At Haraz Coffee in Detroit, over steaming cups and the gentle hum of conversation, I sat down with two remarkable individuals who are changing lives one homecoming at a time. Dr. Perkins, my mentor at Dream of Detroit, and Brother Dawud, a prominent community figure from the Dexter-Linwood area, were about to open my eyes to the real work of reentry and community healing.
Dream of Detroit runs several neighborhood revitalization initiatives, but none more personal than Project Homecoming—a reentry program specifically designed for formerly incarcerated Black American Muslim men. As their new summer intern, I came prepared with nine pointed questions about everything from restorative justice principles to the program’s personalized approach. What I discovered challenged everything I thought I knew about second chances.
The Impossible Hurdle Course
The challenges don’t end with broken family ties. Brother Dawud walked me through the nearly impossible requirements placed on people reentering society. Imagine having just one month to obtain essential identification documents, secure employment (or risk returning to prison), and find stable housing—all while carrying a criminal record and zero credit score.
These aren’t just bureaucratic inconveniences. They’re the fundamental building blocks of a functioning life, made almost insurmountable by the very system that’s supposed to facilitate successful reentry. As Brother Dawud put it perfectly: people are “rightfully convicted, wrongfully sentenced.”
The Heart Inside of DREAM’s Project Homecoming
What makes Project Homecoming different is people like Brother Dawud, who prove that personality and passion can survive even the harshest conditions. Before incarceration, he earned both law and medical degrees, working as an EMT and paralegal. Behind bars, he became the “Legal Beagle,” leading the inmate advisory council and successfully suing the state of Michigan to have Ramadan recognized as an official holiday within the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Today, he channels that same strategic energy into Project Homecoming’s personalized approach. He maintains a vetting process that spans 1-2 years, staying in touch with currently incarcerated individuals and addressing their needs before they’re even released. As the project’s house manager, he’s building something unprecedented—a pathway home that actually works.
Brother Dawud dreams big, too. He talks about his love for baking that developed during incarceration, his plans for a breakfast food truck, and his continued advocacy for his “brothers” still inside. The program is developing subprograms focused on life skills education and on-site trade training—teaching drywall, electrical work, and other essential capabilities through a burgeoning partnership that will create a dedicated trade house.
Join the Movement Home
Brother Dawud’s story isn’t just inspiring—it’s a blueprint for what’s possible when communities invest in real solutions. Project Homecoming represents more than a reentry program; it’s a recognition that coming home should mean actually having a home to come to.
DREAM of Detroit needs supporters who understand that true public safety comes from giving people genuine opportunities to rebuild their lives. Whether through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading awareness, every contribution helps break down the barriers that keep families separated and communities fractured.
The Future Is Homecoming
Project Homecoming challenges us to see beyond the easy narratives about crime and punishment. It asks us to envision a Detroit where second chances are real chances, where reentry means restoration, and where community healing happens through community action.
Brother Dawud’s journey from “Legal Beagle” to house manager shows us what’s possible when we invest in people rather than just policies. As Project Homecoming prepares to restart and welcome new participants, it stands as proof that the most powerful transformations happen when we build bridges instead of walls.
The work continues, one homecoming at a time.
