Meet MJ (Maleeka) Jihad of MJCF: Coalition

Today we’d like to introduce you to MJ (Maleeka) Jihad.

Hi MJ, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In school, I never dreamt of being in the child trafficking industry. Because that’s not how it was “packaged” to me. I did not identify, that myself, has also been a survivor of (governmental) child trafficking. Well, that is what the child welfare/child “protection” business is. The legalization of children human trafficked. Those impacted are usually children of color and children who come from improvised backgrounds.

In 2012, after completing my degree in social work from Tulane University, I moved to Denver Colorado. The first job I was able to obtain was that of an in-home therapeutic service provider. My duty was to help support families threatened by separation (due to child welfare involvement) and stay together. I soon discovered how much power and influence attorneys that represented “children’s best interest ” had on the outcomes of these venerable peoples. I then became a clinical consultant/advisor alongside children’s attorneys as a way to help make and support (culturally respectful) decisions surrounding the outcomes of the families.

In 2017, I launched my consulting firm (MJ Consulting) and expanded my clientele to work alongside attorneys who represented indigent parents in dependency and neglect (child welfare) court cases. Specializing in systemic racism within the child welfare industry, and cultural genocide of Black, Brown, and Indigenous families, I soon became an expert in the state of Colorado regarding these topics.

However, it was not until I began working with, training, and mentoring parent advocates, that I realized that I was a part of the system and had unknowingly administered harm to my community by being a “professional” in this field. Parent Advocates are parents that have had system involvement, by the child welfare industry (usually by having their children removed) and supervised by the government. It was then that I had one of my colleagues (a parent advocate) refer to me as a child trafficker. He explained to me that he was forcefully removed from HIS parents as a child.

Spent his entire childhood in over 30 foster homes (most of them neglectful and abusive towards him and his siblings), then “aged out” of the foster care system, and was streamlined into the criminal legal system. He then went on to say that money was exchanged at every “new placement”, hand which HE never saw/was given. He was vigorously put on multiple psychiatric medications, though he was too young to consent to these strong mind-altering drugs, and as a parent himself, would not allow HIS children to be placed on medications that powerful.

He went on to say he was repeatedly ignored when he begged to be placed back with his parents. He then asked me, how is that NOT Child Trafficking? That was when it hit me, I (even as an impacted individual, also) was forcefully removed and separated from MY family as a child, (and was a victim of this system as well). Parent Advocates, the ones I was to “educate” about the system, were schooling me! Due to my educational and professional positions in this industry, I became institutionalized.

Meaning, that I stopped questioning the why and was unable to identify the extent of damage this industry has not only had on me and my family but also on my community. This “system” was meant to do exactly what it was created to do. To dismantle families, specifically Black and Indigenous ones. Billions of dollars have helped build, protect, and maintain this business. It has been PERFECTED, at the cost of millions of people generationally. Most importantly, I was part of it. Part of the destruction of individuals, families, and communities.

That is when I decided to dedicate my life to the abolishment of the child welfare (family policing) industry. It is my responsibility, as a social worker to do better! With my community educating me and holding me accountable, I gracefully began to “right” my wrongs. I developed the MJCF: Coalition organization in 2019, with many other amazing, brilliant, and resilient human beings. The MJCF: Coalition is an anti-racist agency that centers on those who have been negatively impacted by the foster care system. And calls for the change and reparations to those it damaged.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not (it has not been easy)! Never in White America have I seen this country have the moral maturity and or capacity to do what is right. Especially for the vulnerable populations of people. Abolishing a system that secretly while simultaneously proudly destroys families, creates generational trauma, and labels it as “saving children” is…. sick.

So not only am I fighting individual professionals, but also institutions that embody colonization and racism. I am fighting against an ideology. A false narrative that is embedded into this country’s identity. It is extremely draining both mentally and emotionally. However, I will continue to fight for my community… By ANY means necessary.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about MJCF: Coalition?
The MJCF Coalition is a grassroots, antiracist, non-profit organization. For and by people directly impacted by the family policing system (Child Welfare – Child Protective Services) nationwide. We strive to create a supportive and healing community for children, parents, and kinship through our services. We continue to make positive developments through education, advocacy, and policy changes to systems that negatively impact vulnerable communities.

Yearly (the first Saturday in June), we protest at our state capitol (in Denver Colorado), to raise awareness of the racism intertwined within the family policing system, and call for its abolishment. We also hold therapeutic support groups for those who have been harmed by this industry. One, including our phantom grief therapy group. Our phantom grief therapy group fosters a safe and therapeutic environment for parents that have legally lost the rights to their children, by having them terminated by the (child welfare) court system.

We are a strong community. Inspiring other impacted individuals to create their own, and or join our community, including our international supporters.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Shout out! I enjoy connecting with people in MANY WAYS. The best way to reach me is via email at mjihadlaw@gmail.com.

And the best way to connect to the community to learn/be a part of is to join the Coalition, by signing up (provide your email addresses), and you will receive information regarding events (including webinars, trainings, and updates). Https://www.mjcfcoalition.com/.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mjcfcoalition.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjcfcoalition/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjcfcoalition
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mj-maleeka-jihad-0b769556
• Youtube: https://www.mjcfcoalition.com/media?wix-vod-comp-id=comp-kzhh2ykj