Carrying the torch forward: Introducing new MIP Executive Director Tahir Atwater

 

As MIP continues its vital work of fighting against wrongful conviction and supporting those who have been harmed by it, we’ll do so under the guidance of a new Executive Director: Tahir Atwater. 

 

As long-time leader Tricia Rojo Bushnell moves on to become the Executive Director of the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice, Tahir arrives at MIP ready to carry forward — and build on — the critical work she spearheaded for over a decade. 

 

The foundation and direction are already set. Now it’s about working together to gain more momentum and expand impact.

 

“There have been so many times in my life, especially being a person of color, where I felt like I was the person who was looked to to hold the torch up and say, ‘Hey, this is wrong,’ and speak truth to power,” he said. “I find myself at MIP being surrounded by people who are already carrying it. It’s no longer about lifting up the torch; it’s about maintaining. You never put it down.”

 

Tahir’s work will start this summer with one-on-one meetings with each staff and board member, along with MIP clients. He’ll channel those conversations into goals and priorities, while also getting to know the network of people that make MIP special.

 

“What is it about MIP they like? What is it about MIP that fuels them?” Tahir said. “What are their visions for the future? They’re the experts. They are very much a Sensei to me at this point.”

 

A history of championing community, equity, and fairness

 

Tahir lives by a personal mission statement: “I want to be a champion for belonging and equity in every space I’m a part of.” Fighting on behalf of those who have been wrongfully convicted felt like one of the most “powerful places” he could stay aligned with that true north. 

 

Throughout his career, Tahir has been a champion of equity, diversity, and justice. Before joining MIP, he was at Jackson County CASA, which trains community volunteers to act as special advocates for children in the family court system.

 

The child welfare and criminal legal systems are different worlds. But both can be complex, frustrating webs filled with pitfalls. At CASA, Tahir learned how to effectively work alongside teams of lawyers and paralegals who are often making their way through murky systems. 

 

“How do I, as executive director, ensure our team has all the tools necessary to keep doing the work they’re already doing?” he said. “What can I do to put more resources behind them rather than being an obstacle in front of them? They’ve already got plenty of those.”

 

In his work at CASA, Tahir learned another important lesson. Helping communities that have been harmed or marginalized isn’t about “giving” them a voice. It’s about empowering those people to develop and use their own voices. 

 

In the world of wrongful conviction, that philosophy is critical. 

 

“When I think about the work at MIP, I think of a population of people who often go overlooked, who are often described as needing a voice,” he said. “No, their voice is already there. Their voice is loud. You’re just not listening. So what can we do to open people up to what they’re saying?” 

 

Sharing MIP clients’ stories in a way that inspires people to action — not just sympathy — will continue to be an organizational focus under Tahir’s directorship.

 

Forging ahead, despite the challenges 

 

In a uniquely challenging legal environment like the Midwest, resilience and determination are must-haves for anyone joining the fight. And while Tahir brings his own perseverance, he’s also inspired even more by the entire MIP staff. 

 

Over the last 24 years, MIP has expanded from a small regional office with only 1 employee to a team of 17 . Although MIP’s litigation is focused on its five-state region — Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa, and Nebraska — it’s evolved into a nationally respected leader within the field. 

 

Every scrap of that progress has been hard-won by the entire MIP team. And it’s a trajectory Tahir is excited to join, support, and drive forward even more.

 

“The staff here has had to work for everything — they’re given nothing and have to fight for everything,” Tahir said. “Typically, that kind of thing might scare someone away, to know it might be an uphill battle, and you have to keep rolling this boulder uphill. But it’s pretty infectious when you see the people you get to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with while you’re doing that work.”