As part of our 25th anniversary series, we are featuring stories from young leaders who #MakeItHappen in their communities. This story comes to us from REALITY participant Amy Berkhoudt. REALITY is a values-based leadership program that invests in young professionals, empowering them to enact positive social change in their communities.

Amy Berkhoudt is a nomad of cultures, a native to Maui, Hawaii who moved to Detroit, Michigan to teach English as a Second Language and 11th grade English. She is an educator at heart. She is currently the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Programs for a non-profit called the Detroit Food Academy, a mission-driven organization that supports young leaders in Detroit as they design and create their own food business from scratch to market.

What do you hope to impact through your work?

I hope to offer engaging opportunities to young, native Detroiters to grow as solution-based thinkers within their city. Ultimately, I hope my students will gain leadership skills and the self-confidence necessary to be self-starters and do-gooders. Beyond my students, I hope to enrich the larger Detroit community by sharing the joys of good food as we all come together to raise up our new young leaders. Schools, neighborhood gardens, corner stores, pop-up farmers’ markets, moms, dads, grandparents, neighbors: we are all in this together.

Can you share a great moment from your work that exemplifies the change you're looking to make?

I had a student, Henry, who would sit in the back of class, by himself, with his hoodie over his head every day. I was his English teacher at the time and I remember him writing very sad but beautiful essays about his family and the lessons he was learning along the way. I would write him comments on his essays encouraging him to continue writing honest pieces because he had a powerful voice. One day, Henry left a note on my desk that said, "Dear Ms. B, I'm gay. -Henry." I asked Henry if he wanted to talk about it and what some next steps might be. We had a long discussion about acceptance, bullying and confidence. By the end of the school year, Henry started and led the first chapter of the Gay-Straight Alliance club in Southwest Detroit. He joined the Detroit Food Academy that summer and led the way, teaching his peers how to be passionate and compassionate workers to help restore a sense of community within their neighborhoods. Henry just needed someone to talk to, a little push in the right direction and an opportunity to shine.

Who inspires your work?

I am so inspired by the City of Detroit. The city takes on all its stories all at once. Some people want to hide what still exists of this city, some want to build new empires, some want to dig below the surface and others simply want to take advantage of the way Detroit is at this very moment. It is this culminating push and pull within this city that gives it a unique pulse and fresh breath. Within it, we all live: ideologies, hopes, hurts and hands.

How has REALITY supported your personal and professional growth?

When I first joined REALITY, I was introduced to this concept of "My People"--belonging to a larger community that trusts and cares for one another. I joked at the most recent REALITY reunion that Lynn Schusterman chose all of my new best friends for me. As time goes on, I am realized how true that statement really was. I now have a network of smart, talented and compassionate individuals all around the world who are ready at all times to dive deep into conversations and even help me work through my dilemmas (personal and professional). More importantly, they are people that I trust with all my heart.

Has Amy inspired you to #MakeItHappen? Visit the #MakeItHappen site to learn more about how you can make a difference in your Jewish community!

The Schusterman Philanthropic Network is proud to empower emerging leaders to explore their values, identity and new ways to strengthen their communities. We believe that as we work together to repair the world, it is important to share our diverse experiences and perspectives along the way. We encourage the expression of personal thoughts and reflections here on the Schusterman blog. Each post reflects solely the opinion of its author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Foundation, its partner organizations or all program participants.