Dr. Brian Banks, J.D., Ph.D., has committed his life to confronting broken systems head-on and expanding opportunity for communities too often denied access, voice, and power. His relentless commitment to transforming public education and the criminal justice system is not theoretical—it is forged through lived experience. Having personally navigated the very systems that continue to fail too many Detroit youth, Dr. Banks understands the consequences of inequity, neglect, and lowered expectations, and he has dedicated his life to ensuring that young people are not defined or limited by circumstance.

​

Dr. Banks’ life story mirrors the realities faced by countless at-risk youth across Metro Detroit. Raised in a low-income, single-parent household and shaped by instability, limited resources, and environments not conducive to learning, he knows firsthand how easily potential can be overlooked or discarded. Yet it is precisely through perseverance, discipline, and purpose that Dr. Banks transformed adversity into agency. Today, he stands as living proof of what is possible when belief, accountability, and opportunity intersect—making him both a credible leader and a powerful example for Detroit’s most vulnerable students.

​

As an educator, author, civil servant, and entrepreneur, Dr. Banks embodies tenacious, transformative leadership across the public education, advocacy, criminal justice, and political sectors. He does not merely speak about reform—he builds institutions, shapes policy, and creates systems that demand excellence while extending grace and support.

​

Dr. Banks holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education from Wayne State University, a Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law, a Ph.D. from Walden University, and a School Administrator Certification from Wayne State University. Because of his passion and lived experience, Dr. Banks identified a critical gap in Metro Detroit’s educational landscape: the absence of schools intentionally designed to prepare traditionally underserved and at-risk students for leadership in law, civic engagement, and public service. In response, he founded Purpose Charter Academy School for Law & Public Service, a mission-driven public charter school rooted in the belief that exposure, rigor, and literacy change life trajectories. 

​

The mission of Purpose Charter Academy is to empower ambassadors from traditionally underserved and at-risk communities through a rigorous, high-quality education centered on the fields of law and public service, with a double-dose approach to literacy. The school strives to inspire and equip its ambassadors with strong academic foundations, advanced critical thinking skills, and ethical grounding necessary for success in high school, college, and ultimately, the legal profession and public service careers.

​

Dr. Banks currently serves as Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer of MacDowell Preparatory Academy, a K–8 public charter school serving nearly 400 scholars on Detroit’s northwest side. Drawing from the obstacles he faced as a Black male growing up in Detroit, he has built systems of accountability that foster academic excellence, cultivate educator growth, and strengthen trust and partnership between schools, families, and the community.

​

In his book, It Had 2 Happen: The Agony of Success, Dr. Banks recounts his “Revelation Day”—a defining moment when he stood before an Oakland County Circuit Court judge who affirmed the greatness she saw within him and challenged him to give back to his community. Rather than allowing the moment to pass, Dr. Banks seized it as a mandate. That encounter became the catalyst for his unwavering commitment to advocacy, leadership, and service.

​

Answering that call, Dr. Banks emerged as a powerful voice within civic and political spaces. On November 6, 2012, he was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives and later chosen by his colleagues to serve as Chair of the Detroit Caucus. Over three terms, he earned a reputation for accessibility, grit, and results-driven leadership. He was a steadfast champion for equitable school funding and policies that expanded access to quality education and college readiness—regardless of zip code.

​

Dr. Banks holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Administration from Wayne State University. He earned his Juris Doctor, with a concentration in Criminal Law, from Michigan State University College of Law, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy & Administration from Walden University. He is a member of Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Bishop J. Drew Sheard.

​

At his core, Dr. Banks is a mentor and builder of people. He remains deeply committed to walking alongside Detroit’s youth—especially those most at risk—helping them navigate challenges, defy odds, and envision futures grounded in purpose, service, and leadership. He is frequently sought as a keynote speaker for Youth Day services, college-readiness initiatives, education panels, second-chance programs, and criminal justice reform forums.