Institute for Pop. Health / Downtown Boxing Youth Program - American black journal full episode

>> JUST AHEAD ON AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL, WE'LL CHECK IN WITH THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT IS DELIVERING PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES TO DETROIT RESIDENTS. PLUS, AN EAST SIDE BOXING GYM IS GIVING SOME DETROIT KIDS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. AND, WE'LL HAVE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS YEAR'S URBAN WHEEL AWARDS. THERE'S A LOT AHEAD. SO STAY TUNED. >> ERIC WANTS TO KNOW. >> WE DO A LOT LIKE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT. WE FUND OVER 500 JOBS NOR YOUTH. IN NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT JOBS. INCREDIBLE. THAT IS FANTASTIC. THIS IS LIKE A PAINT BY NUMBER THIS WHOLE THING. COMMUNITIES ARE SUCH GREAT PLACES, AREN'T THEY? >> THEY ARE. LOVE THIS SIDING. MEASURE ONCE, CUT TWICE, RIGHT? DTE ENERGY. KNOW YOUR OWN POWER. §§ §§ >> WELCOME TO AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL. I'M STEPHEN HENDERSON. THE INSTITUTE FOR POPULATION HEALTH WAS CREATED IN 2012 TO PROVIDE QUALITY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES FOR DETROIT RESIDENTS. FORMER MAYOR DAVE BING INTIATED THE CHANGE AS PART OF HIS EFFORTS TO CUT COSTS IN CITY OPERATIONS. AFTER A YEAR IN EXISTENCE, THE INSTITUTE'S PROGRESS REPORT IS IMPRESSIVE. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE HAS BEEN A 35-PERCENT INCREASE IN BOTH ENVIRONMENTAL AND RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS ACROSS THE CITY. IMMUNIZATIONS HAVE JUMPED 38-PERCENT. AND, THERE'S BEEN A 74% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TESTED AND TREATED FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES. HERE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS NON-PROFT PUBLIC HEALTH MODEL IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF I-P-H, LORETTA DAVIS. WELCOME TO AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL. >> THANK YOU. >> SO THOSE NUMBERS ARE SHOCKING. THAT'S A VERY STARK TURN AROUND IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. >> YES. STEEP, WE WERE VERY PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO REPORT THESE NUMBERS. IT JUST SHOWS THAT IT'S A GREAT BUSINESS MODEL WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE, GIVE THEM THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY AND PUT THEM IN THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT. YOU CAN GET REALLY INCREDIBLE RESULTS IN A FAIRLY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. >> YEAH, AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE I THINK WERE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THAT IDEA OF TAKING SERVICES THAT WERE PART OF GOVERNMENT AND MOVING THEM OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT. SOME PEOPLE CALL IT PRIVATIZATION. THIS IS NOT EXACTLY PRIVATIZATION OF A PUBLIC SERVICE BUT IT IS SAYING LET'S TAKE IT OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT AND SEE IF WE CAN OPERATE IT A LITTLE BETTER. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A WORK REALLY WELL NOT JUST NOR YOU AND THE ORGANIZATION BUT WORKING WELL FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THOSE SERVICES. >> ABSOLUTELY. THE WAY WE LOOK AT IT IS A STRONG PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. LOTS OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE VALUE OF A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BUT WHEN IT IS DONE, SOMETIMES IT CAUSES A HUGE CHANGE. SO I WAS REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE EVIDENCE BASED MODEL AND TURN THAT INTO A PUBLIC, PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BUT AS YOU SAID IT REALLY BENEFITS THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF THE CITY OF DETROIT. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT. >> IT'S ABOUT DELIVERING THE SERVICE, NOT ABOUT WHO IS PAYING OR HOW IT IS MANAGED. TELL ME ABOUT THE MODEL AND WHERE IT CAME FROM. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST CITY TO TRY THIS. >> WELL, IT IS THE FIRST CITY TO TAKE ON THE TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY OF A LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. THAT'S RIGHT. NOW, THERE ARE ABOUT FIVE OTHER CITY-BASED PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTES AROUND THE COUNTRY IF LARGE URBAN AREAS LIKE DETROIT, NEW YORK. NEW ORLEANS, PLACES LIKE THAT WE WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE MODEL BUT THEY HAVE TAKEN ON BITS AND PIECES. MAYBE THEY TOOK ON THE WIC PROGRAM OR A FEW OTHERS. SO THE THING THAT MADE THIS PARTNERSHIP SO UNIQUE AND REALLY GENERATED A LOT OF INTEREST AROUND THE COUNTRY IS BECAUSE THE INSTITUTE FOR POPULATION HEALTH WAS TAKING ON THE ENTIRE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SERVICE DELIVERY THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAD FORMERLY DONE. BUT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROMOTION IS AN IMPORTANT ONE BECAUSE THE PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY REMAINS WITH THE CITY, REMAINS WITH THE CITY SO THAT MAKES FOR A EXCELLENT PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO BRING ON THE STAFF, PROVIDE THE SERVICES AND CERTAINLY KEEPING AUTHORITY UNDER THE CITY CONTROL IS EXCELLENT. >> RIGHT. ESSENTIALLY HAVING GOVERNMENT SET THE STANDARDS AND ENFORCE THEM STILL WHICH IS WHAT WE NEED GOVERNMENT TO DO, BUT SOMETIMES SOMEBODY ELSE CAN DELIVER THE SERVICE IS MORE EFFECTIVELY. >> RIGHT. >> SO WHY IS IT THAT FOR EXAMPLE, SOME OF THIS STUFF, SOME OF THE NUMBERS I WAS TALKING ABOUT HAVE TO DO WITH PEOPLE'S AWARENESS. PEOPLE HAVE TO SEEP THIS OUT. HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM BEFORE? >> WELL, WE'RE ABLE TO ENTER INTO MULTIPLE CONTRACTS WITH VARIOUS DIFFERENT MARKETING AND MEDIA COMPANIES. THAT IS NOT OUR BAILIWICK. OURS IS TO DELIVER HEALTH SERVICES. WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO DEVELOP PAMPHLETS, NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS WHEN YOU CAN WORK WITH PROFESSIONALS TO PUT ON AN ALL OUT CAMPAIGN THAT SAYS THIS IS WHO WE ARE, THIS IS HOW YOU ACCESS US. THESE ARE OUR HOURS. THEN WHEN YOU DO THAT, THEY HAVE TO ACTUALLY GET WHAT HAS BEEN ADVERTISE DOLLARS. SO THAT IS THE OTHERER END OF IT. ONE OF THE REASONS THIS MODEL IS SO SUCCESSFUL, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HIRE ENOUGH STAFF TO GET THE JOB DONE. WHEN IT WAS A PART OF GOVERNMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH, THERE WERE ALWAYS THINGS LIKE HIRING FREEZES OR FURLOUGHS AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS AFFECT THE ABILITY TO ONCE THE PERSON COMES THROUGH THE DOOR TO BE ABLE TO GET WHAT THEY'RE THERE FOR. >> RIGHT. AND THE BEST IS WORD OF MOUTH. EITHER HARMS YOUR OR IT'S THE BEST THING YOU CAN GET. >> RIGHT. RIGHT. SO THE FUNDING FOR THIS, YOU GET SOME MONEY FROM THE CITY BUT IT'S A NONPROFIT. ARE YOU RAISING MONEY PRIVATELY AS WELL? >> ACTUALLY THE MONEY COMES FIRST AT THE MICHIGAN DETECTIVE OF COMMUNITIES HEALTH AND THEN IT GOES INTO THE CITY AND THEN IT'S A PASS THROUGH. SO THE MAJORITY OF OUR MONEY STILL IS STATE OR FEDERAL DOLLARS. BUT OUR MODEL, STEPHEN, IS BASED ON A SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR MODEL. OUR FOCUS NOW IS NOT SO MUCH ON FUNDRAISING THOUGH IT IS ON GOING, MAKING OURSELVES ATTRACTIVE TO FOUNDATIONS AND PLACES LIKE THAT BUT WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THOSE SERVICES THAT CAN BE PROVIDED THAT PEOPLE REALLY NEED THAT ARE IN THE REALM OF POPULATION-BASED HEALTH THAT MANY WE HAVE EXPERTISE IN AND THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO PAY FOR. >> RIGHT. SO, PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR SOME OF THE SERVICES THEMSELVES. >> YES, THESE ARE NOT NECESSARILY OUR PATIENTS. THESE ARE THINGS LIKE WE HAVE THIS PHENOMENAL EPIDEMIOLOGY STAFF AND MANY SMALLER ENTITIES IN THE CITY, THEY MAY HAVE GRANTS, THEY MAY BE COLLECTING A LOT OF DATA BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY INTERNALLY TO BRING IT TOGETHER TO MAKE A REPORT ON IT, AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY OR THE NEED TO HIRE THEIR OWN EPIDEMIOLOGIST SO THEY MAY CONTRACT WITH US TO DO THAT WORK FOR THEM. SEE, THAT IS A BIG PART OF WHAT WE THINK IS THE VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY. BECAUSE WE ALSO, WE WANT TO BE A STRONG I WANTY BUT ONE OF THE GOALS OF A PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE IS TO AISLE HELP OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH BE STRONG AS WELL. WE'LL DO BACK OFFICE SUPPORT. IF IT'S AN ENTITY DOING *** UP SERVICE BUT NOT AS GOOD ON KEEPING BOOKS, ALSO THINGS LIKE EPIDEMIOLOGY BEING ABLE TO MANIPULATE DATA AND ANALYZE IT AND PUT IT INTO A REPORT FORM WHERE IT IS USABLE AND THEY CAN MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON DATA. >> RIGHT. RIGHT. I MENTIONED IN THE OPEN THE NUMBERS ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS. I THINK PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT HOW SPARSE THE HAD BECOME IN DETROIT. THE CITIEN WAS IN CAPABLE OF KEEPING UP WITH THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND THOSE ARE SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT ISSUES IN A CITY. >> SOME RESTAURANTS HAD NOT HAD AN INSPECTION IN ABOUT TWO YEARS AND IT WAS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE STAFF JUST SNOT HAVING ENOUGH TO GET IT DONE. NOW WE'RE ABLE TO HIRE, WE'RE ABLE TO HIRE QUICKLY. WE'RE ABLE TO PAY A COMPETITIVE SALARY. ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE COME INTO PLAY TO GET THE KINDS OF NUMBERS WE'RE REPORTING. ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL PIECE, PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT EITHER BUT WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING THE CHILD IN A DAY CARE CENTER OR IF YOU OR YOUR TEENAGE DAUGHTER OR SON DECIDE TO GET A TATTOO, YOU WANT OUR STAFF TO HAVE GONE IN THERE AND INSPECTED. >> OF COURSE. , OF COURSE IN DETROIT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE'RE VERY PLEASED THAT WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN FOR *** COUNSELING AND TESTING. THIS IS STILL AN AREA, THE EPICENTER FOR ***. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ROOT THE *** TESTING INTO OTHER SERVICES. WHICH IS WHAT NATIONALLY HAS BEEN CALLED FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. IT'S JUST A GREAT MODEL AND STANDARD OF CARE BECAUSE IF SOMEONE COMES IN LET'S SAY FOR A SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE TREATMENT, THEN WE'RE ABLE TO ALSO TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT -- YOU CAN GET OTHER KINDS OF SERVICES. >> ABSOLUTELY AND GET THEM INTO TREATMENT IF THEY ARE ALL RIGHT *** POSITIVE OR GET THEM INTO PREVENTION COUNSELING IF THEY'RE NEGATIVE AND WANT NOW TO KNOW HOW TO KEEP NEGATIVE. >> WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK ARE YOU GETTING FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS PROGRAM? GOING TO THE SECOND FULL YEAR. ARE PEOPLE RESPONDING? >> PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING WELL. RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING WE STARTED WITH CLIENT SATISFACTION SURVEYS. OVER 8,000 COMPLETED AND 87% POSITIVE RATE. THAT IS FANTASTIC. WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF HER MAN KEIFFER, BEEN A LANDMARK TO THE CITY OF DETROIT. IT WAS 1 ON 10. YEAH, IT WAS BECAUSE IT'S VERY COSTLY. NO MONEY TO DO THAT SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE OUT AND BASE THE SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR WOODWARD LOCATION, THE BUS STOPS IN FRONT OF OUR DOOR. PEOPLE LOVE THAT. IT'S PERFECT. OUR NORTHEAST LOCATION IS JUST EXCELLENT ON EAST 7 MILE. SO, ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE. >> GETS IT ALL CLOSER. CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE. >> CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO BE SERVED AND ACCESS HAS BEEN COUPLE YOU WONDERFUL. OTHER PART OF THE COMMUNITY IS OUR PEERS, OTHER, YOU KNOW, WE ARE STILL, WE STILL WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE DO, WHY WE DO IT. AND I BELIEVE IT'S FOR THE MOST PART MANY OF THEM ARE NOW STARTING TO SEE THE BENEFIT. WHENEVER YOU MAKE A BIG CHANGE. PEOPLE ARE SKEPTICAL. WHAT WILL THIS MEAN? >> WHAT WILL HAPPEN. >> WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS 2880 POSITIONS STILL IN THE CITY OF DETROIT. >> RIGHT. >> CHILDREN THAT HAD BEEN VACANT FOR 11 YEARS NOW OCCUPIED BY THE INSTITUTE. SO IT HAS BEEN POSITIVE. >> GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE. GOOD LUCK IN YOUR SECOND YEAR. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> JUST AHEAD ON AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL, THE SPORT OF BOXING IS HELPING SOME DETROIT YOUNGSTERS BOOST THEIR GRADES AND SELF-ESTEEM. WE'LL EXPLAIN, RIGHT AFTER THIS LOOK AT SOME NOTEWORTHY MOMENTS IN DETROIT'S BLACK HISTORY. >> I'M KEN COLEMAN WITH ALIKE BACK AT AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE IN DETROIT. THIS WEEK IN 1959, DETROIT POLICE DEPARTMENT INTEGRATED PATROL CAR, ALLOWING BLACK AND WHITE OFFICERS TO RIDE TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME N1966, ECLECTIC BAND FROM PROPERTY NAMED THE MYNA BIRDS RECORDED TWO SINGLES FOR MOTOWN RECORDS. FEATURING KNEEL YOUNG AND IN 1997, VETERAN STATE LAWMAKER BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO CHAIR THE MICHIGAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS THIS WEEK IN DETROIT'S BLACK HISTORY TAKEN ON THIS DA DAY AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE IN DETROIT. >> THE DOWNTOWN BOXING GYM ON DETROIT'S EAST SIDE IS CHANGING YOUNG LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY. THE KIDS WHO WORKOUT AT THE GYM NOT ONLY SHARPEN THEIR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL FITNESS, BUT THEY ALSO GET HELP WITH THEIR SCHOOL WORK AND TAKE PART IN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS. HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE YOUTH BOXING PROGRAM IS FOUNDER AND HEAD COACH KHALI SWEENEY. HE'S JOINED BY ONE OF THE GYM'S YOUNG BOXERS, DAVID DAVIS. WELCOME TO AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL. I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE. I HAVE TO HAVE SAY, I HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM ALL OVER TOWN. I PICK UP MAGAZINES, I SEE ABOUT IT. I HEARD CHELSEA CLINTON HAS BEEN THERE SEVERAL TIMES. THIS HAS REALLY TAKEN OFF. >> YES. IT'S A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE RIGHT NOW. IT'S A GREAT TIME. >> TELL ME HOW YOU CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA. >> STARTED TRAINING MY OWN SON AND DAUGHTER AND WE WANT FROM THERE. THEN I STARTED TRAINING MORE KIDS, YOU KNOW, ONCE THEY SEE YOUR KIDS DOING IT, EVERYBODY WANTS TO DO IT SO I SAVED THE MONEY, GOT THE PLACE AND KIDS WERE ATTRACTED TO IT. IN THE PROCESS OF THAT, I COULD SEE THAT THE KIDS NEEDED A LOT MORE THAN JUST BOXING. >> ONCE YOU GET THEM IN THE DOOR. >> YOU FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE KIDS. THEY NEED A LOT MORE HELP THAN JUST BOXING. >> DAVID, YOU'RE ONE OF THE YOUNG BOXERS. HAD YOU EVER BOXED BEFORE? >> NO. MY FIRST DAY IN THE GYM WAS AMAZING. >> I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT THIS WHOLE IDEA OF KIDS BOXING. IT'S VIOLENT, RIGHT? >> IT'S NOT REALLY VIOLENT. IT'S LIKE IT'S CONTROLLED. THEY HAVE RULES, THE SAME RULES THAT APPLY TO THE OLYMPIC ATHLETES APPLY TO THE KIDS. SAME SAFETY PROCEDURES. EVERYTHING IS IT SAME. >> HOW DOES THAT FEEL THE FIRST TIME YOU GET IN THAT RING AND SOMEBODY IS THERE TO PUNCH YOU? >> FIRST TIME I GOT IN THE RING, I WAS AMAZED. LIKE, DIDN'T EXPECT WHAT I SAW. WHEN I FIRST WALKED IN THE GYM, I SAW A BUNCH OF PEOPLE TRAINING AND THEY MADE IT LOOK EASY. AND I WE WANT IN, FIRST GOT INTO THE RING. WASN'T EASY. >> NO, SOMEONE IN THERE WANTS TO KNOCK YOUR BLOCK OFF, RIGHT? YEAH, SO HOW MUCH HAS THE TRAINING HELPED? I IMAGINE YOU'RE MORE COMFORTABLE NOW. >> TRAINING HAS HELPED A LOT. I WON A LOT OF TOURNAMENTS. WON A NATIONAL TOURNAMENT. BEEN ALL OVER FIGHTING DIFFERENT TOURNAMENTS. >> YEAH. YEAH. AND YOU'RE BEING MODEST. AT ONE TIME, YOU WERE RANKED THE NUMBER ONE BOXER IN YOUR AGE GROUP, RIGHT? THAT'S A BIG DEAL. >> THANK YOU. WHEN I FIRST WON MY FIRST TOURNAMENT, IT WAS AMAZING. I JUST KNEW NOBODY EVER COULD TAKE THIS AWAY FROM ME. >> RIGHT. RIGHT. >> I WORKED HARD FOR IT. >> SO THE TUTORING AND THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING, HOW DID YOU GET PEOPLE TO HELP SUPPORT THAT. >> WE REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY CAME BACK IN A POSITIVE WAY. ONCE I GOT TO SEND THE KIDS THERE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TELL LIKE WHEN THEY BRING THEIR HOMEWORK INTO THE GYM AND THERE IS NOBODY THERE TO HELP YOU WITH THE HOME, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO REACH OUT AT THAT POINT. YOU IMAGINE HOW MANY KIDS SIT AT HOME AND THIS MATH IS NEW TO THEIR PARENTS ARKOSES INSURE AND UNCLE. WE NEED TO REACH OUT TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE. REACHED OUT TO TEACH AMERICA AND A FEW ORGANIZATIONS AND WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS COME IN. A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE. >> AND THE GROWTH, THE INTEREST FROM OTHER PEOPLE MAKES IT BIGGER. >> DEFINITELY. YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN THE EASTERN MARKET AREA. THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY THINK ARE GOING TO COME IN BUT THESE GUYS HAVE COME IN AND THEY FEND ANY WAY THEY CAN. EVEN THEIR EMPLOYEES COME DOWN AND WORK WITH THE KIDS. >> YEAH. >> SOME HAVE EVEN HIRED OUR KIDS. NOT ONLY HAVE THEY HELPED TEACH THE KIDS ACADEMICALLY, THEY'VE HIRED THE KIDS. >> RIGHT. RIGHT. DAVID, TELL ME ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT YOU COME FROM AND WHAT THIS KIND OF OPPORTUNITY MEANS. >> I COME FROM THE MIDDLE CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD. MY NEIGHBORHOOD ISN'T REALLY HORRIBLE. COMING TO THE GYM EVERY DAY, IT'S AMAZING. BESIDES JUST BOXINGS AND TRAINING, MY EDUCATION AND HOMEWORK, LIKE ON SOME DAYS, I NEED HELP LIKE WITH GEOMETRY AND CHEMISTRY AND THE GYM HAS HELPED ME A LOT OF THE DEFINITELY ON FINALS. I JUST HAD FINALS. >> RIGHT. WE ALL REMEMBER WHAT THAT WAS. >> HORRIBLE. BUT THE TUTORS HELPED ME OUT A LOT AND I PASSED ALL MY FINALS. >> THAT'S GREAT. I MEAN, EVEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT. WHAT I WAS REALLY ASKING ABOUT IS THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS KIND OF THING. WE CLOSED SO MANY REC CENTERS IN THE CITY THERE AREN'T A LOT OF PLACES FOR KIDS YOUR AGE TO GO DO STUFF LIKE THIS, RIGHT? >> MY NEIGHBORHOOD DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANY REC CENTERS OR PLAYGROUNDS OR ANYTHING. THE ONLY THING WE HAVE IS A PLAYGROUND BUT IT IS NOT -- LIKE THE GRASS IS TOO HIGH. THEY DON'T CUT IT AND SOME OF THE THINGS OVER THERE NEED TO BE REPLACED. >> YEAH, YEAH. SO YOU'VE BEEN AT THE CENTER LONG ENOUGH THAT YOU'RE HELPING OTHER KIDS, RIGHT? THAT'S PART OF THE DEAL. >> ALSO, HELPING KIDS YOUNGER THAN ME. I'M LIKE A MENTOR. >> YES. THAT'S A GOOD THING. RIGHT. >> LIKE THEY LOOK UP TO ME IN THE RING AND ALSO OUTSIDE THE RING. SCHOOL WORK. >> RIGHT. RIGHT. DO THE KIDS -- WHAT IS THE AGE RANGE? >> WE GO FROM 8 TO 18. BUT WE HAVE KIDS THERE AS YOUNG AS 4 AND KIDS THERE WHO WON'T LEAVE, LIKE 20 YEARS OLD. THERE BUT HELPING WITH THE OTHER KIDS. >> THAT SPEAKS TO THE KIND OF MAGNETISM YOU DEVELOP WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING POSITIVE LIKE THIS THAT PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN AND EXCITED ABOUT, THEY DON'T WANT TO LEAVE. >> IT'S A FAMILY ENVIRONMENT. YOU GET GUYS THAT STARTED WHEN THEY WERE 9. NOW YOU HAVE A GUY THAT IS 20. THIS IS ALL HE KNOWS. HE'S COMING BACK TO THE GYM. THE KIDS GET A CHANCE TO SEE HIM. THEY KNOW HE'S IN COLLEGE NOW. KNOW HE GRADUATED ON TIME. >> HE WAS ONE OF THEM AT SOME POINT. HAVE SOME OF NIECE GUYS ARE WORKING WOULD A JOCK AND KEEPING A 3.0. >> TELL ME ABOUT THE KIDS YOU SIGH COMING THROUGH THE DOORS. PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH KIDS IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW, WHAT WERE THE KIND OF THINGS YOU FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BRINGING WITH THEM? >> YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES THROUGH THE DOOR, KIDS HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES THEY DEAL WITH. ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED IS A LOT OF KIDS GET BULLIED AT SCHOOL. A LOT OF KIDS THAT BULLY OTHER KIDS BUT WHEN THEY GET TO THE GYM, BOXING IS AN EQUALIZER. KIDS THAT ARE BULLIES FIND OUT THAT YOU'RE NOT THAT TOUGH BECAUSE WE HAVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS HERE. DAVID IS ONE. WE HAVE A HOST OF NATIONAL CHAMPIONS HERE. YOU CHECK YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR. YOU HAVE TO HUMBLE YOURSELF INSTANTLY AND THE KIDS WHO HAVE BEEN BULLIED, IT EMPOWERS THEM BECAUSE THEY GET CONFIDENT, NOT ONLY THAT, YOU HAVE KIDS THAT COME THROUGH THE DOOR THAT PROBABLY CAN'T READ OR WRITE. IF YOU CAN'T READ OR WRITE AND YOU'RE IN SCHOOL, THE FIRST THING DO IS ACT OUT TO TRY TO GET OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. PEOPLE MAY LABEL YOU AND SAY THIS KID HAS A PROBLEM. NO, HE DOESN'T. HE CAN'T READ. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TAKE TIME TO IDENTIFY THAT PROBLEM. WE GET KIDS THAT CAN BARELY READ. TAKE A KID THAT IS A STRAIGHT F OR E STUDENT AND TURN THAT KID INTO A B OR C STUDENT, HE FEELS GREAT. ALL OF A SUDDEN HE FEELS DIFFERENTLY ABOUT EVERYTHING. >> WHOLE NEW WORLD OPENS UP TO HIM. >> HOW DO YOU TRAIN YOUNG KIDS TO BOX? SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE TOUGH. >> BOXING IS EASY SPORT TO TRAIN. YOU GO THROUGH, NOTHING. NOT LIKE YOU'RE REINVENTING THE WHEEL. YOU'RE THROWING A ONE TWO OR UPPER CUT. >> GOT TO TEACH THEM TO DEFEND THEMSELVES THOUGH. >> THAT IS SIMPLE. ANOTHER ALL ABOUT REPETITION. YOU DO IT DAY IN AND DAY OUT. YOU GO THROUGH THE ROUTINE EVERY DAY, IT BECOMES A SECOND NATURE. SO WHEN IT HAPPENS, YOU REEIGHTEEN TO IT AND YOU DON'T GET HIT LIKE THE AVERAGE GUY ON THE STREET. YOU GET HIT AND YOU REACT. THE SAME THING WITH OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAM. YOU GET USED TO SEEING TUTORING. YOU GET USED TO STUDYING TECHNIQUES AND YOU LEARN IT DAY IN AND DAY OUT. IT BECOMES NATURAL SO WHEN YOU'RE IN SCHOOL, YOU GO THROUGH IT. >> ARE YOU A NATIVE DETROITER? >> YES. EAST SIDE. >> WHEN YOU WERE A KID, HOW DID YOU GET INTO BOXING? >> YOU KNOW WHAT? I WAS ONE OF THOUGHTS KIDS WHO WASN'T DOING VERY WELL IN SCHOOL SO I ACTED OUT AND GOT MYSELF KICKED OUT OF CLASS ON PURPOSE MANY A DAY. I WANTED TO GET KICKED OUT OF CAN CLASS ALMOST EVERY DAY BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, SOMEONE PULLED ME ASIDE, A FAMILY MEMBER AND SHOWED ME LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HARNESS THAT ENERGY AND USE IT FOR SOMETHING GOOD AND POSITIVE. DOESN'T HAVE TO ALWAYS BE A VIOLENT OUTBURST. IT CAN BE CONTROLLED. >> SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE DOING THAT NOW NOR SURE WITH THE KIDS. GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE. GOOD LUCK FOR YOU, DAVID. ALL WEEK, CROWDS HAVE PACKED COBO CENTER FOR THE NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW. EACH YEAR, THE URBAN WHEEL AWARDS KICK OFF THE AUTO SHOW BY RECOGNIZING AND HONORING DIVERSITY IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY. HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS YEAR'S EVENT. >> MARIA AND I ARE REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE TO BE YOUR HOST FOR THE 18th ANNUAL URBAN WHEEL AWARDS. PROUD TO BE JOINING YOU WITH TONIGHT'S HONOREES. >> THANK YOU ALL. LONG BEFORE I GOT INTO THE CAR BUSINESS MY MOM WHICH WAS MY HERO, WHICH IS DECEASED NOW, TOLD ME A FEW THINGS. SHE SAID BOY, STAY OUT OF TROUBLE. GET GOOD GRADES. AND ACT LIKE 100% OF THE TIME I'M ON YOUR SHOULDER WATCHING WHAT YOU DO. SO TONIGHT, MOM, YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW AND BE PROUD OF YOUR SON THAT YOU ARE THE MOM OF THE 2014 URBAN WHEELS AWARD DEALER OF THE YEAR. THANK YOU, MOM. >> ABLE TO ENGAGE ON MANY LEVELS OF THE INDUSTRY. WE NO LONGER EXCLUDED FROM VARIOUS NETWORKS. I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE MINORITY JOURNALISTS COVERING THE SHOW. A LOT MORE ATTENDING THE CHARITY PREVIEW. OH, AND IN FACT, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, THERE WAS CEOs AND PRESIDENTS THAT LED THE CHARGE THAT HAD NO MINORITY EMPLOYEES. THEY FUNDED THE FIRST EVENT. BMW, MERCEDES, NO DIVERSITY AND SO, IT HAS BEEN A HUGE CHANGE IN TERMS OF THE EMPLOYMENT, THE PRIOR RELATIONS, DEALER RELATIONS. EVENING IN GENERAL, WE HELPED TO GENERATE A BILLION BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. >> I'M SUPER EXCITED BECAUSE LAST YEAR, I WAS ONE OF THE PRESENTERS SO THIS YEAR I'M HOSTING SO IT IS AMAZING BECAUSE I'M FROM DETROIT. AND YOU KNOW, DID DETROIT TALENT. JUST A PLEASURE TO BE PART OF THIS AMAZING EVENT. TO CELEBRATE DIVERSITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. >> IT IS JUST GREAT. YOU KNOW, TO BE HERE AT THE URBAN WHEEL AWARDS. AT A TIME WHEN THE AUTO INDUSTRY IS DOING SO WELL AND DETROIT IS SHINING SO BRIGHT. A GREAT NIGHT, A GREAT COUPLE OF WEEKS. >> BEAUTIFUL FOR THE CITY OF DETROIT. YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY BECAUSE IT PUTS A POSITIVE LIGHT ON DETROIT. SOMETHING THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED. SO, IT IS GOOD ON SEE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER FOR POSITIVE THINGS. GLAD TO BE PART OF IT. >> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TODAY. THANKS FOR WATCHING. YOU CAN GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR GUESTS AT AMERICANBLACKJOURNAL.ORG. AND, AS ALWAYS, CONNECT WITH US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. SEE YOU NEXT TIME ON AMERICAN BLACK JOURNAL. §§ §§ §§ §§ ERIC WANTS TO THOUGH WHAT DOES DTE DO TO MAKE MICHIGAN A BETTER PLACE. >> WE DO A LOT. WE FUNDS OVER 500 JOBS FOR YOUTH. MANY ARE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. >> INCREDIBLE. THAT IS FANTASTIC. SO THIS IS LIKE A PAINT BY NUMBER, THIS WHOLE THING. COMMUNITIES ARE SUCH GREAT PLACES, AREN'T THEY? >> THEY ARE. MEASURE ONCE, CUT TWICE, RIGHT? DTE ENERGY. KNOW YOUR OWN POWER. §§