ABOUT MIKE HUGGINS
Trusted Leader in
Trauma-Informed Justice Transformation
A Life Dedicated to Change
Mike Huggins is a nationally recognized leader in trauma-informed approaches for personal growth and transformation within the criminal justice system. His work is grounded in lived experience, deep professional expertise, and a steadfast belief that every person has the capacity for change when given the right tools and support.
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Mike’s journey is not just professional — it’s personal. Having experienced incarceration himself, he knows firsthand both the challenges of confinement and the possibilities for profound transformation. His memoir, Going Om, chronicles his own path of self-discovery, healing, and resilience through yoga and mindfulness while in prison.
From Lived Experience to System Change
From Lived Experience to System Change
After his release, Mike committed his life to helping others in the justice system access the same tools that changed his own life. He became a certified yoga and mindfulness instructor, focusing on trauma-informed practices tailored for people impacted by incarceration.
As a leading facilitator with the Transformation Yoga Project,
Mike has delivered hundreds of classes in prisons, jails, and reentry programs — offering accessible, choice-based practices that help participants regulate emotions, reduce stress, and reclaim agency over their own lives.
BUILDING PATHWAYS TO SECOND CHANCES
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In addition to his work on the mat, Mike is a catalyst for entrepreneurial empowerment within the justice community. He founded the Pennsylvania chapter of Defy Ventures, a national nonprofit that provides entrepreneurship, employment, and personal development programs to currently and formerly incarcerated individuals.
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Through Defy Ventures PA, Mike has helped participants develop marketable skills, launch business ideas, and reenter their communities with dignity, purpose, and a renewed sense of possibility.
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STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP
THROUGH MDH ADVISORS
As founder of MDH Advisors, Mike extends his mission by guiding nonprofit organizations — especially those in the justice reform space — through change, growth, and strategic alignment.
His work with boards, executives, and mission-driven teams ensures that programs are not only impactful but also sustainable.
"...Mike's message centers on our own spirituality and challenges us to discover our inner strength to help us identify what is truly important in our daily lives..."
- M. Daley, PhD
RECOGNITION AND IMPACT
Mike’s unique combination of lived experience, executive leadership, and trauma-informed expertise has made him a sought-after voice in justice reform, reentry strategy, and nonprofit leadership. His contributions have reached:
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Thousands of incarcerated individuals across Pennsylvania and beyond.
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Correctional leaders seeking to create safer, more rehabilitative environments.
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Community partners and funders committed to breaking cycles of incarceration.
WHY THIS MATTERS
For Mike, this work is more than a profession — it’s a calling. His mission is simple but profound:
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“To help people impacted by the justice system discover their own capacity for healing, growth, and transformation — and to equip organizations with the tools to make that possible.”
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