When I was growing up in Detroit, people trusted their neighbors to look after their kids and keep them out of trouble. These days, Brilliant Detroit plays that role. I got involved when my own family needed their support, and little by little, I started doing odd jobs at the community hub and helping out wherever I could.

I teach kids martial arts, but what I'm really teaching them is character-building. Having character is the ultimate self defense. When you can concentrate, focus, and de-escalate, you're making good choices. You're aware of your surroundings.

I got really into martial arts when I was 10. I was a tomboy, and a huge WWE fan. I trained in Taekwondo and karate, and became a 5th degree black belt. I want to teach these kids real skills and have them move up in rank, but I also want them to know that they have a place to go after school--somewhere where somebody cares what they're doing and how hard they're trying. It doesn't matter to me what kind of background these kids come from, what obstacles they've faced. In my class, when they put the work in, the sky's the limit of what they can do.