Meet Our Team
Co-Founder, President
As an expert in strategic business development working with world leading executives, corporations, non-profits and social impact initiatives, Amy launched L!FE’s experience-based programming teaching the skills and confidence to achieve goals, independence, education and career success in Detroit to serve her hometown’s revitalization.
Amy Nederlander
Co-Founder, Curricular Consultant
Ms. Murphy’s career in education spans more than 25 years. She has designed curriculums for students and educators around a broad-range of subjects, taught students from pre-school (Head-Start) through graduate school, and has directed professional development courses for established educators.
Michaela Murphy
Executive Director
Born and raised in Detroit, MI, Maria Franklin, MBA, RDN, has dedicated her life to promoting positive behavior change within the Detroit community and Southeast Michigan. As a Michigan Chronicle 40 Under 40 honoree and 2023 Detroit Choice Awards recipient, Maria has a proven track record of success, notably expanding Detroit PAL’s community policing model and securing $7.5M in state funding. Now with L!FE Leaders, she upholds the same standard of excellence for youth programs, drawing on her experiences from Brazil to Dubai to foster inclusive opportunities. Maria is a proud Cass Tech graduate and Wayne State MBA alum.
Maria Ramos -Franklin
Program Coordinator
A Detroit native, Tanesha attended Martin Luther King High School and Wayne State University where she earned Bachelor’s and Master‘s Degrees in education. In addition to working with L!FE building curriculum, relationships throughout Detroit, and teaching Detroit’s future leaders, Tanesha is also an elementary school teacher in Detroit.
Tanesha McGhee
Student Associates
Associate Director of Youth Engagement
Current student in Psychology and Linguistics at Wayne State University, pursuing a career in criminal psychology. If it needs to be done, I'll find a way!
Angelica Williams
Producer , Detroit Youth Summit; Lead, Team Building Workshops
A Detroit Native, rap artist, songwriter, actor, and Journalism Major at Wayne County Community College, Curtis uses his talent to elevate and empower people.
Curtis Bates
Producer, Detroit Youth Summit
Mr. Cartwright has an unyielding will to develop equitable and sustainable local policy for his hometown of Detroit where he will lead in the future. A Detroit native, Mr. Cartwright has recently graduated from James Madison's College for Public Policy at Michigan State University. He possesses 10+ years of community organization experience. working diligently with Metro Detroit state representatives & community leaders. Mr. Cartwright has been with L!fe Leaders since 2016
Markuis Cartwright
Producer, Detroit Youth Summit;
Lead, Detroit Youth Summit Council
Logan Newman is a youth activist, professional basketball player and philanthropist from the Eastside of Detroit. He is a 2017 graduate of Detroit Institute of Technology at Frank Cody High School. Logan sits on the President’s Youth Council at the Skillman Foundation and is a former educator in Tradehouse Investment Group, the world’s largest minority-run investment group.
Logan is the CEO and Founder of 94Feet INC., and host of the Crashin’ Boards podcast. Logan is passionate about increasing financial literacy among youth and fighting for equitable change for American-Africans.
