U FIRST

U First has been a great support to Clarkston High School. They supported us last school year with hygiene products that we distributed to our students. This year we received a very generous donation of hygiene kits and socks. We will use these items to support our students, families and community throughout the school year. We shared some of the items with Indian Creek Elementary School. U First is fantastic organization that really believes in putting their boots on the ground and supporting the community. We are very thankful to have them as a partner in education at Clarkston High School.

My name is Destanie Black I am a 38 year old female with two parents in my household. I have a sister named Kimberly who is 40 my middle sibling. Kim is my little big sister because I am over protective of her and I’m always their whenever she needs me. Kimberly has giving me a niece name Sinai 15 and a nephew name Isaiah 6. I have a great bond with them. I get them every spring break and summer. From vacation, sport activity’s and education. I was there every step of the way. Kim has a awesome husband name Joseph 42 who is my mentor. Whenever I have a problem he has always been their and never sugarcoats anything. I have a brother name Tavares 42 who has blessed with a beautiful niece Diamond who is 22 and will call me for anything. My Father Waymon is a retired from the military. My father is from Alabama and he is southern raised. My mother Nancy is from a travel agent industry.  My mother is from St. Louis and she was city raised. I am raised with military and customer service background. My father and mother had very high expectations for me and my siblings. Growing up I have had many of journeys, trails tribulations, and many changes in my life. I did not know what my calling was and I was very desperate to find out.After graduating from high school I became a childcare assistant, customer service representative, and a CNA but I still felt like something was still missing and that was not my passion. At the age of 21 I had my first son name Chowan 17 who is more like my brother inside of my son. We have a bond that is incredible. At the of 23 I had my son Chylan 15 who that has though everyone is not the same. Chylan suffers from a very bad case of ADHD. At this age I realize what my passion was. As a single parent raising boys I know i can teach them right from wrong but I can not teach them how to be a man. I was raised with a father so could not speak for the way they felt in life. Being a mother there are certain things you can not teach a male. I realize are young black males and in order for them to be successful in life it start with education. I am very big on education and respect. I raise them on a old saying “ If you lie, you’ll steal and you steal you’ll kill” They know there are consequences in every decision you make. I know at this point they are become young men and I have to make a change and fast because I do not want my boys to be labeled as number. In order to show my boys I am going to make change to graduated from University of Phoenix for Bachelors Science Criminal Justice Administration and I attending now for my Masters. A lot of children do not have a support system so they turn to the streets. I work at Devereux and see many of case where children are on drugs, sex traffic, raped by family members or siblings, mental incapacity, and have very bad behavior issues. A lot of this comes from a child not having the right guidance. Children are like sponges. A lot of children are being misdiagnosed for being a teen and be diagnosed for have mental illness or issue. A child could be suffering from a traumatic issues, depression or anxiety. Put a child on medication doesn’t solve the issue. It makes them depend on a drug to help them think that their okay. But in reality their not. Whatever they see or they are though from birth will always be the mindset they will have. Kids will be kids but it takes a village to raise a child or mold them into a successful person. You can never give up on them because that’s all they seen majority of their life is failure. When a child is raised they are raised to show very little emotion. This takes a big toll on their life because releases angrier and very bad behavior issues. When a child gets hurt we should let them know it’s okay to cry. The new generation of males are raised not to cry. That’s were the problems are being made and there not being addressed.

For example:
You have a son or a daughter. Both kids got outside and fall down. Your son was though to stop crying and a get up and was though to never show he is hurt or crying, versus a little girl she is baby and held and picked up. Why not let your son show his emotions because he grows up thinking he is not aloud to show he is hurt. Witch makes it hard for him to show affection and pain. I think if he was shown it’s okay to cry he would be less likely to be unforgiving and understand his or other’s emotions in life. Both children should be treated the same.

I realized I have a way to give back to my community. This is a place where children can come a feel open mined and not be judge and somewhere that they can feel like they are home. The community has no place for our children to go. From ages 10 to 18 The
Village will provide:

Drug abuse
Creativity class
Honors
Hygienist
Gentlemen’s club
Young ladies club
Hygiene
Sexual harassment
Safe our youth
Voice advocate
Mentor
Counseling
Tutoring 
Cooking class
Budgeting 
Resume and College applications assistance.
Goals and planning for their future.
Nonprofit organization to give back to families in need of assistance.
Friday: Middle School hangout
Saturday: High School hangout

I believe I can make a change for our younger generation to keep the off the streets and better their lives. I want The village to became successful for every young man and young Lady. Everyone deserves a second change in life if they are will to sacrifice and make a few changes.

I am going to use the money to open a youth center for trouble youth/teens for my community. I want a place where they come to get guidance, mentor, counseling and place from our youth to come to get a better way to succeed in life. It take a village to help raise our youth and I want to be the first to help change my community and give back. Rental TVs, kitchen equipment, game systems, pay employees, pay contractors. and to provide this services for the youth to prepare them to become young adults. This services that I am providing are as followed below:

Village Safe Haven Drives
 
Helping Hand Drive
 
• Bill- gas, water, electric
• Clothes
• Food
• Diaper, Formula
 
Winter Drive
 
• Coats
• Gloves
• Hats
• Socks
• Blankets
 
 
Back to School Drive
 
• Haircuts
• Hair Stylist
• Book bags
• School supplies
 
 
Village Safe Haven Program
 
Drug abuse
Creativity class
Honors
Hygienist
• Gentlemen’s club
• Young ladies club
• Hygiene
• Sexual harassment
• Safe our youth
• Voice advocate
• Mentor
• Counseling
• Tutoring 
• Cooking class
• Budgeting 
• Resume and College applications assistance. 
• Goals and planning for their future.
• Nonprofit organization to give back to families in need of assistance.
• Friday: Middle School hangout
• Saturday: High School hangout
 
The community has no place for our children to go from ages 10-18. I want to be the first to help my community to change our youth.

This organization is true to its mission of helping the Homeless with Love! I have volunteered with this organization on numerous occasions and feel compelled to do more to help those who are vulnerable and in need. God is definitely using this organization to make a difference in the lives of those who are often overlooked and forgotten! Great Job U First!

U First does an exceptional job of providing hygiene items to thousands of our most vulnerable citizens

Erica Wright will give you the shirt & shoes right off her back & feet. She cares for the homeless like they are from her birth family. She uses every available resource with nothing left over for herself. I will also be a major supporter of this wonderful organization.

I saw founder Erica Wright's story on local station and the amazing things she was doing for the Homeless our unseen and forgotten during this pandemic and what she had done leading up to this pandemic and knew I had to reach out and help+ contribute. My family+friends donate money to U first to help this organization feed & supply personal hygiene items for our forgotten community.

Ufirst is a great organization that uses its heart to love! Every day is a day of giving! The Ufirst team shows love by giving their time, donations and devotion to the cause. I absolutely love this organization! Keep doing what you do. It is needed and much appreciated!!

Spreading love to the community is what makes me happy cause the people are receptive to love

I have been volunteering with U First for about 3-4 years. It is tremendous organization. The leader and volunteers are wonderful caring people.

The impact the organization is making in the homeless community is amazing.