"We take great pride in honoring our outstanding achievers and give special recognition to dedicated volunteer, motivator, and change creator William Kitchen. Thank you for the life-changing work; may it never be forgotten." #Celebration #Achievement #Volunteer Recognition

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William Kitchen III's journey from incarceration to community leadership embodies the transformative power of resilience. A former gang member, Kitchen embarked on a journey of self-reflection and growth while incarcerated. When released in 2021, Kitchen founded the Redemption Coalition, joined the Fresh Coast Alliance, and developed a curriculum based around chess to teach about impulse control, discipline, and structure. He brought the chess curriculum to Pathfinders of Muskegon and helped organize several poetry slams to give youth an outlet to express themselves. He also helped organize a large black history program. As a motivational speaker for the Muskegon County Prosecutors Office and the office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency, he has spoken to more than 20 schools and routinely visits the Juvenile Detention Center. He now works with the Michigan Department of Corrections Office to guide adults as well. 'The MDOC was at one point in my life my biggest adversary,' Kitchen said. 'Now they are one of my greatest allies.' He is pursuing a degree with Grand Valley State University where he was tapped to co-teach a course on Interdisciplinary Studies. '[Kitchen’s] journey from incarceration to community leadership defies expectations, yet it epitomizes the transformative power of service,' said Dominique Bunker of United Way of the Lakeshore.