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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
March 7, 2025
Contact: Cheri Hardmon
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Department of State, community partners launch fourth season of Road to Restoration program with a clinic in Kalamazoo
*KALAMAZOO, Mich. – *The Michigan Department of State (MDOS) and community partners kicked off the fourth year of the Road to Restoration program Thursday with a clinic in Kalamazoo. Over 180 attendees received expert advice from MDOS staff or volunteer attorneys on the steps they need to take to restore their driving privileges.
The program is in partnership with the Michigan Department of Attorney General, DTE Energy, Miller Canfield, Detroit Justice Center, Michigan Association of United Ways, and Michigan 2-1-1. Mt. Zion Baptist Church hosted Thursday’s clinic – its third time as a host location.
“We are very excited to be back in Kalamazoo for another Road to Restoration clinic,” *Abigayl Venman, director of the Road to Restoration said.* “Since its inception, the program assisted nearly 10,000 Michiganders in learning what is needed to safely return to the road. It will continue to change lives this year with clinics scheduled throughout the state. As always, we are so thankful for our ongoing partnerships that have made this program the success story that it is.”
“Road to Restoration is another way of empowering people, so that they can do for themselves and do for others,”* said Rev. Dr. **Addis Moore, senior pastor at Mount Zion Baptist Church. “*Our mission here at Mount Zion is actually empowering people to transform themselves and the community. So, this is a way that really makes our community better whenever we can lift up people in our community, it actually lifts our entire community.”
“I don’t care what lane you are in in life, you always need your license,” *said Marcus Moran, who received his permit at Thursday’s clinic*. “I don’t care what is on your record or what has been on your record, when you come here, they will work with you.”
Representatives from the 8th District Court and Kalamazoo Defender were also in attendance at Thursday’s clinic. The Kalamazoo Defender covered court fines, driver’s license restoration fees, and more thanks to a grant from the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. These costs are not commonly covered at Road to Restoration clinics.
“Not having a valid driver’s license can create significant barriers to daily tasks like getting to work, dropping children off at school, or picking up life-saving medications,” *said Melody Woods, village operations director at the Kalamazoo Defender.* “At Kalamazoo Defender, we are especially concerned about the risks faced by community members—particularly marginalized individuals—who are pulled over while driving without a valid license. Black drivers, in particular, are more likely to be stopped, searched, and arrested during traffic stops, leading to a criminal record. Thanks to a generous grant from the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, we’ve been able to remove this barrier for Kalamazoo County residents by covering court fines, driver’s license restoration fees, and more, helping restore hope, independence and peace of mind. The smiles on community members faces after ringing that bell is priceless. This marks our third year participating in the clinic at Mt. Zion, and we’re already looking forward to next year.”
“I enjoy being a part of this program, working with our fellow community members, and the Kalamazoo Defender has been extremely helpful today and I am enjoying getting to see the happy side of what we do every day,”* said Scott Coffee, deputy court administrator with the 8**th** District Court. *“I think it's convenient of having us all in one location and we're within steps of each other. Normally this process would take a day or two, but here they are able to take care of business with us and then head over to the Secretary of State's mobile table and be done.”
The Road to Restoration program is a public-private partnership created after state laws that took effect in 2021 lifted license suspensions [ [link removed] ] for drivers who failed to pay tickets and court fines or who failed to appear in court for certain non-moving violations. MDOS canceled infractions on the driving records of more than 350,000 Michiganders under the law [ [link removed] ], but many people still need to take additional steps before their driving privilege can be restored. The clinics are free of charge, but some participants may be required to pay past fines.
The next Road to Restoration clinic will be March 11 in Lansing. Additional clinics are scheduled for Benton Harbor, Royal Oak, Gaylord, Petoskey, Traverse City, and more communities throughout the state. For more information about the program, to find a clinic near you, and to sign up for an upcoming clinic, visit Michigan.gov/R2R [ [link removed] ] or dial 2-1-1.
The clinics *do not provide* DUI expungement services and license reinstatement is not guaranteed.
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MDOS Road to Restoration Kalamazoo
Sharon Seay with the MDOS Office of Hearings and Administrative Oversight conducted a class on the administrative hearing class with attendees at the Kalamazoo Road to Restoration clinic.
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MDOS Road to Restoration Kalamazoo
A clinic attendee spoke with a representative from the 8th District Court in Kalamazoo.
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MDOS Road to Restoration Kalamazoo
Staff from the Michigan Department of State greeted Kalamazoo community members as they checked into the clinic.
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