Meet The Team

Jerjuan Howard is the Founder and Executive Director of Umoja Debate League and the owner of the soon-to-be Howard Family Bookstore. In addition to that, he is a proud product of Detroit Public Schools. Jerjuan is an author, veteran, and community builder dedicated to uplifting Detroit through education, empowerment, and revitalization.

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Through Umoja Village and the Howard Family Bookstore, Jerjuan has revitalized his childhood neighborhood. Founded in 2021, Umoja Debate League equips Detroit youth with critical life skills like critical thinking, confidence, and conflict resolution. The league is a pipeline for future lawyers, leaders, and changemakers. Umoja Village, once a neglected space, is now a vibrant community hub featuring gardens, art installations, a community tool shed and a performance stage.

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A U.S. Army National Guard veteran and Information Technology Specialist, Jerjuan earned the Army Achievement Medal for his service. Jerjuan is a 2020 graduate of Western Michigan University with a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice, where he also served as President of the Black Student Union. His book, A Message to Black College Students, encourages young Black scholars to uplift their communities.

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Jerjuan has served as an Academic Interventionist with Detroit Public Schools and as Special Projects Coordinator for Detroit City Council, where he led key initiatives like the Taskforce on Black Male Engagement and gun violence reduction programs.

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His contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the Detroit Pistons Game Changer Award, the Spirit of Detroit Award, the Skillman Visionary Award, and Community Change Agent of the Year. He also serves as a 2023 Fellow in the Equity Accelerator for Youth Development Cohort and works on the Advisory Board for the University of Michigan’s Detroit Vacant Lot Reuse project.

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Through his dedication and vision, Jerjuan Howard continues to inspire and transform his community.

Deon Davidson is a distinguished figure in the debate and political advocacy arenas, known for his exceptional achievements and impactful leadership. A celebrated high school debater, Deon earned the title of 5th Top Speaker in the country and Quarterfinalist at the National Association of Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL) Championship. Deon also received a full-tuition scholarship to debate for the University of West Georgia. While attending college, he achieved recognition as Jamaica's National Finalist in the 2019 Northern Caribbean University National Championship Tournament.

With over 11 years of debate coaching experience, Deon has demonstrated a deep commitment to fostering excellence in debate education. He has established and led six debate programs across Detroit, mentoring countless students and inspiring the next generation of critical thinkers and advocates. His coaching accolades include achieving to be Umoja Debate League’s first champion coach for Henry Ford High School in the 2024.

Deon has shared his expertise as a lecturer for esteemed institutions and organizations, including the Detroit Urban Debate League, Morgan State University, University of Michigan, Coppin State University, Chicago Urban Debate League, Whitney M. Young Magnet School, Towson University, and Laney College. As a lead alumni ambassador for the NAUDL, Deon continues to promote the transformative power of debate on a national scale.

In addition to his contributions to debate, Deon has demonstrated a passion for political advocacy and community empowerment. He has served as Political Manager under the Executive Office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and as Black Outreach Director for the Michigan Democratic Coordinated Campaign. Currently, Deon is a statewide Manager for the Black Voters Matter Fund, where he connects Black-led nonprofits to financial resources and opportunities for expansion, driving meaningful change and amplifying Black voices across Michigan.

Deon Davidson’s career reflects a dedication to leadership, education, and advocacy, leaving an indelible mark on both the debate and political landscapes.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan Jeorgia Jones is a product of Detroit Public Schools. She always had a sense of discontentment with the life she saw around her and knew that she was destined for more, not just for herself or her family but to also bring to the city that she loves. Jeorgia furthered her education at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and completed her degree in Communication at Oral Roberts University. She is creatively in tune, with specialties in Writing and Directing. Jeorgia plans on producing film projects that will be on your very own screens that not only entertain but incentivize change within us and our world. Jeorgia is a woman of faith and passion, and she plans to fearlessly blaze the trail that God has set before her.

Leah Webb, a proud Southfield native, has always been deeply passionate about community building. Growing up, she spent weekends with her nana, who lived on 7 Mile and Wyoming. In her nana's basement, Leah watched as she styled the hair of the neighborhood women, exchanging services in a spirit of mutual care. Her nana was often gifted seeds for her own garden, lawn services from the grandchildren of the ladies she serviced and countless other acts of generosity that brought the neighborhood together.

It was in those moments, surrounded by the cycle of giving and receiving, that Leah first understood the power of community and the importance of relying on the village around you. Her nana's backyard garden, which produced fresh vegetables that fed a family of seven, became a symbol of the deep connections that nourish not only the body but the spirit of a community.

Leah later graduated from Western Michigan University, earning a degree in Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice. After college, she traveled abroad, immersing herself in different cultures. This experience opened her eyes to the social injustices that impact communities worldwide and the crucial need for systemic change.

Returning to Michigan, Leah spent several years substitute teaching, where she realized that real change starts with the youth. In 2022, she joined the Umoja Debate Team as a volunteer, driven by a desire to provide healthier food options for students and improve the effectiveness of debate practices. Her work as a Garden Manager soon followed, where she continued to cultivate fresh, organic produce for the community, reaffirming her commitment to nourishing both people and the neighborhoods we call home.

Darcell Brown Jr. is the Operations Manager of the Umoja Debate League. He was born and raised on the Eastside of Detroit and has been actively a part of public speaking, speech and debate programs for 15 years. Darcell started off as a high school competitor in the Detroit Urban Debate League where he gained a passion for the activity as well as finding a space where he can thrive intellectually. While competing in high school, Darcell obtained numerous top speaker awards, city championships, and qualifications to major tournaments like the Urban Debate National Championship his senior year. He would continue his passion for debate through college while also continuing to volunteer with the Detroit Urban Debate League by judging and coaching various programs to competitive success.

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Seeing the transformative power that debate had on him as a teenager and young adult, Darcell took on the role as Operations Director for Umoja Debate League in order to continue to provide access to debate as a vehicle for community development and youth education. Darcell simultaneously held this role while obtaining his master’s degree at Wayne State University in Communication Studies while also coaching their college policy debate team to wins over top competitors across the country. He seeks to continue this commitment through working with Umoja Debate League to train future visionaries and leaders of our community!

Jaida Morgan is a Westside Detroit native committed to empowering youth and giving back to her community through education and advocacy. She has always known she wanted to dedicate herself to helping young people succeed, inspired by the impact of programs that helped her grow and thrive. This passion drives her to create and support opportunities that empower young people to reach their full potential.

Since joining Umoja Debate League in 2021, Jaida has been an integral part of its growth and development, helping fulfill its mission of empowering youth through debate, education, and community building. She has held a variety of roles within the organization, contributing to its expansion and long-term sustainability.

In addition to her leadership at Umoja, Jaida serves as a school social worker with Detroit Public Schools Community District, where she supports the social, emotional, and behavioral growth of students. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work from Central Michigan University and her Master of Social Work from Wayne State University. Her experience includes three years with CMU’s TRIO Upward Bound Program in Detroit as a Mentor and Program Assistant, further deepening her passion for youth development.

Through her LLC, Wholistic Learning Gems, Jaida provides culturally responsive tools and resources to support the holistic growth of youth, educators, and families. Guided by the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” and the principle that “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men” – Frederick Douglass, Jaida remains devoted to preparing the next generation of change makers and fostering a legacy of empowerment within her community.

Taylor serves as the Strategic Development Manager for Umoja Debate League, leveraging expertise in nonprofit strategy, grant writing, and youth leadership development. Since joining the organization in January 2023, Taylor has secured significant grant funding, driving Umoja’s expansion from 4 to over 20 fully funded sites. A former undefeated debate coach with the league and an alum of rigorous national and international youth development programs, Taylor brings a deep commitment to equipping students with the skills to succeed and lead. Her vision was pivotal in launching transformative initiatives like Umoja’s 2024 cross-cultural exchange in Ghana, which facilitated the first-ever debate between American and African students on Ghanaian soil.

With a background in public health and economics and ongoing graduate studies in sustainability and development, Taylor is deeply passionate about education, equity, and community empowerment. She continues to cultivate strategic financial partnerships, develop innovative programs, and ensure Umoja’s long-term sustainability, empowering Detroit’s youth to lead transformative change in their communities and beyond.