Cecilia Zavala is the Executive Director of Nation Outside, Michigan’s only statewide nonprofit led by and for system-impacted people. She oversees strategic growth, multi-million-dollar contracts, and statewide operations, guiding a team that delivers trauma-informed, peer-led reentry services and drives criminal legal system reform. Under her leadership, Nation Outside has built the state’s first Trauma-Informed Peer-Led Reentry (TIPLR) program, secured national recognition, and expanded partnerships across corrections, philanthropy, and community organizations.With more than 25 years in nonprofit leadership, Cecilia has held senior roles at Latino Family Services, the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, and Safe & Just Michigan. She has led large-scale program development, policy advocacy, organizational restructuring, and fund development initiatives, positioning directly impacted leaders at decision-making tables. A Mexican American woman who is system-impacted herself, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her role, championing equitable access, second chances, and the power of community-driven solutions.