Editor’s note: This article was a finalist for the America Inspired Contest, which celebrated extraordinary people making a difference across the United States. We invite you to read about these amazing people.

The Civil Rights Movement has evolved. It was born long before the 60’s, but the more recent leaders we remember are Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks. The leaders in these movements are our fathers, mothers, grandmothers, and grandfathers. Their work has left an indelible mark on our society.

The need to fight for civil rights has not diminished. Detroit has a need for strong leadership in its neighborhoods. A revolution is happening in its streets, and the next generation has taken up the mantle of responsibility and is tackling the issues of poverty, illiteracy, education, incarceration and the deterioration of the neighborhood.

Yusef Bunchy Shakur is a community activist who runs Urban Network located on Grand River in Detroit right off of I-94. Walking in the door of the brightly painted yellow building, it is warm and inviting. It is a safe place for the community, especially the youth, to hang out, have some food, and maybe watch some TV or read while sitting on one of the comfortable leather couches in the lounge.  It also doubles as a bookstore and library. The wall is full of books that kids don’t typically have access to in school giving them unprecedented access to their culture. In another corner, there are computers set up for access to the Internet, yet another important tool that many in the community don’t have day-to-day. Each area is carefully thought out and utilized to its maximum potential.

There are also outreach programs done by Urban Network, such as “Restoring the Neighbor Back to the Hood Family Fun Day: School Supply Give Away” which this year provided over 500 backpacks to area youth, up from 250 backpacks the previous year. There is live entertainment, free food, and prize giveaways. But the most important component is to provide a safe and drama-free environment for people to act neighborly.

It wasn’t until I talked with Yusef and read his book that I understood his deep commitment to the community.

Yusef was born Joseph “JoJo” Lee Ruffin.  His parents were teenagers and he ended up being raised in a single parent household.  With no adequate father figure, he was running the streets. “I was an angry hurtful kid who used fighting as a form of therapy. By 13 I had co-founded the notorious street gang, Zone 8 and by 15 I had been kicked out of every public school in the area.”

His lifestyle, or “death” style as he termed it, led him to be convicted for a crime he did not commit and he was sent to prison. “It was there that I met my father for the first time.”  His father had been sent to prison several years ago.  In his book he writes, “During my time with my father, he became my brother, teacher, comrade and mentor through stimulating a meaningful father and son relationship.”  His father took the opportunity to guide him onto a path that would lead him to become a strong man and a leader, and not more hardened by his experience. 

After nine years in prison, he emerged as Yusef Bunchy Shakur and returned back to the neighborhood he used to terrorize in his youth. While he was in prison, his first son was born. He knew that he had to do everything in his power to ensure that his son would not follow the same path that he and his father had. He continued to develop his skills. He became a community organizer, Head Start teacher, youth mentor, business owner, author, motivational speaker, and a college graduate.

When you meet him he is a large soft-spoken man. Watching him give a speech, he transforms into a passionate, fiery and bold orator.  He believes strongly in what he is saying, and believes strongly in his community and what they can accomplish, especially the youth.  Having strong men in the community would help young boys to see what it means to be a strong man and not have to turn to the streets like he did.

 “My goal was to establish a healthy community. I wanted a safe place for people to go, for people to develop skills.” says Shakur. “I would like to see a Youth Entrepreneurship Program and programs that focus on affordable housing. More opportunities for internships. Maybe even scholarships. “

His experiences gave him a far different perspective, insight and authenticity as to how to approach problems. It’s that thoughtful reflection and analysis that makes Yusef so remarkable. The rolling-up of his sleeves and following through on his vision is what makes him more than that. This is a person who has overcome great adversity and has not allowed it to make him hard and bitter, but allowed it to transform him into a strong warrior and leader in his community

In Yusef’s book there is a quote from a Nelson Mandela speech:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Yusef has learned how to shine, and by doing so he is showing other young men in his community that they can shine too. From his words to his actions, he is following his heart by letting others know his story.

“I wrote from my heart. I wanted people to travel my journey from the beginning, from JoJo to Yusef. I let honesty be my guide.”