Detroit Pistons Host Event Offering Second Chances

Summit provides expungement assistance, housing, and mental health resources to help community members get a fresh start.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 3:39am

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An abstract, expressionist painting featuring bold, neon-colored brushstrokes that capture the dynamic movement and energy of a basketball game, with players' forms dissolving into vibrant splashes of color.The Detroit Pistons' Social Impact Summit aims to provide community members with a fresh start through expungement, housing, and mental health resources.Today in Detroit

The Detroit Pistons are hosting their first Social Impact Summit on Saturday, offering a range of services and resources to help people get a second chance. The event, a collaboration between the Pistons, the NBA, and the city of Detroit, will focus on expungement, fair chance housing, mental health support, and civic engagement. Over 500 people have already registered for the summit, which coincides with April's Second Chance Month.

Why it matters

With one in three Americans having a criminal record, the ability to expunge eligible convictions can open up new opportunities for employment, housing, and other areas of life. The Pistons are leveraging their platform and brand to support the community and bring together various organizations to address this widespread issue.

The details

The Social Impact Summit will feature more than 30 nonprofit organizations providing services and information. Project Clean Slate, a free program that has helped Detroit residents clear their records for 10 years, will be on-site to assist with the expungement process. The event also aims to address fair chance housing and mental health, in addition to promoting civic engagement.

  • The Social Impact Summit will take place on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
  • April is recognized as Second Chance Month nationwide.

The players

Detroit Pistons

A professional basketball team based in Detroit, Michigan, and a key organizer of the Social Impact Summit.

NBA Social Justice Coalition

A joint venture of the NBA's Players and Coaches' Associations, which helped organize the event.

Project Clean Slate

A free program that has been helping Detroit residents clear their criminal records for the past 10 years.

Mannone Butler

The head of programs and partnerships for the NBA Social Justice Coalition.

Madeline Weekley

An expungement specialist with Project Clean Slate.

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What they’re saying

“What's so important is for us to work shoulder to shoulder, arm in arm with teams like the Pistons, to use the platform, to use the brand, quite frankly, to support our communities.”

— Mannone Butler, Head of Programs and Partnerships, NBA Social Justice Coalition

“We wish more people knew about it. We're trying to spread the word every day, even for people who are not city of Detroit residents. There are programs out there who provide free expungement services just like we do.”

— Madeline Weekley, Expungement Specialist, Project Clean Slate

What’s next

The Social Impact Summit will feature two sessions, one starting at 10 a.m. and the other at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 11. Registration is officially closed, but walk-ins are welcome.

The takeaway

The Detroit Pistons' Social Impact Summit demonstrates how professional sports teams can leverage their platform and resources to address critical community issues like criminal record expungement, housing, and mental health, providing second chances and unlocking new opportunities for those in need.