Michael DeLeon Biography

Michael R. DeLeon, a successfully adopted ex-offender who spent 12 years in state prison and halfway houses for a gang-related killing following nearly 8 years of drug addiction and gang membership. Michael entered a guilty plea in a very emotive and convoluted case involving the assassination of his own mother by assassins hired to kill him. DeLeon is now on a mission to teach the kids about the need of staying on the straight track when it comes to significant life challenges, including drugs. He is now the most in-demand school speaker in the country. DeLeon is the creator and driving force behind Steered Straight Inc., a non-profit organization he founded after his release from jail in 2007 to educate kids about the grave risks of drugs, gang membership, and other criminal behavior. In 2018, DeLeon visited over 615 schools in 40 states and has no plans to stop. He is the foremost authority on vaping and contemporary drug trends among teenagers. The program of Steered Straight goes out to children, teenagers, and young adults with a message of realism about life choices and the necessity of consequential thinking so that they realize that their actions have consequences. The message's authenticity comes from DeLeon himself, who was engulfed in a drug-fueled lifestyle and traversed a perilous path to his future. DeLeon currently heads a team of outstanding speakers that provide a realistic and effective prevention message around the country. His message of "no holds barred" is enthusiastically received by student assemblies, teachers, and parents. Steered Straight's media arm, Stay In Your Lane Media, was formed in 2012 by DeLeon and has produced four award-winning documentaries: Kids Are Dying, An American Epidemic, Marijuana X, Road to Recovery, and Higher Power. DeLeon has also created a number of public service announcements and educational and instructional movies about prevention and recovery. DeLeon established "The Recovery Army," a Steered Straight, Inc. endeavor. The goal of the Recovery Army is to recruit everyone to fight the addiction epidemic. In a Recovery Army Tour bus, he travels throughout the country, visiting communities with educational tools, videos, and literature. He goes to schools, prisons, jails, treatment facilities, churches, and community groups, giving tailored teachings and presentations to each group. He documents Hope and Recovery tales and has over a hundred video clips on the Recovery Army website. DeLeon has obtained three associate degrees, a baccalaureate degree in business management with a minor in criminal justice, and a CADC Educational Certificate since his release from jail. Michael is now working on his Tobacco Specialist Certification from the University of Kentucky School of Nursing, as well as his Masters in Social Work from Liberty University School of Social Work and his LCADC.

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