In the News

Dr. Phil McGraw to Visit YouthVille Detroit

2006.09.14
Jacqueline Robinson
Berg Muirhead and Associates
(313) 872-2202 ext. 209

DETROIT - Dr. Phil McGraw will visit YouthVille Detroit September 21 along with Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick and Strategic Staffing Solutions (S³) President and CEO Cynthia J. Pasky to present the youth development center with new musical instruments that will enable it to significantly expand its music programs.

Dr. Phil, psychologist, best-selling author, and host of the daytime television series, Dr. Phil, will visit YouthVille on the eve of the one year grand opening anniversary of the largest youth development center in the Midwest. The presentation will be made at the YouthVille Detroit facility, located at 7375 Woodward Avenue beginning at 8:45 a.m.

YouthVille President and CEO Dr. Gerald Smith said, "We welcome Dr. Phil and his ‘tell it like it is' candor to YouthVille Detroit. During his visit he will share with parents and young people here how positive youth development activities can develop leadership skills for life."

Mayor Kilpatrick, who worked with Dr. Phil to arrange the visit to the unique facility, said the gift of musical instruments will enable the center to broaden its range of programming and appeal to even more young people.

"In less than a year YouthVille has become one of Detroit's jewels," he said. "The mentoring, leadership development and other positive work they do with the 250 to 300 young people who come to the center every day is making a real difference in Detroit. We could use more YouthVilles as we work to create the Next Detroit."

Pasky said she was particularly pleased to have the opportunity to help YouthVille because the help is coming in the form of expanding the center's musical program.

"As a young woman I was heavily involved in dance and I know from first hand experience how important involvement in the arts can be in helping young people develop their full potential," she said. "Gerald Smith's dream has become a wonderful reality in YouthVille. I feel privileged to be able to help them in some small way."

The new musical instruments will enable the youth development center to expand its music programming to include several ensembles such as Jazz, Classical, Quartet and Drum Line, Smith said.

"In the one year we have opened our doors, we have provided more than 2,000 young people in Detroit and the surrounding communities with engaging academic, athletic and artistic programs and have provided the support needed so they are able to make positive life decisions," he added. "These instruments will allow us to do even more."

The $15.8 million YouthVille Detroit facility combines youth and family services, mentoring, leadership development, health care, arts and crafts, fitness programs including sports, dance and exercise, music and drama, technology and a cyber café all under one roof in an impressive, completely renovated 75,000-square-foot leadership development facility.

"The concept for YouthVille Detroit begins with a vision to create a world-model community of healthy neighborhoods where citizens can nurture Detroit youth — beginning with a facility for and about youth," said Dr. Smith.

Instruments to be donated to YouthVille include: One flute, Two clarinets, One alto sax, One tenor sax, One trumpet, One trombone, One baritone, Two violins, One viola, One cello, One up upright bass, One electric guitar, Six sets of practice pads, six pairs of drum sticks and six practice pad stands.

YouthVille Detroit is a program of the Detroit Youth Foundation. DYF was formed in 1999 as an outgrowth of The Kellogg Foundation's highly successful 20-Year Youth Initiatives Program in the Northern High School service area. Today, DYF encourages positive youth development through collaborative partnerships and funding strategies that help create a healthy community environment. The Foundation works to provide programs and activities at the community level that support children and guide positive youth development. DYF's primary service area reaches from the Detroit River, north to Six Mile, Wyoming to the West and Conner to the East but expands to serve citywide. No youth will be excluded based on residency. DYF is a 501 © (3) and a 509 (a) (1) public charitable foundation and tax exempt organization.