Special Ingredient in the Sauce

As I stood at the Delray Neighborhood House on the Southwest side of Detroit (see satellite map) along with several United Way Board members, I thought about the oasis it provides to the neighborhood. The theme this year for the youth that come through the door every morning at 10:30 is "Work the Vision."

The setting outside of the neighborhood house is one that requires the kids to imagine a future beyond what surrounds them. The parking lot looks out towards the sewage treatment plant.


You know that to be true because of the pungent odor in the air coming from the plant. Running alongside the playground resides the gateway to downtown ---I-75.

Across the street rests one of many houses that finds itself in disrepair. Yet, these houses are what the kids call home.

Inside the neighborhood house, it is a different story. Jason, age 11, told me he is going into middle school and that it is going to be 'a lot harder than elementary .... and high school is even going to be harder."

Then he added, "you needed to go through all that to get into college."

"Keep doing what your doing and your going to do just fine," I told this eager youngster.

He said back to me, "Yeah, because you can't get a job unless you go to college."

I can tell you that amongst the toughest surroundings in the poorest neighborhood in the City of Detroit, this young man had figured out what we hope all children do. He has some of the toughest odds stacked against him, yet he was excited about what waited inside the center for him....a gym, a computer lab, his buds and a group of adults that care about him.

If anyone wonders what the special ingredient in the sauce that makes it all happen ---it's love. The person that leads the overall effort through People's Community Services is its Executive Director Tom Cervenak. And Tom would be the first to tell you the work is successful because of his dedicated staff and volunteers.

Tom has gotten key partners like Chrysler involved to set up critical programs such as its computer lab. If you want to learn more about the Neighborhood House, you can call Tom at 313.554.3111 or email tcervenak@aol.com.

If you want to learn more about the work going on in neighborhoods throughout the tri-county area, just give us a call at United Way -- 313 226 - 9221.