Donny:

I am a graduate of Lake Superior College with a degree in graphic design, but my life could have turned out much differently. My experience at NYS helped shape who I am today.

I was born in Chicago, the first of seven kids in a poor family living in poor neighborhoods, attending poor schools surrounded by gangs and a lot of people who just didn’t care.

At age 17, I moved to Duluth to live with my aunt. Here I discovered the Washington Center and Neighborhood Youth Services (NYS), and it was one of the first times I saw an opportunity for change.

NYS introduced me to a completely positive environment.  The mentors and staff were adults who I could look up to and who looked out for the youth---not only inside the youth center but outside as well during our everyday lives.

To be honest, if it wasn’t for NYS, I would have been out on the street getting into all sorts of trouble.  The people in the program were living examples who showed that despite your surroundings or your origin, you can have a positive life and do positive things.

During college, through volunteer work and work study, I was very proud to be given a chance to be a positive adult figure to kids at NYS and to give back to those who have given to me.