in Detroit. In his various fundraising efforts, Mathis has raised and/or donated over $2 million for a variety of civil rights, political, church and youth causes. Judge Mathis' has been featured in many local and national newspapers and television interviews including in Ebony, Jet, Upscale and People Magazines and the television affiliates of ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, BET and CNN. He has appeared with Jay Leno on the Tonight Show, and on Rosie O' Donnell, the Today Show and Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. He has received more than 100 awards and has been honored by numerous governors, mayors, City Councils and state legislatures. His inspirational story of a young man who rose from delinquent to Detroit District Court Judge is chronicled in his autobiography "Inner City Miracle" released in October 2002 by One World Books, a subsidiary of Random House. Greg is a lifetime member of the NAACP, the Rainbow P.U.S.H. Coalition and is a national board member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (S.C.L.C.). He is married and the father of four. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
Comments
|
OUTSTANDING!! Yes- I value his example. He represents who we truly are...I work with the same population he serves [ 17-45 yr olds, by performing "Cognitive Restructuring" training. I love what is going on throughout the nation. We must now connect the efforts of a few by developing a network from state to state..Judge Mathis if you view this please contact me at: Motivated59@yahoo.com- I would greatly appreciate talking with you in order to engage in furthering our efforts in support of others... Best Regards TB NELSON CT Tuesday, September 13th 2005 at 11:12AM |
More From This Author
Latest News
 |
Coppin State University: Celebrating the Class of 2026 and the Momentum That Carries Us Forwardfrom the desk of Anthony L. Jenkins, Ph.D., President of Coppin State University
May 28, 2026
Dear Eagle Nation,
As we honor the Class of 2026, we also celebrate the collective commitment ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 48 Views • May 28th, 2026 |
 |
Montgomery Public Schools to Host Security Job Fair at Alabama State UniversityMontgomery Public Schools (MPS), in partnership with Alabama State University’s Preventing School Violence (PSV) initiative, will host the MPS Security Job Fair on Wednesday, June 10, from 10 a.m. to ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 49 Views • May 28th, 2026 |
 |
FAMU student leaders expand global impact through Jamaica service-learning experienceFor 21 Florida A&M University student leaders and professional staff, a recent trip to St. Mary, Jamaica, became far more than an international travel experience. It became a living classroom rooted i ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 50 Views • May 28th, 2026 |
 |
FAMU Made: Raleigh Ford Heads to Brown University After Leaving Her Mark at FAMUWhen Raleigh Ford first arrived at Florida A&M University, leadership was the last thing on her mind.
The Leesburg, Florida, native describes herself then as quiet, reserved and unsure of what her ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 118 Views • May 27th, 2026 |
Popular News
 |
North Carolina HBCU Unity DayShaw University - Elizabeth City State University - Johnson C. Smith University - Fayetteville State University - Livingstone College - North Carolina A&T State University - North Carolina Central Uni ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 109,616 Views • August 8th, 2016 |
