Aref Nagi

Aref is a native New Yorker of Yemeni descent, having earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (1998) and Bachelor of Arts in Near-Eastern and Asian Studies (1999), from Wayne State University, Detroit. While residing in Michigan since 1982, Aref was an entrepreneur formerly owning numerous businesses in the Detroit metropolitan area including Pancho Villa’s LLC, Aqua Exotics, Instinct Bar and Grill, Janitorial Services Unlimited, and Danaj Investments LLC.

Aref is Program Director for Steps2Change an initiative of For the Community (FTC) established in 2017. Steps2Change will provide youth mentorship and job placement for the formerly incarcerated. As Vice President/Treasurer for The Adolescent Redemptive & Restorative Program (TARRP), teaches gang intervention, civic engagement training, and power of grind success courses to youth and as jail diversion in the counties that contract TARRP.

Currently a collaborator with Michigan Liberation as a volunteer core member for Care not Criminalization, and he is a mentor in the Kingsmen Group, a national organization that helps guide federal prisoners upon their release. As a part of Detroit Action he has been trained in building power within impoverished communities to foster positive change in its citizens. With Michigan United, and Nation Outside he has helped them facilitate programs, prepare events for returning citizens and assisted in assessing their members to ensure effectiveness and program quality.

Aref, formerly incarcerated In the Federal Bureau of Prisons for 15 years, has mentored and facilitated classes for Reentry. Was one of the executive committee members while in FCI-Sandstone. Overseeing over forty individuals on the general reentry group at the institution. Facilitated interfaith classes for the Chaplain and a liaison between the chaplain and the visiting Rabbi Gershom that came into the institution.