Greg Mathis
Judge Greg Mathis, is the youngest elected judge in Michigan's history.
Early life
Mathis was born on April 5, 1960 in Detroit, Michigan. Raised by his mother, Mathis' troubled upbringing and membership in the Errol Flynns gang is documented in his 2002 autobiography, Inner City Miracle. After attending Herman Gardens Elementary School, Peterson Seventh Day Adventist School, and Wayne Memorial High School, Mathis earned his GED through Operation Push while on juvenile probation in 1977. Mathis received his B.S. degree in public administration from Eastern Michigan University in 1982 and his J.D. degree from the University of Detroit Law School in 1987.[1]
Activism
Mathis led the Free South Africa and voter registration campaigns at Eastern Michigan University. In 1983, Mathis joined the staff of Detroit City Councilman, Clyde Cleveland and volunteered for Operation Push and Reverend Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign in 1984. In 1986, Mathis, his wife Linda and some friends formed Young Adults Asserting Themselves (YAAT) and opened four preschools in Detroit. Chosen to head Reverend Jackson's 1988 presidential campaign in Michigan, Mathis later worked as the manager of Detroit's Neighborhood City Halls for the late Mayor Coleman Young. In 1995, Mathis was elected to Michigan's 36 District Court and in 1998, Warner Brothers Television launched the Judge Mathis Show.
Featured prominently in both the print and electronic media, Mathis has received many awards and honors. A chairman of Rainbow/PUSH-Excel board, a lifetime member of the NAACP and a member the Southern Christian Leadership Conference board.[2]
Claude Black Heroes Gala
The Claude Black Heroes Gala, an event commemorating San Antonio Communist Party USA sympathiser Rev. Claude Black was held at Sunset Station, San Antonio, March 29th 2010. Attendees included Judge Greg Mathis, Host Taj Matthews (grandson of Claude Black), Tommy Calvert, honorees State Senator Leticia Van de Putte, SAEN Columnist Cary Clack, Choco Meza & husband, Danny Meza, & Jeyynne LeBlanc Burley, Councilwoman Mary Alice Cisneros & Rachel Sakai, Mayor Julian Castro & brother State Rep. Joaquin Castro, Byron Miller & judicial nominee Dinoroh Diaz, former Councilman Art Hall, Adam Zeldes, State Senator Carlos Uresti, Joshua Bailey, Alice Guerra, UTSA Professor Dr. Richard Gambitta & wife, Sherri Gambitta, Sunset Station.[3]
“Ban The Box”
Florida A&M University’s law school hosted a forum November 2015 for the national “Ban The Box” campaign with a panel featuring attorneys, social activists and influential people in academia.
The highly esteemed panelists included the star of the show “Judge Mathis” and social activist Judge Greg Mathis; FAMU alumnus and author Anthony Dixon; Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum; civil rights attorney Ted Shaw; Umi Selah, formerly known as Phillip Agnew, the executive director of the Miami-based Dream Defenders; Sharon Ames-Dennard; and Judge Belvin Perry.
“Ban The Box” is a campaign advocating for the end of structural discrimination against people with conviction and incarceration histories, primarily in the areas of hiring and housing policy, according to bantheboxcampaign.org.
FAMU President Elmira Mangum said in a released statement that “Ban the Box” is only a small portion of the social injustices that have been arising.
“I believe ‘Ban the Box’ discussions are a part of a much broader set of issues concerning social justice that students need to be aware of,” Mangum said. “We have to seek solutions through inclusion.”
The campaign asks employers to remove questions regarding conviction history from their employment applications and to adopt hiring practices that give applicants a fair chance.
Nineteen states have put in place statewide fair-chance policies, according to nelp.org. Although Florida is not one of those states, Tallahassee, Tampa and other cities in the state have adopted the fair-chance policy.
The forum discussed what they believed to be the apparent root of so many incarcerations of young people. Anthony Dixon said incarceration is a cycle that thrives off of hopelessness and lack of education.
The forum also tackled the issue of inequities and discrimination formerly incarcerated people face, African-Americans particularly. Judge Mathis said the denial of equal opportunity and a failed education system is to blame.
"Mayor Andrew Gillum, who was being honored the same night for his service to the community at the Root 100 Gala, said people who have done time should be able to start from a clean slate.
“I believe people who have paid their debt to society ought to be given the chance to make it in our community. Finding employment is one of the biggest challenges that formerly incarcerated people face,” Gillum said.[4]