Meet Leigha Wickham

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Leigha Wickham. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Leigha below.

Leigha, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

It took time to build self-esteem and truly make it a part of my daily life. Confidence followed once I recognized and embraced my personal power. My mother says I’m pretty, hahahaha.

Both self-esteem and confidence are learned behaviors. Growing up, my role models didn’t embody either—but they did have optimism and a sense of humor, even if it was often self-defeating.

I align with Maslow’s perspective on human behavior, particularly his Hierarchy of Needs. This framework outlines a progression from basic survival needs to self-actualization—the fulfillment of one’s highest potential. If a person is unable to meet the foundational needs at one level, it becomes incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to fully engage with the next. Many people remain stuck in survival mode, unable to move forward because their most essential needs remain unmet. I liken to Gotham City’s infamous, and my personal favorite, Bane with respect to survival “I was born in it, molded by it…”

Stepping out of survival mode and into a place of truly living took time, resources, and intentional guidance. I needed space to reflect—safely and honestly—on my life and the possibilities ahead. Once that vision of my future began to take shape, the next step was learning to connect and engage with others. Socializing became a necessary part of growth, helping me integrate that new sense of self into the world around me.

Unchecked, ego often exposes a person’s deepest insecurities. I had to confront my own ego and examine the core beliefs that shaped my worldview—many of which were rooted in fear. These beliefs weren’t inherently mine; they were inherited, passed down through generations and reinforced by societal conditioning often disguised as truth. Facing them required honesty, courage, and a willingness to unlearn what I once accepted without question (my mother said…).

I refer to the process of self-reflection and analysis as deprogramming—a deliberate unraveling of inherited beliefs and conditioned behaviors. For me, the desire to deprogram—and the work involved—sparked a sense of self-worth. I genuinely wanted to become a better version of myself and reconnect with who I truly was. That reconnection to my authentic self became the foundation of my confidence.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I founded Mile High Legal Assist (MHLA) five years ago, and shortly after, launched the MHLA Center—a nonprofit extension of the firm. While MHLA has experienced steady success, the MHLA Center has faced more challenges and hasn’t gained the same traction.

After nearly four years of relentless self-promotion and operating without funding, I hit a wall. I felt the weight of defeat and seriously considered walking away. But then it struck me—if I quit, who will?. That realization pushed me to reflect on everything I had accomplished through the MHLA Center. I looked back at the people we had served, the impact we made despite the odds, and it reminded me why I started in the first place. That perspective gave me the strength to keep going.

Despite operating solo and with zero funding, the MHLA Center still managed to make a meaningful impact in the Denver metro community. We launched several initiatives, including a vocational workshop at the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility and facilitated rights and liberties discussions at La Paz Micro Community. We also volunteered with the Hope Farms Project, which generously offered equine therapy sessions to our members. These efforts, though grassroots and under-resourced, created real opportunities for connection, healing, and empowerment.

Taking inventory of the MHLA Center’s accomplishments over the years reignited my passion and purpose. I revisited our mission: to empower individuals with firsthand experience of incarceration by recognizing their talents and perspectives. Our goal has always been to create economic opportunities for our members, promote social equity within the legal profession, provide critical insights into the effects of the criminal legal system, and highlight to the broader legal industry a rich, often-overlooked source of legal knowledge and expertise.

In reflecting, I realized we had strayed from that original vision. But acknowledging that drift was the first step toward realignment—and a renewed commitment to our core purpose..

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I used to play Marvel vs. Capcom, and one thing that always stuck with me was how the game encouraged players not to give up—no matter how tough that last boss was. That message applies here, too. Knowledge and skill aren’t instant; they’re earned along the journey as you build and refine your vision. The key is staying focused, and if you veer off course, don’t panic—just redirect. And most importantly, give yourself grace. Life happens. Setbacks are part of the process, and how you respond is what really defines the outcome.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

Like most people, I have many sides to who I am—and one part that most don’t know about is that I’m a DJ. I got my first set of turntables at 17, and the first record I ever spun was RUN DMC. Some might say I never really “grew up,” but in my eyes, I never sold out. I DJ here in Denver under the name Styleigh, primarily spinning Drum and Bass, with a little House now and then.

Recently, I teamed up with Denver DJ S2PS, and together we perform as a duo called Catch N’ Feels, spinning a mix of UK Garage and Drum and Bass. This summer, we’re bringing the vibes to several events and pop-ups around the city. Come catch some feels with us—you won’t want to miss it.

For me, art is an outlet. Playing loud music is my form of expression and release. And when I get to share that energy with others—that’s what’s golden.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.milehighlegalassist.com
• Instagram: Styleigh2501 and dj_s2ps
• Facebook: MHLA Center
• Linkedin: leigha-wickham
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/Lc1WUtuFs4dMap1Dcy Styleigh and https://on.soundcloud.com/EmroGLpCQSEwLAv85p S2PS
• Other: UKG Proper has been posting weekly mixes and is an avid supporter of Catch N’ Feels, soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/Pjvjg5vrPrWnpH8Iel

  Devon Simmons: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devon-simmons-312016104/

  Paralegal Pathways Initiative: https://www.linkedin.com/company/paralegal-pathways-initiative-at-columbia-law-school/