Nate Stanley was just 13 years old when he attended his first Believe 2 Become community meeting. Sitting in the gym at Ford Middle School in 2010, he sat up a little straighter when he heard adults say he had unlimited potential to succeed, and that they expected great things from him. When the adults on stage called out, “I believe!,” Nate joined the crowd’s enthusiastic response: “I become!”
“I believe!” “I become!”
“I believe!” “I become!”
“I believe!” “I become!”
It felt like a new day.
And when the 400+ meeting participants split into small groups, Nate climbed the stairs to a classroom to share his thoughts.
Undaunted by the official facilitator from National Community Development Institute, the professional scribe from LINC Community Revitalization (then known as Lighthouse Communities), and dozens of adults in the room, Nate spoke up. “I think parents should do more with their kids’ schools,” he was quoted as saying. “And I think we should have a community calendar so each parent can pick a day to volunteer.”
Nate’s comments that evening were among dozens of community suggestions. From 2010 to 2013, hundreds more—students, parents, and community members—attended meetings, sharing their ideas and priorities for helping parents become confident advocates of their children’s success and guiding more young people to successful futures. Their contributions would lead to a set of robust new opportunities for families, parents, and youth offered in partnership with local nonprofits, congregations, and Grand Rapids Public Schools.
Fast-forward to 2012, and Nate Stanley was still speaking up. “I am determined to graduate and go to a four-year college to become a chemical engineer,” he said as a 15-year-old student in Jubilee Jobs’ summer learning opportunity. “My advice for younger students who want to achieve greatness? Do tasks when they need to be done; don’t procrastinate.”
In 2014, Nate was quoted in the news again at a college prep summit hosted by Grand Rapids Public Schools. Now a student at Davenport University, he is still pursuing his goal of becoming a chemical engineer.
