Have you ever been to Detroit? If you haven’t, you’re not alone. When planning family trips, Detroit is probably not one of your top three favorite destinations. When most people think of the city, these words may come to mind: gritty, impoverished, dangerous, abandoned. And, during my first experience there, I would have agreed with you.
Several years ago, I was invited to Detroit to provide training to youth workers from all over the city. For several weeks, we moved throughout the city, connecting with some of the most amazing, resilient and committed youth advocates. Over time, I grew to love this hardy city and its people. My initial reservations about Detroit were indelibly affected as I witnessed the effort youth were making to change their lives with every bit of resources made available to them. Story after story described kids making extraordinary efforts to finish high school, get out of gangs, go to college while being caregivers, find viable employment. They attacked obstacles and goals with the same ferocity and persevered, defying the odds.
This year, Detroit is giving the world a glimpse into the hearts of their youth through the Detroit Youth Choir featured on America’s Got Talent. This group melds two of my most cherished life sources, working with youth and making music! I am once again awe-inspired by the bold joy the students expressed through song; they are clearly in pursuit of greatness! This is the city I know! To be a Detroiter is to be resilient, courageous and strong. I want to be a Detroiter!
Watching their performance tonight, I find myself reflecting on the universal challenge we all face: working in the dark. We have all been there, toiling relentlessly at a goal when no one else is paying attention. Shedding blood, sweat and tears over something that mattered deeply to you but, seemingly, no one else cared about. Are we committed to diving into the deep over and again to see our dreams come to fruition? Will we yield to the planning and preparing that comes with accepting the challenge? Achievement doesn’t happen overnight; it will require unerring focus and a relentless work ethic that most people will not see. But I wonder how fulfilling life would be for us all if we committed to living a purposeful, abundant life?
Watch this clip and ask yourself, “Am I a Detroiter?”