Debra Wright

Debra is a formerly incarcerated person in long-term recovery. She graduated in 1995 from the University of Michigan and is a licensed Master Social Worker and is currently employed as Manager of Outpatient Substance Use Disorder Programs at Catholic Charities of Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties. Debra previously worked in Ann Arbor and opened and managed an Engagement Center, a sobering facility and program that was used as a model by numerous counties throughout the state. She worked for a legal services agency providing services to people with HIV in Michigan and has five years of experience administering housing programs for people with HIV in Detroit. Debra is past secretary on the Board of Directors of the Washtenaw Recovery Advocacy Project. She is currently on the Board of Nation Outside, a state-wide group of formerly incarcerated people who advocating for change in Michigan, and is a member of the Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration. As part of her advocacy, Debra has been on Capitol Hill numerous times to advocate for legislation regarding addiction, recovery, and criminal justice. She also provided testimony to the Michigan Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse Task Force which was headed up by the Lieutenant Governor.