Jamall Bufford
ExeCutive Director
Jamall Bufford is a visionary nonprofit executive, accomplished recording artist, educator, and civic leader whose career bridges the worlds of music, education, youth development, and social justice. As Executive Director of Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper (WMBK), part of the national initiative launched by President Barack Obama, Bufford leads innovative efforts to dismantle systemic barriers and expand educational, economic, and leadership opportunities for young Black and Brown men.
Under his leadership, WMBK has expanded its impact through school-based mentoring, restorative practices, intergenerational engagement, and groundbreaking initiatives such as Formula 734, which harnesses the transformative power of hip-hop to cultivate creativity, confidence, and career pathways. Bufford also co-founded CLR Academy, an innovative youth development program integrating education, athletics, mental wellness, and community leadership. The academy's model has inspired programming beyond Michigan and earned recognition from the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office in 2026.
Long before his nonprofit leadership, Bufford established himself as an internationally acclaimed hip-hop artist known as Buff1, rising to prominence with Athletic Mic League, earning critical acclaim as a solo recording artist, and touring internationally with The Black Opera, a pioneering performing arts hip-hop collective.
A University of Michigan graduate, Bufford previously directed music programming at Ann Arbor's Neutral Zone and worked with students in Ann Arbor Public Schools. A trained restorative practices facilitator, he also serves on the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission.
Whether commanding a stage, mentoring young people, or building transformative community partnerships, Bufford brings an artist's imagination, an educator's insight, and an executive's determination to create lasting opportunities for the next generation.