--- title: L3 Catalyst Group | D.L. McKinney (they/them) description: D.L. McKinney D.L. McKinney, MPA (they/them) Co-owner of Paradigm Shifts Consulting & Director of Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center at GVSU DL is a Detroit native turned GVSU “Laker for a Lifetime” Grand Rapids resident. With a work history that is everything but orthodox. DL boasts a hefty career in laboratory science, business leadership, and social justice change. They serve as support to QTPOC folks as a member of various West Michigan community committees focusing on wellness, homelessness, equity, and social change. D.L. continues to work from a lens of racial and social justice to support individuals and communities in building their capacity to challenge internal and external systems of oppression to create sustainable change. DL is currently the Director of Grand Valley State University's Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center, and Co-owner/Principal Consultant of Paradigm Shifts Consulting. image: https://l3catalystgroup.com/hubfs/Website%20Graphics/L3%20Catalyst%20Group%20-%20Featured%20Image.png --- [Skip to main content](https://l3catalystgroup.com/blog/author/d-l-mckinney#main) [![L3 Catalyst Group](https://l3catalystgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo/L3%20Catalyst%20Group%20Logo%20-%20Horizontal.png?width=250&height=72&name=L3%20Catalyst%20Group%20Logo%20-%20Horizontal.png) ![L3 Catalyst Group](https://l3catalystgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo/L3%20Catalyst%20Group%20Logo%20-%20Horizontal.png?width=250&height=72&name=L3%20Catalyst%20Group%20Logo%20-%20Horizontal.png) ![L3 Catalyst Group](https://l3catalystgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo/L3%20Catalyst%20Group%20Logo%20-%20Horizontal.png?width=250&height=72&name=L3%20Catalyst%20Group%20Logo%20-%20Horizontal.png) ![L3 Catalyst Group](https://l3catalystgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo/L3%20Catalyst%20Group%20Logo%20-%20Horizontal.png?width=250&height=72&name=L3%20Catalyst%20Group%20Logo%20-%20Horizontal.png)](https://l3catalystgroup.com) - [How Can We Help?](https://l3catalystgroup.com/how-can-we-help) - [About](https://l3catalystgroup.com/about) - Show submenu for Resources Resources - [Blog](https://l3catalystgroup.com/blog) - [Events](https://l3catalystgroup.com/events) - [Testimonials](https://l3catalystgroup.com/#testimonials) - [FAQ](https://l3catalystgroup.com/faq) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [How Can We Help?](https://l3catalystgroup.com/how-can-we-help) - [About](https://l3catalystgroup.com/about) - Show submenu for Resources Resources - Resources - [Blog](https://l3catalystgroup.com/blog) - [Events](https://l3catalystgroup.com/events) - [Testimonials](https://l3catalystgroup.com/#testimonials) - [FAQ](https://l3catalystgroup.com/faq) - Search - [Get in Touch](https://l3catalystgroup.com/contact) [Get in Touch](https://l3catalystgroup.com/contact) Search [L3 Catalyst Group Blog](https://l3catalystgroup.com/blog) [Subscribe Now!](https://l3catalystgroup.com/blog/author/d-l-mckinney#subscribe) # All articles from D.L. McKinney (they/them) #### [liberation • December 13, 2023 Liberation: Navigating the Mess to Be Yourself](https://l3catalystgroup.com/blog/liberation-navigating-the-mess-to-be-yourself) [Read article](https://l3catalystgroup.com/blog/liberation-navigating-the-mess-to-be-yourself) ![D.L. McKinney (they/them)](https://l3catalystgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/D.L.%20Headshot.png?width=72&name=D.L.%20Headshot.png) [D.L. McKinney (they/them)](https://l3catalystgroup.com/blog/author/d-l-mckinney) D.L. McKinney D.L. McKinney, MPA (they/them) Co-owner of Paradigm Shifts Consulting & Director of Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center at GVSU DL is a Detroit native turned GVSU “Laker for a Lifetime” Grand Rapids resident. With a work history that is everything but orthodox. DL boasts a hefty career in laboratory science, business leadership, and social justice change. They serve as support to QTPOC folks as a member of various West Michigan community committees focusing on wellness, homelessness, equity, and social change. D.L. continues to work from a lens of racial and social justice to support individuals and communities in building their capacity to challenge internal and external systems of oppression to create sustainable change. DL is currently the Director of Grand Valley State University's Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center, and Co-owner/Principal Consultant of Paradigm Shifts Consulting. [Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlmckinneympa/) #### Topics - [liberation](https://l3catalystgroup.com/blog/tag/liberation) - [learning](https://l3catalystgroup.com/blog/tag/learning) - [learn](https://l3catalystgroup.com/blog/tag/learn) - [liberate](https://l3catalystgroup.com/blog/tag/liberate) [![L3 Catalyst Group](https://l3catalystgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo/L3%20Catalyst%20Group%20Logo%20-%20Horizontal_White.png?width=250&height=74&name=L3%20Catalyst%20Group%20Logo%20-%20Horizontal_White.png)](https://l3catalystgroup.com) - [How Can We Help?](https://l3catalystgroup.com/how-can-we-help) - [About](https://l3catalystgroup.com/about) - [Blog](https://l3catalystgroup.com/blog) - [Events](https://l3catalystgroup.com/events) - [Testimonials](https://l3catalystgroup.com/#testimonials) - [FAQ](https://l3catalystgroup.com/faq) - [Contact us](https://l3catalystgroup.com/contact) ©2026 L3 Catalyst Group. All rights reserved. - - -