Leadership Oakland Cornerstone Class LOXXXII announces its project: Working with iDentify Your Dream (IDYD)

(Pontiac, MI-) Every year, each Cornerstone Class works to improve the community via a community service project and this year’s class LOXXXII is no different. They are working with a local nonprofit, iDentify Your Dream (IDYD). IDYD provides grief support, case management and victim advocacy to families and children that have faced or are facing trauma through violence.

Founded in Pontiac, Mich., IDYD helps children with guidance, motivation, emotional support and role modeling.

The need is there. Over the last decade, there have been more than 140 murders in Pontiac, representing the city’s mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and loved ones of the children left behind.

“As a cohort, we wanted our class legacy to be one that involved the youth and children in Oakland County; particularly in the area of mental health,” said Pastor Aaron J. Robinson, chief operations officer for The Power Company Kids Club and a LOXXXII fellow. “When we learned of iDentify Your Dream and their mission to provide care and mentorship of children who are facing or have faced trauma, there was no question that this was the cause we wanted to support. IDYD founder, Deleah Sharp, was named among the leaders to address local gun violence after the recent shooting and death of a 7-year-old girl in the city of Pontiac. Our class is honored to ‘fund the front line’ by rallying behind Deleah and the iDYD team, helping to ensure that our children who are in desperate need of healing and support in the wake of trauma, get the care that they need.”

The Cornerstone Class LOXXXII will be helping IDYD with the following initiatives:

• The annual Stomp Out Violence March. Since its inception in 2011, the Memorial Day weekend march has helped bring awareness about the effects of violence and connects families with resources – drawing hundreds of participants.
• Mentoring program. Serving children ages 4-18, the IDYD mentoring program is central to the nonprofit’s mission. More than 50 children have been helped in the bimonthly program
• Sweet Dreams toy giveaway. Since 2015, IDYD has distributed toys to children in Pontiac, Southfield and Detroit. More than 450 children have been given toys.

Leadership Oakland Cornerstone Class LOXXXII members have met with Sharp and will also help with some key initiatives to further the reach of her organization. They’ll be assisting Sharp with strategic planning and training, public education and awareness and grief relief kits.

“I recall the day when Denise Harris, a LOXXXII Fellow and the Board Chair of Identify Your Dream, contacted me with news that we were selected as the recipient of this year’s Leadership Oakland Class Project,” Sharp said. “I honestly did not know what to expect. Even after her explanation, and a few zoom calls with the cohort, I truly underestimated their impact. Leadership Oakland’s involvement in just these few weeks has given us the support we need, introduced us to valuable connections, helped to revamp our approach both digital and in print, and helped us to remove some of the barriers we faced in the past.”

“We have a big mission with limited capacity and our wish list may have more details than we have means, but after meeting with the LO cohort we have found power in leverage and collaboration, which frees me from some of hands-on work in order to be available for the front-line responsibility.”

Sharp said that because of the support of the LOXXXII cohort, IDYD will be able to accomplish the following things this year:

• Push the seven-year WISH campaign
• Create seven attainable goals for 2022
• Partner with LO fellows, cultivating those relationships
• Build a plan for increased capacity, sustainability, and fundraising.

“We are deeply grateful for Leadership Oakland and their investment in communities and passion for people,” she said.

About Leadership Oakland

Established in 1990, Leadership Oakland is a 501 (c)(3) organization focused on business and community leadership development. The organization provides a nine-month Cornerstone Program to participants from businesses, organizations, and governmental agencies that are selected based on an application process. Leadership Oakland graduates are key business and community leaders serving as catalysts on boards of various organizations throughout the region.

About iDentify Your Dream

Your Dream Foundation offers victim advocacy, grief support, and case management to families and children of murdered parents.