For the month of July the Challenge Detroit Fellows were tasked with coming up with their own monthly challenge. We were to find something that we were passionate about and put all our efforts for the month in addressing that passion. It took me all of two seconds to decide where I was going to focus my efforts. The decision that I made was youth and sports. The hard part was logistically addressing this vague topic. Thankfully there was a fellow with just as much passion as I had for youth and sports. She came up with the event, het and I recruited two other fellows that also had that very same passion, and we proceeded to plan for the event of the summer. The Detroit Youth Games was the name that we gave our event.

The Detroit Youth Games was to be a way that we could, “use athletics to engage and mentor the youth of the city of Detroit in a positive way.” All we needed was a keynote speaker, equipment, agenda, activity, volunteers, security, registration form, marketing strategy, marketing materials, partner organizations, sponsors, t-shirts, funds, and facility that could accommodate 100 children and 3 different sports simultaneously. Putting four of the brightest, most resourceful people that Detroit has to offer in a room for four weeks, can turn that daunting list above into a piece of cake.

Keynote Speaker: 3X Olympian and Gold Medalist Peter Vanderkaay. Check

Equipment: Between Amazon & Meijer (Slogan should be the only place that beats Amazon prices) we barely came out of pocket. Check

Agenda: Three college athletes planning for the sports they played , and assisting with the planning we had possibly the smartest fellow facilitating the meetings. Check

And I could “check” everything else but it will probably lead to me bragging about my team and everyone else that made this event a success(i.e. Olympic Gold medalist Peter Vanderkaay). So, lets move on to the most important part of the event. The kids that attended had a great time. The event did not attract the projected 100 participants that we expected, but the ones that did show up had fun and left with more than they came in with. Not only did they learn that day, but they also educated us on how to better serve them. This was the first Detroit Youth Games but it will not be the last. All of us involved in planning have already gave our word to each other that we will be back next year.

Next year the event will be even bigger, and I for one can’t wait. Detroit Youth Games on three…one, two, three DETROIT YOUTH GAMES!!!