Juvenile Justice || What I Know Now

In this season finale episode of What I Know Now by The Delta Project, host Cole Williams sits down with Adam Hoeksma, owner of Shiny Diamond Auto Detailing & Hand Wash , Grand Rapids native, father, grandfather, and dedicated community mentor. Together, they explore real stories of resilience, second chances, and the transformative impact of support systems on youth navigating the juvenile ju...

In this powerful episode of What I Know Now , host Cole Williams welcomes Dee Dee Taylor, founder and president of Taylor Made Re-Entry, for a candid conversation about the realities of reentry after incarceration. Together, they dig deep into the urgent need to reimagine the juvenile justice and criminal justice systems, exploring the human stories often hidden behind statistics. Dee Dee shares h...

In this unique episode of What I Know Now , host Cole Williams sits down with Michael Buxton—Grand Rapids business owner, film director, and formerly incarcerated man—for an unfiltered conversation about growing up in poverty, navigating the realities of the juvenile and adult justice systems, and rebuilding a life after incarceration. Michael Buxton shares his journey from a childhood surrounded...

What if young people had a real voice in the justice system? In this moving episode of "What I Know Now," host Cole Williams sits down with Cayden Brown , a 19-year-old advocate, TEDx speaker, and author who’s transforming juvenile justice across the nation and world. From serving as a teen court defense attorney at 17 to addressing the United Nations and writing a powerful children’s book, Cayden...

In this powerful episode of "What I Know Now" by The Delta Project, hosts Cole Williams and Nick Williams sit down with Grand Rapids legend Derrick "Coach O" Owens, a basketball coach, mentor, and father figure whose journey epitomizes resilience and self-discovery. Dive into Coach O's remarkable story as he reflects on overcoming adversity, growing up in the foster care system in Detroit, and fin...

Welcome to What I Know Now, a Podcast by The Delta Project. In this episode, we dive into the realities of reimagining the juvenile justice system with special guest Liz Frederick, Executive Director of Avenues for Justice . Hosted by Cole Williams, this conversation explores the transformative impact of community-based alternatives to incarceration, the importance of wraparound support for youth...

What happens when artificial intelligence meets the world of justice and youth reform? In this thought-provoking episode, host Cole Williams welcomes renowned criminologist and data activist Renee Cummings for a deep dive into the intersection of technology, civil rights, and justice for young people. Together, they explore the power—and dangers—of data and algorithms in shaping identities, opport...

In this episode of "What I Know Now" from The Delta Project, Host Cole Williams sits down with Nala Barlow, a clinical mental health professional working inside a juvenile detention center. Together, they unpack how childhood experiences shaped Nala Barlow's journey from surviving instability, homelessness, and parental addiction to becoming a beacon of hope for youth impacted by America's justice...

Welcome to "What I Know Now," a podcast by The Delta Project, where we dive deep into the realities and reimagination of the juvenile justice system. In this episode, Cole Williams, Nick Williams, and special guest Indu Wilson—the Deputy Director of Youth Experience at the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility in Detroit—shine a light on what it truly means to serve, support, and love young peo...

Welcome back to "What I Know Now," a podcast by The Delta Project where real stories spark real change. In this episode, host Cole Williams sits down with guests Marshall Mansfield, Nick Williams, and Jordan Lyle to pull back the curtain on life inside Michigan's juvenile justice system. As young men who’ve experienced detention firsthand, our guests speak candidly about what it’s like to walk int...

In this inspiring episode of What I Know Now , Cole Williams sits down with Christopher Lovelady, Executive Director of All Good Sports, to unpack the power of mentorship, the importance of building brotherhood, and the deeper meaning of showing up for young people in our communities. Christopher shares his personal journey as a father, husband, and community leader, highlighting how sports and me...

Welcome to "What I Know Now," a podcast by The Delta Project, where we dive deep into life inside the juvenile justice system and what it takes to turn things around truly. In this powerful episode, guest host Nick Williams and co-host Cole Williams sit down with guest Jimmy Horsley for an honest, heartfelt conversation about redemption, fatherhood, and the transformative power of mentorship. Jimm...

Welcome back to What I Know Now , the podcast by The Delta Project where we dive deep into the realities of life inside—and after—the juvenile justice system. In this episode, hosts Bilal and Cole Williams sit down with Gayle Harvey: advocate, entrepreneur, Vice President of the Greater Grand Rapids NAACP, and founder of the Harvey Lynn Group. Gayle shares her journey growing up in West Michigan a...

In this powerful episode of "What I Know Now," hosted by Bilal and Cole Williams, we hear from Tiesha Hogue, a mother whose life was transformed when her son became incarcerated. Tiesha shares her raw, honest journey navigating the Michigan Department of Corrections, the pain of seeing her child in chains, and going 18 months without a hug. She shatters common stereotypes about families...

Welcome to "What I Know Now," the podcast by The Delta Project, where we dive deep into the realities of the juvenile justice system and explore the journeys of those who have found their way through it. In this powerful episode, host Bilal and co-host Cole Williams sit down with Eric Freeman—an entrepreneur, community advocate, and father in Grand Rapids—to discuss turning pain into pur...

Welcome back to “What I Know Now,” a podcast by The Delta Project dedicated to honest, raw conversations about life inside—and beyond—the juvenile justice system. In today’s episode, co-hosts Bilal and Cole Williams are joined by Wardell Frazier Jr., a decorated community leader, nonprofit founder, and executive director of The Diatribe . Wardell shares his powerful journey from growing up in Gran...

Welcome back to "What I Know Now," the podcast from The Delta Project where we dive deep into the realities of the juvenile justice system and the journeys of those working to change it. In this episode, hosts Cole Williams and Bilal sit down with Ayda Rezaian-Nojani, a passionate public defender, immigrant, and fierce advocate for justice. Ayda shares her story of migrating from Iran to...

Join us on this compelling journey as we sit down with Abdul Ciise, a remarkable figure who's transforming the landscape for underrepresented communities in education. In this episode of "What I Know Now," Abdul shares his inspiring story of coming to America as a Somali immigrant and delves into his profound connection to his cultural heritage through his name and lineage. Explore t...

In this powerful episode of "What I Know Now," journey with our hosts Cole and Bilal as they delve into the raw and transformative stories of Nick Williams. Exploring life in and after the juvenile justice system, Nick opens up about his experiences of anger, the frequent run-ins with the law, and how he managed to turn his life around despite the grim circumstances. Discover how the abs...

Welcome back to another episode of "What I Know Now," presented by The Delta Project. In today's episode, hosts Bilal and Cole dive deep into the transformative journey of Elijah Howard Gonzales. Elijah, a 17-year-old who has navigated the challenging waters of the juvenile justice system, shares his poignant and powerful story. From his early struggles with the law at just 13, including his harro...

In this powerful episode of "What I Know Now" by The Delta Project, Guest host Ms. Shanda Vaughn and Cole Williams sit down with Anthony Flakes, a dedicated young father who has transformed his life from the juvenile justice system to responsible fatherhood. Anthony shares his emotional journey of becoming a father at 19, navigating financial pressures, and overcoming the absence of his own father...

In this profound episode of the "What I Know Now" podcast by The Delta Project , hosts Bilal and Cole sit down with Dominic, a young man whose life took a 180-degree turn after entering the juvenile justice system at the age of 14. With raw honesty and resilience, Dominic shares his journey from making poor choices rooted in peer pressure and lack of guidance to finding self-love, discovering the...

In this powerful episode of "What I Know Now," hosts Bilal and Cole delve deep into the world of juvenile justice with their esteemed guest, Jason Smith, the Executive Director of the Michigan Center for Youth Justice. With compelling insights from Bilal's own journey from high school dropout to youth advocate, we explore the critical intersections of personal transformation and systemic reform. K...

Hey listeners, welcome to a special recap episode of "What I Know Now," a podcast by The Delta Project. In this episode, we'll be looking back on our incredible first season and discussing some of the most impactful moments and guests we've had the privilege of featuring. We'll hear from our hosts Cole, Joel, Bilal, and our producer Caton Vance as they share their personal in...

Join hosts Joel and Cole in a transformative conversation with reggae legend Mykal Rose and special guest Bilal on this enriching episode of What I Know Now: A Podcast by The Delta Project. Dive deep into the lived experiences and wisdom of Mykal Rose, who opens up about his journey growing up in the challenging environments of Jamaica's ghettos. Mykal shares compelling stories of his near-vio...