November 3, 2024 • 31 mins
Tarence discusses how powerless kids often lack the resources, support, and opportunities that can help them thrive. Forming connections with powerful friends-mentors, peers with influence, or supportive adults- can significantly impact their lives.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Light Up the D, focus on what's happening
in our community from the people who make it happen.
Here's your host, iHeartMedia Detroit Market President Colleen greg Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
And welcome to another episode of Light Up the D.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
I'm your host, Colleen Grant, and I'm so glad you're
joining us today because we have a very special guest.
His name is Terrence Wheeler, and he's the executive director
of political and community Engagement for the Detroit Public School
Community District. Terrence has over twenty years of experience in
community relations and philanthropic activities, specializing in community and corporate
(00:35):
partnerships and relationship building. And you'll see why in just
a minute. But you'll also soon hear that Terrence's greatest
passion is helping enrich the lives of at risk young
people throughout the Detroit area and as a result, boy
oh boy, his efforts and deep love for our community.
It was amazing the list of numerous community awards and
honors that he's received as a result of his caring heart.
(00:59):
So from the Detroit Public School Community District, please join
me in welcoming Terrence Wheeler. Terrence, We're so glad to
have you with us today.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to
come before you.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
We're going to have a great conversation, and I can
feel it because I see from our conversation we had
just before we're talking today that you really have a
giving spirit and giving heart, And I just kind of
want to start with your background and how you came
to the place you are today, what brought you to
be somebody who it's so important to you to serve
(01:30):
your community and give the love that.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
You have to give.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
First of all, you know, thank you for allowing me
the opportunity is to grace and mercy bestowed upon me
that will not be in vain. I'm a typical West
Side of Detroit individual growing up in the seventies where
I had a mother that was on drugs and a
father that was absent. I spent about two hundred and
forty minutes with my father my entire life, and three
(01:53):
of those hours was at his funeral. I'm giving him
the extra hour and maybe came back when I was
a baby. I didn't know, but I've had so many
other positive men. I had a grandfather, I had an uncle,
I had coaches that did their job. You know, oftentimes
you grew up in these environments and you feel like
you can't escape, you can't make it out. It is
not your conditions, but yet your decision making that determines
(02:14):
your destiny. And so growing up playing sports, I was
able to leave my community and see other places by
going to all star camps. But once again I was
trying to replace the individual that God had already removed
out of my life. And so therefore, my high school
coach was pivotal. My AAU coach was pivotal. These were
men that were giving back to their community that wasn't
(02:34):
asking you for anything. I had a coach that would
pick me up at three thirty outs every day after school,
take me to basketball practice, take off, take all the
other players to practice, drop us off back at home.
I had no idea what plant life was like, working
at GM on his feet all day, caring for young people.
So I said, Lord, if I ever had the opportunity
to give back, I'm want to do so. And so
when you think about today you're born, that dash in
(02:56):
between the day you're born that you die, what is
represent what's your legacy? I'm chased legacy to let young
people know that I had the same conditions you did.
I wasn't smarted to be but I worked hard. I
worked hard, I seized a moment. I took advantage of
every opportunity. I want to be the most resourceful man
in America for young people because college, once they get
to school, they've done their job. Their success is predicated
(03:18):
on adult participation. How can you help that child across
the finish line? How do you love them past their pain?
Oftentimes we're judging young people not knowing the terrain in
which they come from. These kids are on a bus
stop with folks are trying to rob them. Someonere being
the sexy assaulted. Some are being molested every day they
come to school. They come to school hungry. If you're
hungry and you're homeless, you know, think about homework. We're
(03:40):
need even more compassionate from adults. I promise you adults
would quit. They have to endure what young people go
through every day just to get this one loving, caring adult.
And I am so thankful that I was able to
have several in my life in spite of not growing
up at a traditional household. I'm talking about growing up
where being in drug rais early age. My mother was
(04:01):
not only using drugs, but she was selling drugs. So
I grew up in a functional drug house. And so
the drugs that was being sold were tall ones, values
and riplers. That's what you give kids today for add
Then they moved on to heroin and other things. And
so being a part of that life, you understand that
how good people can make bad decisions. But I don't
know what happened in her life, what drove her to
(04:23):
drugs and alcohol. I have no idea, but I know
there was a number of people that were a part
of that, who were parents of my friends. And I said,
that will never happen to me. These are good people
that made some bad decisions. But sometimes it happens because
you're not strong enough to overcome.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
But Terrence, what would you say in the you know,
in that whole part of your history, what was pivotal
that made you go that's not for me? How did
that come about for you?
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Just seeing my friends mothers and fathers addicted to drugs,
going through a series of evictions, coming home from fourth grade,
and all your stuff is set out on the curve,
like you know, just like you have no value. And
I said, I'm going to make sure that never happens
to me. It never happens to me and my children.
I'm gonna work extremely hard to make sure that I
have what's necessary to sustain the household and be consistent.
(05:14):
And then what drives me though, is I see kids
who look like me every day coming to school on
the bus stop, and so we're judging kids said, well,
why she had that's a little short dress, so maybe
that's all she has. Why is this kid sagging showing
underwear maybe as to have a belt. If we took
the time out to make sure a kids had every resource,
those kids can be successful. Colleen, listen, buriers belong on freeways.
(05:36):
Down to education, we've got to reduce the number of
non academic barriers education. Families are making trade offs. Do
I buy food? Do I pay my utilities? My utility assistance?
So because I have my licesn gas cut off. Before
we started programs and building relationships with DTE, so we've
probably helped with the rears, maybe fifteen million in rearges,
helping families just get to them tomorrow. Because every day
(06:00):
kids are begging for adults to do their job. That's
all they want you to do. And I'm so thankful
I had those loving care and adults in my life.
So I have to replicate what Perry Washing game to me,
what Sheryl Harshaw did for me, what doctor Grandison did
for me every day, making sure that you have safety.
That school was a safe haven for young people. No
one should die going to school.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Oh my gosh, I so moved right now. I have
to like take a big breath. I just so moved
with what you just said. Let's stop for a sec
and talk about you said the relationships with TTE Like,
tell us what you do for a living that allows
(06:43):
you to create these relationships that actually make a difference
to these kids.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
You know, when I was in the schools on a
daily basis, I was sitting at lunch room and I
would talk to young people, and I beg of staff.
I beg of anybody working with kids. I don't care
if you are a bus aid, a lunch ad, a
hal monitor, if you're interacting with young people. And I
speak to you every day, and I'm intentional about building relationship.
I speak to you every day. That's five days a
(07:08):
week's times four weeks. That is twenty contacts over ten months.
You have two into contacts with that kid. You know
that kid, You built a relationship that kid now trust
you or don't trust you, and based on that trust
the kid, allow that kid to open up a little
bit more. Every program we've done has been surrounded by
some kid telling me I need this, This is where
I need to come to school. Listen to young people.
(07:30):
They'll tell you what they need the best, the best
anecdote to Povery's opportunity. Give these kids opportunity to go
places to see other things by talking to young people. Hey,
mister Wheeling, my LiF's and gas cut off. I said, oh,
I got to get in front of that. If we
know that in Michigan that you have inclement weather, you
know what, you know what's coming November, December, January. It's
gonna below zero. So you can get in front of
(07:52):
that in August and start to have relationships with your
utility companies. Build programs that can put parents or the
payment assistance or get the rear just pay for same
thing in the spring. Now you know, you know these
things are gonna happen. So how do we alleviate these
non academic barriers. It's adults saying I care enough about you.
(08:13):
Every day is count day. Every day you have to
be accountable to young people. They've been on Earth two
onuns months. They don't know enough, they don't have jobs.
They're born in these situations. So I need loving, caring
adults to say, you know what I care. I'm going
to do what I can to help you, to mentor you,
to be an advocate for you, to make sure you
have every opportunity to be successful.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
So what are some of the most pressing needs that
kids have today?
Speaker 4 (08:37):
I'm talking about basic needs, food, water, shelter. When I'm
we had our food pantry, you would have people showing up.
And I don't care what kind of car you drive,
because I'm not here to judge anybody. Because folks have
driving calaxes, could be living in that caliac. You don't
know what their situation is. Anytime you have a gallon
of milk that costs you more than a gallon of gas,
(08:58):
that's a problem in this country. And so we have
got to make sure that we have the resources for
young people. Because young people are adulting nowadays thirteen fourteen, fifteen,
they're running a household. But yet I'm trying to go
to school. I'm trying to take care of my siblings.
I'm trying to get good grades, but I haven't had
a good night sleep. So we naming kids Heaven, but
got them living in hell. So we've got to do
(09:20):
more various coats, belts. I'm talking about paths and penny
liners college. I'm talking about young ladies who come in
to school knowing that this is going to happen, but
don't have what they need. So we jumped in front
of that because I met a kid named Rosa in
the hallway and she was crying. Said, mister Wood, am
on my period. I don't have any paths. So we
started the Feline Hygiene Campaign, collected fifteen thousand paths in
(09:43):
penny liners a year today, so young girls can go
to different rooms throughout these buildings and get what they
need and come back to school.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Yeah, I mean I have to stop here. I mean
that we even have to have a campaign to get
those kinds of products for people, or a pair of
shoes for people, or a pair of I mean, come on, really, yeah,
you know we.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
Throw away stuff. I mean you're talking about we can't
partner with the Dunams with a foot locker with anybody,
say listen, you got the resources. You're not selling them.
They're gonna be discontinued. Why not give them to a
school district. When I give them to a boys and
girls club, when I give them to somebody in the
community who's doing good work. Follow the folks are doing
(10:24):
good work, best practices, do work, and do matter oftentimes.
And I'm blessed because I don't have to go through
the blow of bureaucracy because of our relationships with athletes
and entertainers. So before we started going to companies partnering,
I have friends who are in the NBA, friends in
the NFL, and they trusted what you were doing because
they come from the same conditions. If not us, then
(10:45):
who If not, now they'll win them. What are we
waiting on? I'm not waiting on somebody to send me something.
I'm going to go out and build that relationship that
we're poor and we're gonna match synergies. We're gonna help
these young people.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
So when we talk about the Detroit Public School Community District,
what kinds of resources are available to people who need
real help?
Speaker 4 (11:02):
I mean DPSCD. First of all, being a child at DPSCD,
it was dps when I was there, makes me just
my heart is full. When you come back home and
be able to do good work in school districts that
you come from. There's a plethora of things that's happening
on the upside with dps It's resources for families. There's
all kinds of career opportunities for our young people. But
(11:24):
it's really meeting the deeds of kids, meeting them where
they are and taking them where they need to be.
It's the whole child. He said, I'm gonna wrap my
arms around the entire child. Everybody has to have a
buy in, from that bus aid to lunch aid to
the superintendent, everybody have a buy in.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
How many people do you work with to help children?
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Oh, I got several volunteers. We know it's different programs.
Every program is different. For our All Star Getback we
may have one hundred volunteers. But the Femine Hygiene Campaign,
we could have anywhere from ten to twenty that are
collecting around the city and we drop them off at
various spots, a rec centers, we dropping them off at
different schools. Say this is what you need, we're gonna
help you.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
Well, let's talk about that all start give Back Thanksgiving
Turkey Drive. Tell us about that and what's coming up.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
So this is our twenty seventh annual All Star give
Back Turkey Drive years. We started with Derrick Coleman from
the NBA Legend, started with two hundred turkeys on Lynnwood
and Taylor. Now we're up to about four thousand annually
with all the trimmings. But we also because we've been
doing this so long, we add different things every year,
car seats, gloves, hats, light led light bulbs from DTE.
(12:29):
Just trying to provide some reprieve for our families because
if you're in line for this for food, you may
be need in line for renders assistance. So we partner
with Awayne Matchew to help folks. You don't just kind
of get a nudge ahead to make it to tomorrow.
If you can win today, who's wance you just win today.
Everyone has to understand that you're going to win. Don't
(12:51):
trip off the win. So follow me on this. You're
going to wi in, don't trip off the whe in.
It's gonna happen. Just keep striving, keep going, don't quit,
be relentless, unapologetic about your commitment to getting better.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
You know, you said a couple of times things that
I was really moved by, which was, in essence, don't
judge the child. No, you know, you never know what's
going on. And we've heard so many stories over the
course of the years of people who've been judged and
the assumption was made and the child was actually hurt
by the judgment.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Yes, you know, and it was completely false.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
You know, I think that was a really great point
that you brought up, that you just never know what's
going on with people.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
You have no idea what's happening with anybody that you
run across.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Anybody.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
A simple hello can change anything. It can stop you
from a suicide attimt. It can stop you from thinking
out about of depression. It can encourage you. You have
got to encourage and influence people that tomorrow's going to
be better than today. Yes, you're going through something. You
got ten minutes to build you a cry, build you
a bridge, and get over it. Because life goes on.
You're gonna be okay. You're gonna just keep going. Don't
(13:54):
give up. Quitters never win, and winnows never quit. But
if people are judging you, not knowing where you're coming from,
all of a sudden, now you're saying, well, why is
that person on the side of the road. Someone will
work for food. You don't know that they just had
terminal illness, got laid off from their job, maybe the
loved one died, maybe the finances are now in shambles.
It was to know, for out of their own we're
(14:16):
all one phone call, one email away from your life
being different.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
It's true. It's true. There are two comments I'd make
to that.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
One is, when I was younger, my older sister read
a book and it was something of the nature of
give them an a, something like something like that, and
it was basically, give a person an a before you
give them an f right, you know, like assume you know,
assume the best about somebody when you meet them, before
you assume the worst. So I always think, you know,
somebody cuts you off in traffic, and your first response
is to get annoyed or angry, or somebody you know
(14:43):
doesn't hold the door open for you, or somebody doesn't
you know, help you when you have a need, and
you just assume the worst about them. That oh, they're
rude or oh they're unkind or not thoughtful, or they're
not generous or whatever it is, and you just never
know if you give them an a first yes and
assume that maybe they have something going on that is
prevent them from being what you think they should be,
whether it's right or wrong, that that actually gives them
(15:05):
the grace you know that you had mentioned when you
first started, the grace that you you know that helps
you be a better person right from the start.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Yes, the unmerited grace that you're giving every day. You
have to transfer that to somebody else because there's moments
where you may be that that driver on the freeway
with a little role raised because you ran running late,
and you may not be the best the best version
of you that day. Ethical care less judge, be more help.
(15:35):
You've got to stop judging people because you don't know
what they're going through. And everyone that is on the
side of the road is not a drug addict. Some
are running from domestic violence situations. I mean, when you
got this is what our implorer, our administrators ethical care
empathy because you don't know if that kid may be
sleeping in the car. I've had incidents with kids were
(15:55):
staying in the car, and certain administrators were judging them
based on the homework wasn't none, But if the light
is out in the.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Car, how they going to do homework right in the car,
in the car, right in.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
The freezing car. They running for safety in schools, to
be a safe avory. Today's education, today's world education wasn't
designed for this kid. The plethora of grievances that they
come with every day. Look for somebody just to love
on a one champion, to love, be passed my pain,
(16:28):
pass my conditions, to believe in me, and to empower me.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
But greatness, Yeah, I mean, these are just kids. They
don't want to start their life this way. They didn't
ask for all the challenges that are.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Pistowa on them.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
And sometimes the choices they have to make just to survive, yes,
you know, are not ones that they ever would have
naturally have made. So you know, if you consider that
and you you know, and that what got them there,
and then instead of addressing you know, the maybe the problem,
finding out what caused it just you know, gives you
such a better opportunity to.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
Help someone go back to the relationship building. Yeah, you know,
and so Oftentimes Initially kids don't tell you what what
I was going on. But once you build that rapport
and you break that wall down, they know that I
could count on you, that you're not gonna out me,
You're not going to tell anybody my business. That I
can trust you. They tell you more. Now you can
lean in and figure out what other resources you can
bring to the table. And I'm talking about kids who
(17:22):
from the LGBT community, kids who I don't care what
I don't I don't care what your sexuality is. You
deserve to learn in a safe environment, and if I'm around,
You're going to learn in a safe environment.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Terrence, Oh my gosh, I just love you so much.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
I just have to tell you that.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Because I love children, and I love that you love
children and that you're so deeply devoted.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Clearly, how long have you been doing this.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
I've been working with children over twenty five years, And
like I said, it goes back to having those adults
in the building when I needed them. Having a surel
Harshaw helped me fill out my financial aid and my
pal grunt when I was getting a basketball scholarship to
as Gonna Say University, but also having a high school
coach Perry Wassa, who is the goat in terms of
just having you use basketball and let basketball use You
(18:09):
talked about the importance of education, and because I had
a mother that I was on drugs, I did not
want her coming to the school to embarrass me in
any kind of way based on her physicality. And because
I didn't have a father, I used that fuel athletically
to want to outplay the child that had a father
come into the game. So that dysfunction cured me for
(18:29):
a long time, and so I realized that I needed
some help in terms of releasing that. Releasing that and
understanding that the people you were trying to retain God
had already replaced.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
So you've really started talking about how basketball helped build
your whole character. Yeah, that seems to be a kind
of a fundamental part of your decision making.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
Yeah, basketball sports in general taught me about life. It
is a microcosm of life and how you have resources.
But if you're not a good steward over your resources,
you can lose. You can have a game in a bag.
You'll be up by three and lose by two because
of turnovers. You're not a good steward over your resources.
But if you also know how to team build. You
got five guys on the court at one time, all
(19:14):
got different personalities. How did you, as a point guard
could get them on one accord for us to win
this game and to win the championship? You established long
term relationships. You have some discipline, some dedication, some accountability.
All those things are transferable skills and adult life.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Terrance, you previously introduced former President Barack Obama at Belle Isle.
I mean, what an honor.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Tell us about that incredible day.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
I remember it was October thirty, first of twenty twenty.
I get a call asking would i'd be interested in
introducing former President of Barack Obama during the pandemic, and
I said, of course, and I had did some previous
work with him when he was running for president, and
so it was an honor to be able to introduce
him in my city, in a place in the park
(20:01):
that I played at that I can just many many days, uh,
and during the pandemic where you had people just dealing
with different emotions, I know how proud my grandmother would
have been. And so the title of my autobiography will
be from the Dope House of the White House, and
that's because of my interaction with former President Obama and
being able to showcase the kids that you can come
(20:22):
from humble beginnings and still reach the highest office of
the land.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
That's that's really inspiring. You know, you brought up the pandemic,
and you did a lot of work during the pandemic.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
You were a very busy person.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
Yeah, it was the pandemic really just opened my eyes
up to hunger and how poverty has no zip code.
And so when the pandemic, when it was when the
height of it, you know, schools were shut down and
kids are calling you saying we're hungry, because kids also
used school as a place to eat. And so I
started to go by our kids' house. I started with
a program called we Love You Friday's when I was
(20:56):
dropping off Popeyes and Hungry Howies. But as I went
to certain houses, I started to see more individuals in
that house than the food I had brought over. So
I said, what else can we do? Started a Mumble
food pantry, and we've been out there rain, see the snow,
just helping people because folks are hungry, and if you're hungry,
you can't focus on nothing else. It deteriorates your mindset,
your mood changes because of hunger, and so we were
(21:18):
able to feed families during the pandemic that probably wouldn't
have been able to eat have we not had that effort.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
HI love it.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Thank you for everything you did for the community during
that time. It's funny I mentioned to somebody that was
started four years ago. Boy does time fly?
Speaker 4 (21:32):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (21:32):
You know?
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Hey, what are some of the non academic barriers that
kids face to success that you witness?
Speaker 4 (21:41):
I mean simple things like a coat, Especially in Michigan,
a kid needs a good winter coat, gloves, boots, belts,
and I would even go further when you talk about
that senior in high school, that's an expensive year. You
got yearbook dudes, you got all your senior dues. Just
be able to help with kid with a suit because
(22:01):
oftentimes kids don't wear suits because they're young and they
just they active, so they went active wear. But you
need to set them up for the future. Start with
that suit, learning how to tie or tie, learn how
to dress professionally, and get ready for the real world.
Anytime a kid leaves any academic institution K through twelve,
they should leave you college or career ready.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
I I just some things I wouldn't even like a
suit for granted, of course, just the most.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Yeah, it seems basic, but there's so many that are without,
and so we were able to gather clothes and get
through donations. Have a closet where kids can go and
pick out certain things they needed, and adults have what
kids need. Just donate it. If you're not using it,
donated or maybe you saw you caught a good selling
Macy's friends and family and say, you know what, I'm
(22:51):
gonna buy five coats and donated to the elementary school.
I guarantee that gonna turn you down and that gonna
turn you back. I guarantee you.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
I love that. What do you want your legacy to be?
Speaker 4 (23:00):
That while I was here, I use every resources, every
resource that I had, and I've helped as many people
as I can based on my resources. That I was
relentless and unapologetic about my commitment to my community, that
I didn't waiver, that I was authentic and I was true,
and that I made an indelible impact on young people,
that they can look at me as an example of
(23:22):
what you can be in spite of your circumstances.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
What's your favorite powert about what you do, Seeing.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
A smile on young young people's faces, knowing that they
accomplished their goal, cheering them on when they graduate, they
cross the finished line. Those kids who may not be
great at public speaking initially because they have some anxiety,
walking them through that process, letting them help pass out
full with me that you realize that although you may
have a bad situation, it's not worse for someone else's
(23:48):
having empathy. Showcasing kids that I taking them out to eat,
how to eat formally, how to sit down. And it's
a small concept, just just showing kids that this is
just food. Be shtruggled off another but a noodles mushrooms.
You ain't got to be intimated by the name. Keish
is like an eggrey muffet, but we make it a
big deal because of the name. So kids are intimdating
because it's.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Foreign, right or reading a menus difference exactly.
Speaker 4 (24:11):
So if you can showcase kids opportunity advocacy, empower them
that you're going to be great, stick with it. You
got what it takes, and take what you got and
you're gonna make it happen. Every eighty six thousand and four.
In the seconds that you get, go be great? Why
be average when you could be great? Average is the
top of the bottle. Mediocre is a bad word. Be great,
be phenomenal. Tell yourself every day, I'm going to be phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Everything you're saying is for we adults too, though.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Yes, so you know you're you're driving in your car
right now and you're here in terrence, and hopefully you're
getting inspired too, because I'll tell you, I'm looking at
him and his words are just lighting me up inside.
You're doing it for us all, my friend, he really are.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
I appreciate that.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
I still struggle with with your how you made that
decision and how do we get kids? You know, there's
I asked you, when was that point where you made
that decision? And you said you saw things around you. You
said that I'm not going to allow that for myself
there and then there's a whole section of kids who
somehow allow that for themselves, whether they don't have the
(25:12):
self esteem or the idea that they can.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Get out of it. How do we get everybody to
feel that way?
Speaker 4 (25:18):
I think you have to tap into what makes that
kid with that? But what was that kid love. If
that kid loves food, then go take them to become
a chef. Take them to a schoolcraft college where they
can learn culinary arts. If that kid wants to go
to the Armed Services, put him a junior rotc tap
into what that kid will give them a vision, Give
them a vision, showcase them, expose them. Bobby is not
(25:40):
just about money. It limits access to people that can
help you. You've got to be an environment that say, oh,
I can do that. So if I got a kid.
I had a kid last year that we were at
the Massona Temple for luncheon with Detroit Economic Club, and
he was able to have a conversation with the president
of University of Michigan. We didn't have any idea that
president had attempted suicide three or four times in his life,
(26:03):
that he had high anxiety and depression. The kid had it.
They were able to just link in and now the
kid was, Oh, you could be the president in spite
of your anxiety. Now that's drive that kid to be great.
He's going back enthusiastic, Hey, I could do what you did.
Showed them the path. Oftentimes we get our degrees and
we move away. We don't come back and pour back
(26:24):
into our young people. We've got to pour back into
them because we were then once upon a time. Nobody
in this country, nobody in this country is successful by themselves.
Somebody has to nurture and support your greatness.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
Will you give give us a reminder of some of
the things that some of the resources that the Detroit
Public School Community District has available to kids.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
You're talking about families. You're talking about food programs, you're
talking about utility assistance, you're talking about housing, foster care.
You're talking about really the whole child, the entire child.
Putting the student first. If you put the student first,
everything else works. Put the student first. Figure out and
build intentional relationships with the families. Let them know that, Hey,
(27:09):
you can call me. I give families my cell phone number.
I'm not running from anybody because that may be a
call that you need to talk to me about something
that you're on the edge. You may do something with
something that's outside your character. Can we talk you off
the edge? Can we talk through this problem? Because it's
not that big of a deal. We can work through this.
So it's wrapping your arms around our young people in
their families. That's what we're doing a dps CD.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
How do people find those resources or is it because
you're in the schools or how do It's.
Speaker 4 (27:36):
On the website. It's on Detroit K twelve dot org.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
However, Detroit K twelve dot org.
Speaker 3 (27:41):
So if you want to check it out, that's where
you can find all the great things.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
And I'll give you my email address and they can
contact me and I'll put them in a right position.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
So is Detroit K twelve dot org is the place?
Speaker 4 (27:53):
The place start right there.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
And so parents can go there. Family members can then
go there. Maybe you know somebody who needs help right
and then you guys are involved in the schools too.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
Absolutely, it's a one stop shop. You go to d
tray K twelve dot org. There's resources of the website's
phenomenal that hit the drop down button. It's telling you
about what FACE is doing family and community engagement and
just wrapping my arms round young people, giving people hope
that tomorrow's gonna be a better day.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
You know, there's so many things that you've said that
really tell me about your spiritual nature.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
How has your faith sustained you?
Speaker 4 (28:27):
Just because every time I in my life, where I've
gotten to a point where I'm thinking I can't make it.
I'm thinking this is this is the worst thing that
happen to me. There's a Syragha angel place in my walk.
There's somebody that's that's pouring into me and then having
radical faith that he's not gonna let me down. In
my favorite scripture and Bible is Proverbs thirteen and four,
which says the soul of a lazy man desires and
(28:49):
has nothing, but the soul of a diligent man shall
be made rich. I will never be as rich as
Bill Gates, but I'll be rich and resources and empathy
and love for my people.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
I love it. I love it.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
Is there anything else do you want to tell people
who are listening today?
Speaker 4 (29:03):
I just wanted people to realize that kids go through
a lot just to get to you. You have no
idea how many kids that's not taking a straight path.
They had to walk two blocks over there and come
down around the corner because there's a gang on the street,
because there's been robberies on the street, or a murder.
We're asking kids to be immune to things that we're
not immune too. So death and chaos is not normal.
(29:26):
It's not normal. To see people fighting and getting kicked
in the head. That's not normal. It's not happening at
every school. But what I realized is that most of
our young people are dealing with abandonment, neglect, and resent
Even kids in West Bloomfield. They may have the big
old house, but the parents are available, so they have
resentment or abandonment issues. So now you get on ig
(29:47):
next thing, you know, you're know, hooked up with somebody
and y'all out here getting high, y'all on drugs, y'all
popping pills, or this person could be depressed and no
one ever knew about it because they had they in
their room the whole time. You didn't see the changes.
Once again, kids are suffering from abandonment, neglected, resentment. I
need people to pay attention, love kids, pass their pain.
Listen to young people. They'll tell you what's going on.
(30:09):
Just be kind, be a good person. Figure out who
you can help. You know what I mean, Figure out
who you can help, how you can help them without judgment.
They should have to if I know what you need,
you should have to ask. I don't need a dissertation
when you come to our Turkey drive to know why
you need food. No you hear, and I'm gonna give
you the fool. It's up to you to do what
you want to do with it. I'm not here to
judge you, walk behind you and monitor you. It's my
(30:31):
job to get the resources and to give it away,
not to harbor and to hoard.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
And just so we have that date, what is the
date for the all.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
Date is November twenty six, eleven am Eastern Market Shared five.
We just asked that you pack your patients and we're
going to serve you with a smile. And you have
a few celebrities there.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Oh, I love it.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
November twenty sixth eleven am SHED five in the Eastern Market.
That's when that event is. I'm just so grateful to
have had so much inspiration from you today, and I
hope everybody who's listening feels the same way I do.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Just grateful for the work that you're doing.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
Thank you for the opportunity.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
Our guest today has been Terrence Wheeler. He is the
executive director of Political and community Engagement with the Detroit
Public School Community District. Terrence, thank you so much for
joining us today.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
This has been light up the d A community affairs
program from iHeartMedia Detroit. If your organization would like to
get on the program, email Colleen Grant at iHeartMedia dot com.
Here are all episodes on this station's podcast page.
Welcome to Light Up the D, focus on what's happening
in our community from the people who make it happen.
Here's your host, iHeartMedia Detroit Market President Colleen greg Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
And welcome to another episode of Light Up the D.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
I'm your host, Colleen Grant, and I'm so glad you're
joining us today because we have a very special guest.
His name is Terrence Wheeler, and he's the executive director
of political and community Engagement for the Detroit Public School
Community District. Terrence has over twenty years of experience in
community relations and philanthropic activities, specializing in community and corporate
(00:35):
partnerships and relationship building. And you'll see why in just
a minute. But you'll also soon hear that Terrence's greatest
passion is helping enrich the lives of at risk young
people throughout the Detroit area and as a result, boy
oh boy, his efforts and deep love for our community.
It was amazing the list of numerous community awards and
honors that he's received as a result of his caring heart.
(00:59):
So from the Detroit Public School Community District, please join
me in welcoming Terrence Wheeler. Terrence, We're so glad to
have you with us today.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to
come before you.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
We're going to have a great conversation, and I can
feel it because I see from our conversation we had
just before we're talking today that you really have a
giving spirit and giving heart, And I just kind of
want to start with your background and how you came
to the place you are today, what brought you to
be somebody who it's so important to you to serve
(01:30):
your community and give the love that.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
You have to give.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
First of all, you know, thank you for allowing me
the opportunity is to grace and mercy bestowed upon me
that will not be in vain. I'm a typical West
Side of Detroit individual growing up in the seventies where
I had a mother that was on drugs and a
father that was absent. I spent about two hundred and
forty minutes with my father my entire life, and three
(01:53):
of those hours was at his funeral. I'm giving him
the extra hour and maybe came back when I was
a baby. I didn't know, but I've had so many
other positive men. I had a grandfather, I had an uncle,
I had coaches that did their job. You know, oftentimes
you grew up in these environments and you feel like
you can't escape, you can't make it out. It is
not your conditions, but yet your decision making that determines
(02:14):
your destiny. And so growing up playing sports, I was
able to leave my community and see other places by
going to all star camps. But once again I was
trying to replace the individual that God had already removed
out of my life. And so therefore, my high school
coach was pivotal. My AAU coach was pivotal. These were
men that were giving back to their community that wasn't
(02:34):
asking you for anything. I had a coach that would
pick me up at three thirty outs every day after school,
take me to basketball practice, take off, take all the
other players to practice, drop us off back at home.
I had no idea what plant life was like, working
at GM on his feet all day, caring for young people.
So I said, Lord, if I ever had the opportunity
to give back, I'm want to do so. And so
when you think about today you're born, that dash in
(02:56):
between the day you're born that you die, what is
represent what's your legacy? I'm chased legacy to let young
people know that I had the same conditions you did.
I wasn't smarted to be but I worked hard. I
worked hard, I seized a moment. I took advantage of
every opportunity. I want to be the most resourceful man
in America for young people because college, once they get
to school, they've done their job. Their success is predicated
(03:18):
on adult participation. How can you help that child across
the finish line? How do you love them past their pain?
Oftentimes we're judging young people not knowing the terrain in
which they come from. These kids are on a bus
stop with folks are trying to rob them. Someonere being
the sexy assaulted. Some are being molested every day they
come to school. They come to school hungry. If you're
hungry and you're homeless, you know, think about homework. We're
(03:40):
need even more compassionate from adults. I promise you adults
would quit. They have to endure what young people go
through every day just to get this one loving, caring adult.
And I am so thankful that I was able to
have several in my life in spite of not growing
up at a traditional household. I'm talking about growing up
where being in drug rais early age. My mother was
(04:01):
not only using drugs, but she was selling drugs. So
I grew up in a functional drug house. And so
the drugs that was being sold were tall ones, values
and riplers. That's what you give kids today for add
Then they moved on to heroin and other things. And
so being a part of that life, you understand that
how good people can make bad decisions. But I don't
know what happened in her life, what drove her to
(04:23):
drugs and alcohol. I have no idea, but I know
there was a number of people that were a part
of that, who were parents of my friends. And I said,
that will never happen to me. These are good people
that made some bad decisions. But sometimes it happens because
you're not strong enough to overcome.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
But Terrence, what would you say in the you know,
in that whole part of your history, what was pivotal
that made you go that's not for me? How did
that come about for you?
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Just seeing my friends mothers and fathers addicted to drugs,
going through a series of evictions, coming home from fourth grade,
and all your stuff is set out on the curve,
like you know, just like you have no value. And
I said, I'm going to make sure that never happens
to me. It never happens to me and my children.
I'm gonna work extremely hard to make sure that I
have what's necessary to sustain the household and be consistent.
(05:14):
And then what drives me though, is I see kids
who look like me every day coming to school on
the bus stop, and so we're judging kids said, well,
why she had that's a little short dress, so maybe
that's all she has. Why is this kid sagging showing
underwear maybe as to have a belt. If we took
the time out to make sure a kids had every resource,
those kids can be successful. Colleen, listen, buriers belong on freeways.
(05:36):
Down to education, we've got to reduce the number of
non academic barriers education. Families are making trade offs. Do
I buy food? Do I pay my utilities? My utility assistance?
So because I have my licesn gas cut off. Before
we started programs and building relationships with DTE, so we've
probably helped with the rears, maybe fifteen million in rearges,
helping families just get to them tomorrow. Because every day
(06:00):
kids are begging for adults to do their job. That's
all they want you to do. And I'm so thankful
I had those loving care and adults in my life.
So I have to replicate what Perry Washing game to me,
what Sheryl Harshaw did for me, what doctor Grandison did
for me every day, making sure that you have safety.
That school was a safe haven for young people. No
one should die going to school.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Oh my gosh, I so moved right now. I have
to like take a big breath. I just so moved
with what you just said. Let's stop for a sec
and talk about you said the relationships with TTE Like,
tell us what you do for a living that allows
(06:43):
you to create these relationships that actually make a difference
to these kids.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
You know, when I was in the schools on a
daily basis, I was sitting at lunch room and I
would talk to young people, and I beg of staff.
I beg of anybody working with kids. I don't care
if you are a bus aid, a lunch ad, a
hal monitor, if you're interacting with young people. And I
speak to you every day, and I'm intentional about building relationship.
I speak to you every day. That's five days a
(07:08):
week's times four weeks. That is twenty contacts over ten months.
You have two into contacts with that kid. You know
that kid, You built a relationship that kid now trust
you or don't trust you, and based on that trust
the kid, allow that kid to open up a little
bit more. Every program we've done has been surrounded by
some kid telling me I need this, This is where
I need to come to school. Listen to young people.
(07:30):
They'll tell you what they need the best, the best
anecdote to Povery's opportunity. Give these kids opportunity to go
places to see other things by talking to young people. Hey,
mister Wheeling, my LiF's and gas cut off. I said, oh,
I got to get in front of that. If we
know that in Michigan that you have inclement weather, you
know what, you know what's coming November, December, January. It's
gonna below zero. So you can get in front of
(07:52):
that in August and start to have relationships with your
utility companies. Build programs that can put parents or the
payment assistance or get the rear just pay for same
thing in the spring. Now you know, you know these
things are gonna happen. So how do we alleviate these
non academic barriers. It's adults saying I care enough about you.
(08:13):
Every day is count day. Every day you have to
be accountable to young people. They've been on Earth two
onuns months. They don't know enough, they don't have jobs.
They're born in these situations. So I need loving, caring
adults to say, you know what I care. I'm going
to do what I can to help you, to mentor you,
to be an advocate for you, to make sure you
have every opportunity to be successful.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
So what are some of the most pressing needs that
kids have today?
Speaker 4 (08:37):
I'm talking about basic needs, food, water, shelter. When I'm
we had our food pantry, you would have people showing up.
And I don't care what kind of car you drive,
because I'm not here to judge anybody. Because folks have
driving calaxes, could be living in that caliac. You don't
know what their situation is. Anytime you have a gallon
of milk that costs you more than a gallon of gas,
(08:58):
that's a problem in this country. And so we have
got to make sure that we have the resources for
young people. Because young people are adulting nowadays thirteen fourteen, fifteen,
they're running a household. But yet I'm trying to go
to school. I'm trying to take care of my siblings.
I'm trying to get good grades, but I haven't had
a good night sleep. So we naming kids Heaven, but
got them living in hell. So we've got to do
(09:20):
more various coats, belts. I'm talking about paths and penny
liners college. I'm talking about young ladies who come in
to school knowing that this is going to happen, but
don't have what they need. So we jumped in front
of that because I met a kid named Rosa in
the hallway and she was crying. Said, mister Wood, am
on my period. I don't have any paths. So we
started the Feline Hygiene Campaign, collected fifteen thousand paths in
(09:43):
penny liners a year today, so young girls can go
to different rooms throughout these buildings and get what they
need and come back to school.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Yeah, I mean I have to stop here. I mean
that we even have to have a campaign to get
those kinds of products for people, or a pair of
shoes for people, or a pair of I mean, come on, really, yeah,
you know we.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
Throw away stuff. I mean you're talking about we can't
partner with the Dunams with a foot locker with anybody,
say listen, you got the resources. You're not selling them.
They're gonna be discontinued. Why not give them to a
school district. When I give them to a boys and
girls club, when I give them to somebody in the
community who's doing good work. Follow the folks are doing
(10:24):
good work, best practices, do work, and do matter oftentimes.
And I'm blessed because I don't have to go through
the blow of bureaucracy because of our relationships with athletes
and entertainers. So before we started going to companies partnering,
I have friends who are in the NBA, friends in
the NFL, and they trusted what you were doing because
they come from the same conditions. If not us, then
(10:45):
who If not, now they'll win them. What are we
waiting on? I'm not waiting on somebody to send me something.
I'm going to go out and build that relationship that
we're poor and we're gonna match synergies. We're gonna help
these young people.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
So when we talk about the Detroit Public School Community District,
what kinds of resources are available to people who need
real help?
Speaker 4 (11:02):
I mean DPSCD. First of all, being a child at DPSCD,
it was dps when I was there, makes me just
my heart is full. When you come back home and
be able to do good work in school districts that
you come from. There's a plethora of things that's happening
on the upside with dps It's resources for families. There's
all kinds of career opportunities for our young people. But
(11:24):
it's really meeting the deeds of kids, meeting them where
they are and taking them where they need to be.
It's the whole child. He said, I'm gonna wrap my
arms around the entire child. Everybody has to have a
buy in, from that bus aid to lunch aid to
the superintendent, everybody have a buy in.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
How many people do you work with to help children?
Speaker 4 (11:41):
Oh, I got several volunteers. We know it's different programs.
Every program is different. For our All Star Getback we
may have one hundred volunteers. But the Femine Hygiene Campaign,
we could have anywhere from ten to twenty that are
collecting around the city and we drop them off at
various spots, a rec centers, we dropping them off at
different schools. Say this is what you need, we're gonna
help you.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
Well, let's talk about that all start give Back Thanksgiving
Turkey Drive. Tell us about that and what's coming up.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
So this is our twenty seventh annual All Star give
Back Turkey Drive years. We started with Derrick Coleman from
the NBA Legend, started with two hundred turkeys on Lynnwood
and Taylor. Now we're up to about four thousand annually
with all the trimmings. But we also because we've been
doing this so long, we add different things every year,
car seats, gloves, hats, light led light bulbs from DTE.
(12:29):
Just trying to provide some reprieve for our families because
if you're in line for this for food, you may
be need in line for renders assistance. So we partner
with Awayne Matchew to help folks. You don't just kind
of get a nudge ahead to make it to tomorrow.
If you can win today, who's wance you just win today.
Everyone has to understand that you're going to win. Don't
(12:51):
trip off the win. So follow me on this. You're
going to wi in, don't trip off the whe in.
It's gonna happen. Just keep striving, keep going, don't quit,
be relentless, unapologetic about your commitment to getting better.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
You know, you said a couple of times things that
I was really moved by, which was, in essence, don't
judge the child. No, you know, you never know what's
going on. And we've heard so many stories over the
course of the years of people who've been judged and
the assumption was made and the child was actually hurt
by the judgment.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Yes, you know, and it was completely false.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
You know, I think that was a really great point
that you brought up, that you just never know what's
going on with people.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
You have no idea what's happening with anybody that you
run across.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Anybody.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
A simple hello can change anything. It can stop you
from a suicide attimt. It can stop you from thinking
out about of depression. It can encourage you. You have
got to encourage and influence people that tomorrow's going to
be better than today. Yes, you're going through something. You
got ten minutes to build you a cry, build you
a bridge, and get over it. Because life goes on.
You're gonna be okay. You're gonna just keep going. Don't
(13:54):
give up. Quitters never win, and winnows never quit. But
if people are judging you, not knowing where you're coming from,
all of a sudden, now you're saying, well, why is
that person on the side of the road. Someone will
work for food. You don't know that they just had
terminal illness, got laid off from their job, maybe the
loved one died, maybe the finances are now in shambles.
It was to know, for out of their own we're
(14:16):
all one phone call, one email away from your life
being different.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
It's true. It's true. There are two comments I'd make
to that.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
One is, when I was younger, my older sister read
a book and it was something of the nature of
give them an a, something like something like that, and
it was basically, give a person an a before you
give them an f right, you know, like assume you know,
assume the best about somebody when you meet them, before
you assume the worst. So I always think, you know,
somebody cuts you off in traffic, and your first response
is to get annoyed or angry, or somebody you know
(14:43):
doesn't hold the door open for you, or somebody doesn't
you know, help you when you have a need, and
you just assume the worst about them. That oh, they're
rude or oh they're unkind or not thoughtful, or they're
not generous or whatever it is, and you just never
know if you give them an a first yes and
assume that maybe they have something going on that is
prevent them from being what you think they should be,
whether it's right or wrong, that that actually gives them
(15:05):
the grace you know that you had mentioned when you
first started, the grace that you you know that helps
you be a better person right from the start.
Speaker 4 (15:13):
Yes, the unmerited grace that you're giving every day. You
have to transfer that to somebody else because there's moments
where you may be that that driver on the freeway
with a little role raised because you ran running late,
and you may not be the best the best version
of you that day. Ethical care less judge, be more help.
(15:35):
You've got to stop judging people because you don't know
what they're going through. And everyone that is on the
side of the road is not a drug addict. Some
are running from domestic violence situations. I mean, when you
got this is what our implorer, our administrators ethical care
empathy because you don't know if that kid may be
sleeping in the car. I've had incidents with kids were
(15:55):
staying in the car, and certain administrators were judging them
based on the homework wasn't none, But if the light
is out in the.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Car, how they going to do homework right in the car,
in the car, right in.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
The freezing car. They running for safety in schools, to
be a safe avory. Today's education, today's world education wasn't
designed for this kid. The plethora of grievances that they
come with every day. Look for somebody just to love
on a one champion, to love, be passed my pain,
(16:28):
pass my conditions, to believe in me, and to empower me.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
But greatness, Yeah, I mean, these are just kids. They
don't want to start their life this way. They didn't
ask for all the challenges that are.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Pistowa on them.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
And sometimes the choices they have to make just to survive, yes,
you know, are not ones that they ever would have
naturally have made. So you know, if you consider that
and you you know, and that what got them there,
and then instead of addressing you know, the maybe the problem,
finding out what caused it just you know, gives you
such a better opportunity to.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
Help someone go back to the relationship building. Yeah, you know,
and so Oftentimes Initially kids don't tell you what what
I was going on. But once you build that rapport
and you break that wall down, they know that I
could count on you, that you're not gonna out me,
You're not going to tell anybody my business. That I
can trust you. They tell you more. Now you can
lean in and figure out what other resources you can
bring to the table. And I'm talking about kids who
(17:22):
from the LGBT community, kids who I don't care what
I don't I don't care what your sexuality is. You
deserve to learn in a safe environment, and if I'm around,
You're going to learn in a safe environment.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Terrence, Oh my gosh, I just love you so much.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
I just have to tell you that.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Because I love children, and I love that you love
children and that you're so deeply devoted.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Clearly, how long have you been doing this.
Speaker 4 (17:46):
I've been working with children over twenty five years, And
like I said, it goes back to having those adults
in the building when I needed them. Having a surel
Harshaw helped me fill out my financial aid and my
pal grunt when I was getting a basketball scholarship to
as Gonna Say University, but also having a high school
coach Perry Wassa, who is the goat in terms of
just having you use basketball and let basketball use You
(18:09):
talked about the importance of education, and because I had
a mother that I was on drugs, I did not
want her coming to the school to embarrass me in
any kind of way based on her physicality. And because
I didn't have a father, I used that fuel athletically
to want to outplay the child that had a father
come into the game. So that dysfunction cured me for
(18:29):
a long time, and so I realized that I needed
some help in terms of releasing that. Releasing that and
understanding that the people you were trying to retain God
had already replaced.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
So you've really started talking about how basketball helped build
your whole character. Yeah, that seems to be a kind
of a fundamental part of your decision making.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
Yeah, basketball sports in general taught me about life. It
is a microcosm of life and how you have resources.
But if you're not a good steward over your resources,
you can lose. You can have a game in a bag.
You'll be up by three and lose by two because
of turnovers. You're not a good steward over your resources.
But if you also know how to team build. You
got five guys on the court at one time, all
(19:14):
got different personalities. How did you, as a point guard
could get them on one accord for us to win
this game and to win the championship? You established long
term relationships. You have some discipline, some dedication, some accountability.
All those things are transferable skills and adult life.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Terrance, you previously introduced former President Barack Obama at Belle Isle.
I mean, what an honor.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Tell us about that incredible day.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
I remember it was October thirty, first of twenty twenty.
I get a call asking would i'd be interested in
introducing former President of Barack Obama during the pandemic, and
I said, of course, and I had did some previous
work with him when he was running for president, and
so it was an honor to be able to introduce
him in my city, in a place in the park
(20:01):
that I played at that I can just many many days, uh,
and during the pandemic where you had people just dealing
with different emotions, I know how proud my grandmother would
have been. And so the title of my autobiography will
be from the Dope House of the White House, and
that's because of my interaction with former President Obama and
being able to showcase the kids that you can come
(20:22):
from humble beginnings and still reach the highest office of
the land.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
That's that's really inspiring. You know, you brought up the pandemic,
and you did a lot of work during the pandemic.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
You were a very busy person.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
Yeah, it was the pandemic really just opened my eyes
up to hunger and how poverty has no zip code.
And so when the pandemic, when it was when the
height of it, you know, schools were shut down and
kids are calling you saying we're hungry, because kids also
used school as a place to eat. And so I
started to go by our kids' house. I started with
a program called we Love You Friday's when I was
(20:56):
dropping off Popeyes and Hungry Howies. But as I went
to certain houses, I started to see more individuals in
that house than the food I had brought over. So
I said, what else can we do? Started a Mumble
food pantry, and we've been out there rain, see the snow,
just helping people because folks are hungry, and if you're hungry,
you can't focus on nothing else. It deteriorates your mindset,
your mood changes because of hunger, and so we were
(21:18):
able to feed families during the pandemic that probably wouldn't
have been able to eat have we not had that effort.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
HI love it.
Speaker 3 (21:25):
Thank you for everything you did for the community during
that time. It's funny I mentioned to somebody that was
started four years ago. Boy does time fly?
Speaker 4 (21:32):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (21:32):
You know?
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Hey, what are some of the non academic barriers that
kids face to success that you witness?
Speaker 4 (21:41):
I mean simple things like a coat, Especially in Michigan,
a kid needs a good winter coat, gloves, boots, belts,
and I would even go further when you talk about
that senior in high school, that's an expensive year. You
got yearbook dudes, you got all your senior dues. Just
be able to help with kid with a suit because
(22:01):
oftentimes kids don't wear suits because they're young and they
just they active, so they went active wear. But you
need to set them up for the future. Start with
that suit, learning how to tie or tie, learn how
to dress professionally, and get ready for the real world.
Anytime a kid leaves any academic institution K through twelve,
they should leave you college or career ready.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
I I just some things I wouldn't even like a
suit for granted, of course, just the most.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Yeah, it seems basic, but there's so many that are without,
and so we were able to gather clothes and get
through donations. Have a closet where kids can go and
pick out certain things they needed, and adults have what
kids need. Just donate it. If you're not using it,
donated or maybe you saw you caught a good selling
Macy's friends and family and say, you know what, I'm
(22:51):
gonna buy five coats and donated to the elementary school.
I guarantee that gonna turn you down and that gonna
turn you back. I guarantee you.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
I love that. What do you want your legacy to be?
Speaker 4 (23:00):
That while I was here, I use every resources, every
resource that I had, and I've helped as many people
as I can based on my resources. That I was
relentless and unapologetic about my commitment to my community, that
I didn't waiver, that I was authentic and I was true,
and that I made an indelible impact on young people,
that they can look at me as an example of
(23:22):
what you can be in spite of your circumstances.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
What's your favorite powert about what you do, Seeing.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
A smile on young young people's faces, knowing that they
accomplished their goal, cheering them on when they graduate, they
cross the finished line. Those kids who may not be
great at public speaking initially because they have some anxiety,
walking them through that process, letting them help pass out
full with me that you realize that although you may
have a bad situation, it's not worse for someone else's
(23:48):
having empathy. Showcasing kids that I taking them out to eat,
how to eat formally, how to sit down. And it's
a small concept, just just showing kids that this is
just food. Be shtruggled off another but a noodles mushrooms.
You ain't got to be intimated by the name. Keish
is like an eggrey muffet, but we make it a
big deal because of the name. So kids are intimdating
because it's.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Foreign, right or reading a menus difference exactly.
Speaker 4 (24:11):
So if you can showcase kids opportunity advocacy, empower them
that you're going to be great, stick with it. You
got what it takes, and take what you got and
you're gonna make it happen. Every eighty six thousand and four.
In the seconds that you get, go be great? Why
be average when you could be great? Average is the
top of the bottle. Mediocre is a bad word. Be great,
be phenomenal. Tell yourself every day, I'm going to be phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Everything you're saying is for we adults too, though.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Yes, so you know you're you're driving in your car
right now and you're here in terrence, and hopefully you're
getting inspired too, because I'll tell you, I'm looking at
him and his words are just lighting me up inside.
You're doing it for us all, my friend, he really are.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
I appreciate that.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
I still struggle with with your how you made that
decision and how do we get kids? You know, there's
I asked you, when was that point where you made
that decision? And you said you saw things around you. You
said that I'm not going to allow that for myself
there and then there's a whole section of kids who
somehow allow that for themselves, whether they don't have the
(25:12):
self esteem or the idea that they can.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
Get out of it. How do we get everybody to
feel that way?
Speaker 4 (25:18):
I think you have to tap into what makes that
kid with that? But what was that kid love. If
that kid loves food, then go take them to become
a chef. Take them to a schoolcraft college where they
can learn culinary arts. If that kid wants to go
to the Armed Services, put him a junior rotc tap
into what that kid will give them a vision, Give
them a vision, showcase them, expose them. Bobby is not
(25:40):
just about money. It limits access to people that can
help you. You've got to be an environment that say, oh,
I can do that. So if I got a kid.
I had a kid last year that we were at
the Massona Temple for luncheon with Detroit Economic Club, and
he was able to have a conversation with the president
of University of Michigan. We didn't have any idea that
president had attempted suicide three or four times in his life,
(26:03):
that he had high anxiety and depression. The kid had it.
They were able to just link in and now the
kid was, Oh, you could be the president in spite
of your anxiety. Now that's drive that kid to be great.
He's going back enthusiastic, Hey, I could do what you did.
Showed them the path. Oftentimes we get our degrees and
we move away. We don't come back and pour back
(26:24):
into our young people. We've got to pour back into
them because we were then once upon a time. Nobody
in this country, nobody in this country is successful by themselves.
Somebody has to nurture and support your greatness.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
Will you give give us a reminder of some of
the things that some of the resources that the Detroit
Public School Community District has available to kids.
Speaker 4 (26:47):
You're talking about families. You're talking about food programs, you're
talking about utility assistance, you're talking about housing, foster care.
You're talking about really the whole child, the entire child.
Putting the student first. If you put the student first,
everything else works. Put the student first. Figure out and
build intentional relationships with the families. Let them know that, Hey,
(27:09):
you can call me. I give families my cell phone number.
I'm not running from anybody because that may be a
call that you need to talk to me about something
that you're on the edge. You may do something with
something that's outside your character. Can we talk you off
the edge? Can we talk through this problem? Because it's
not that big of a deal. We can work through this.
So it's wrapping your arms around our young people in
their families. That's what we're doing a dps CD.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
How do people find those resources or is it because
you're in the schools or how do It's.
Speaker 4 (27:36):
On the website. It's on Detroit K twelve dot org.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
However, Detroit K twelve dot org.
Speaker 3 (27:41):
So if you want to check it out, that's where
you can find all the great things.
Speaker 4 (27:46):
And I'll give you my email address and they can
contact me and I'll put them in a right position.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
So is Detroit K twelve dot org is the place?
Speaker 4 (27:53):
The place start right there.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
And so parents can go there. Family members can then
go there. Maybe you know somebody who needs help right
and then you guys are involved in the schools too.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
Absolutely, it's a one stop shop. You go to d
tray K twelve dot org. There's resources of the website's
phenomenal that hit the drop down button. It's telling you
about what FACE is doing family and community engagement and
just wrapping my arms round young people, giving people hope
that tomorrow's gonna be a better day.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
You know, there's so many things that you've said that
really tell me about your spiritual nature.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
How has your faith sustained you?
Speaker 4 (28:27):
Just because every time I in my life, where I've
gotten to a point where I'm thinking I can't make it.
I'm thinking this is this is the worst thing that
happen to me. There's a Syragha angel place in my walk.
There's somebody that's that's pouring into me and then having
radical faith that he's not gonna let me down. In
my favorite scripture and Bible is Proverbs thirteen and four,
which says the soul of a lazy man desires and
(28:49):
has nothing, but the soul of a diligent man shall
be made rich. I will never be as rich as
Bill Gates, but I'll be rich and resources and empathy
and love for my people.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
I love it. I love it.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
Is there anything else do you want to tell people
who are listening today?
Speaker 4 (29:03):
I just wanted people to realize that kids go through
a lot just to get to you. You have no
idea how many kids that's not taking a straight path.
They had to walk two blocks over there and come
down around the corner because there's a gang on the street,
because there's been robberies on the street, or a murder.
We're asking kids to be immune to things that we're
not immune too. So death and chaos is not normal.
(29:26):
It's not normal. To see people fighting and getting kicked
in the head. That's not normal. It's not happening at
every school. But what I realized is that most of
our young people are dealing with abandonment, neglect, and resent
Even kids in West Bloomfield. They may have the big
old house, but the parents are available, so they have
resentment or abandonment issues. So now you get on ig
(29:47):
next thing, you know, you're know, hooked up with somebody
and y'all out here getting high, y'all on drugs, y'all
popping pills, or this person could be depressed and no
one ever knew about it because they had they in
their room the whole time. You didn't see the changes.
Once again, kids are suffering from abandonment, neglected, resentment. I
need people to pay attention, love kids, pass their pain.
Listen to young people. They'll tell you what's going on.
(30:09):
Just be kind, be a good person. Figure out who
you can help. You know what I mean, Figure out
who you can help, how you can help them without judgment.
They should have to if I know what you need,
you should have to ask. I don't need a dissertation
when you come to our Turkey drive to know why
you need food. No you hear, and I'm gonna give
you the fool. It's up to you to do what
you want to do with it. I'm not here to
judge you, walk behind you and monitor you. It's my
(30:31):
job to get the resources and to give it away,
not to harbor and to hoard.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
And just so we have that date, what is the
date for the all.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
Date is November twenty six, eleven am Eastern Market Shared five.
We just asked that you pack your patients and we're
going to serve you with a smile. And you have
a few celebrities there.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Oh, I love it.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
November twenty sixth eleven am SHED five in the Eastern Market.
That's when that event is. I'm just so grateful to
have had so much inspiration from you today, and I
hope everybody who's listening feels the same way I do.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Just grateful for the work that you're doing.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
Thank you for the opportunity.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
Our guest today has been Terrence Wheeler. He is the
executive director of Political and community Engagement with the Detroit
Public School Community District. Terrence, thank you so much for
joining us today.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
This has been light up the d A community affairs
program from iHeartMedia Detroit. If your organization would like to
get on the program, email Colleen Grant at iHeartMedia dot com.
Here are all episodes on this station's podcast page.
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