Stepha’N Quicksey is excited to learn and lead. Detroit Network of Future Leaders (DNFL) is giving him and many others that opportunity.

Quicksey, 20, is in his third year at Grand Valley State University. He is studying public and non-profit administration, with a concentration in community development planning, and minoring in business. He is the founder of DNFL and hopes to see the program succeed for many years to come. He works with six other college students in Michigan to empower leaders of the next generation. Their efforts mainly focus on the city of Detroit.

“I wanted to find a way to give other young leaders an opportunity to have their voices heard and their visions realized,” Quicksey said. “The program will identify teams of exceptional youth leaders and challenge them to design innovative, game-changing strategies to resolve the most pressing issues facing youth in their schools and neighborhoods.”

Each of the students in the program grew up in Detroit and understands the value of having someone invest in them and their future, Quicksey said. Including Quicksey, there are four students at GVSU, one at Ferris State University, one at Wayne State University and one at Wayne County Community College. The other students who work alongside Quicksey at GVSU are juniors Angel Williams and Shaylynnkinne Ivory and senior Sebastian Cooper.

According to their Facebook page, DNFL is a “group of college students from Detroit. Our mission is to identify, shape, empower and retain the next generation of leadership for the city. Now is the time for authentic youth leadership to emerge.”

However, Quicksey said they are more than that, noting that they try to bring skills and resources to talented youth leaders in hopes to renew their spirit of life towards their communities and neighborhoods.

He devotes about 20 hours a week to the program, sometimes more. This includes writing grants and proposals, communicating with his team members, reaching out to sponsors and brainstorming strategies. The seven-student team talks with each other several days throughout the week and sometimes even daily. They video-chat, have conference calls and virtually meet through Google docs.

The reward he receives is well worth the time committed, he said.

“I am learning what it is like to lead a team, raise tens of thousands of dollars and potentially transform a community,” he said. “It can be challenging at times, but I am inspired most about the success that can come out of this program.”

Quicksey plans to continue with the program after college and build it up. His vision is to see the program “become sustained and see it continue to empower young talent in Detroit.” After growing the program more, he sees himself transitioning to work at nonprofit businesses.

He has also learned a lot about himself along the journey, adding that it has been an eye-opening experience and he is grateful to the leaders and organizations in Detroit who care about Detroit kids and their wellbeing. His end goal is to run for elected office in Detroit.

Quicksey said he hopes he can bring some of his insight about learning and leading a community to GVSU.

“I would like to apply some of my energy and insight here at Grand Valley and look forward to getting involved in a few things over the course of my last few semesters,” he said. “GVSU also has tons of resources that are accessible to students and designed for our success.”

DNFL gives students the opportunity to see not only their potential, but also the potential of the city of Detroit. Quicksey said he appreciates the autonomy of the program, knowing they can be authentic and genuine in their approach to their work.

“I know what it is like to be a young teen in Detroit who lacks confidence and see no hope of ever succeeding beyond current circumstances,” he said. “I also know what it is like to be a young teen in Detroit who feels empowered and ready to conquer the world around me.”