Seeds of Change 2026 Premiere & Benefit

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SEEDS OF CHANGE 2026

Detroit Premiere & Benefit

Featuring the Detroit Premiere of What Grace Leaves Behind

An Evening of Storytelling for Justice, Change & Hope

What happens after punishment ends?

That question is at the heart of What Grace Leaves Behind, an original short documentary written and produced by Cecilia Amorita Zavala in partnership with Represent Justice.

Join Nation Outside for Seeds of Change 2026: Detroit Premiere & Benefit, an unforgettable evening where film, community, and purpose come together to inspire conversation and action.

Through intimate storytelling, What Grace Leaves Behind explores what happens after incarceration, not through statistics or headlines, but through the lived experiences of women rebuilding their lives. The film invites us to reflect on the care we offer one another, the dignity we extend, and what justice asks of us after punishment ends.

More than a film premiere, Seeds of Change is a celebration of the people, partnerships, and stories that remind us lasting change begins with those closest to the challenges. Together, we'll gather with community leaders, advocates, elected officials, philanthropists, and supporters to honor extraordinary changemakers, experience the transformative power of storytelling, and invest in a future where people directly impacted by incarceration are seen, supported, and empowered to lead.

Your Evening Includes

• 🎬 Exclusive Detroit Premiere of What Grace Leaves Behind
• 🍽️ Dinner
• 🍷 Two complimentary drink tickets
• 🎶 Live music & entertainment
• 🏆 2026 Seeds of Change Awards Ceremony
• 🤝 Opportunities to connect with community leaders, advocates, elected officials, and supporters from across Michigan

Honoring Our 2026 Award Recipients

Everett Seay Light Keeper Award

Delenia Howell

The Everett Seay Light Keeper Award recognizes individuals who embody service, leadership, hope, and an unwavering commitment to supporting others.

Delenia first joined Nation Outside as a peer participant before becoming a Peer Navigator, transforming her lived experience into a source of strength and encouragement for countless people returning home from incarceration. Her compassion, resilience, and leadership remind us that healing becomes possible when someone walks beside us and believes in our potential.

Seeds of Change Changemaker Award

State Representative Donavan McKinney

Representative McKinney has consistently championed policies that expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and elevate voices too often left out of conversations about justice and equity. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to economic justice and creating pathways for every Michigander to thrive.

Seeds of Change Changemaker Award

ProsperUs Detroit

Accepted by CEO Paul Jones

The Seeds of Change Changemaker Award recognizes organizations creating meaningful opportunities, advancing equity, and helping build stronger communities.

ProsperUs Detroit is being honored for its commitment to economic justice, entrepreneurship, and community wealth building. Through its investment in people and neighborhoods, ProsperUs has created opportunities that strengthen families, businesses, and communities across Detroit.

About Nation Outside

Nation Outside is a statewide nonprofit led by people directly impacted by incarceration.

Guided by the principle For Us. By Us. With Us., we work to transform the criminal legal system by advancing policies and practices that create pathways to dignity, opportunity, and belonging.

We believe the people closest to the challenges are also closest to the solutions. Every day, we work to ensure that people returning home have the opportunity not only to rebuild their lives, but to become leaders, advocates, and changemakers in their communities.

Why Your Support Matters

Every ticket purchased helps advance Nation Outside's mission to strengthen communities, expand opportunity, and ensure that directly impacted people lead the movement for lasting systems change.

When people returning home are met with dignity, support, and opportunity, families grow stronger, communities become safer, and hope takes root.

By joining us, you're not simply attending a film premiere, you are investing in a future where justice includes restoration, belonging, and the belief that people are capable of transformation.

Together, we are planting seeds that will continue to grow long after this evening ends.