Be Who You Need When You Were Younger, With Danielle Hughes

Danielle D Hughes, recently named to Forbes ‘30 under 30’ 2018 list for her profound work in education, Danielle has become one of Detroit’s most recognizable millennials for youth advocacy and empowerment. Pledging daily to be the person she needed when she was younger, the astute social entrepreneur, humanitarian and proud Detroit native, makes it her mission to impact the lives of her hometown youth. Serving as Dream Director to high school students as well as founding partner & COO of Detroit Speaks, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing teens with mentorship, coaching, leadership and personal development skills to achieve their dreams.

Having worn many hats along her journey, Danielle has sharpened her business acumen and perseverance by boldly recognizing those which did not fit. Being hired and fired in a year and a half span as news reporter and anchor of ABC and NBC affiliate stations in Alabama and Georgia, Danielle attributes each experience to the direct pathway which led her to her purpose. Proudly sharing her story with aspiring audiences, Danielle is intently transparent about her wins and losses, encouraging youth to remain resilient so they, too, may find their true purpose.

Danielle holds a B.A. in Journalism from Georgia State University. Noting her triple threat for success and serenity, she is an unwavering lover of God, good novels and good manners.

WHAT WAS GROWING UP LIKE FOR YOU?

Danielle: Growing up, I was a really big dreamer. If there one thing that I always got in trouble for, it was for daydreaming.  Every parent teacher conference, my teachers would be like, ‘You know what? She’s a good kid but she just daydreams all day.’ My mom would get so upset with me like, ‘What are you even thinking about?’ I’d just say, “Mom, I see myself being bigger than this.’  When “Behind the Music” used to come on VH1, I would tell my Mom, ‘That’s going to be us. I’m going to be a superstar…I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I’m going to be a superstar one day.’

WHERE DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR DETROIT SPEAKS?

While in college, one of my good friends from high school and I were involved in like three different mentoring organizations. I was like, “Man, I really love doing this. This is something I could get a paycheck for and I love doing this because I’m making a difference in a person’s life. How do we make this full-time?”

She said we should start a conference in Detroit and match young people with mentors. We began creating programming and securing sponsors and she was like, “We might have an organization on our hands!” Then yeah, Detroit Speaks was formed from there. We were initially doing this on the side while I was working what ended up being a failed news career. I had to come back home thinking, “God, I don’t know what’s next.” I didn’t have any money coming in. I was on unemployment, making $300 a week and I was like “Something has got to give.” When I came home after getting fired the second news station, I got a nomination from Forbes [magazine] last year. I was like “Okay God, this is a sign.” I got to the summit, everything is good, and we didn’t end up making the list, but we ended up receiving so many donors, sponsorship, and partnerships from that. Things were getting a little easier and I was like, “Now I can pay my bills  now…things are starting to make sense.”

WHAT IS THE MISSION OF DETROIT SPEAKS?

Danielle: In my eyes, Detroit Speaks means everything to the city of Detroit. This is the city that raised me. I would not be who I am today without the experiences that I’ve had in the city. I’ve lived in three different states at this point and there’s literally no place like home. The grit and the hustle of people in Detroit is like no other. Detroit Speaks’ mission is to increase social awareness, community involvement, and  helping young people ages 13-18 achieve their dream. I met someone who was a DREAM director at Renaissance High School and her name was Toni Jones. She was like, “You would be a really Dream director.” So we started a pilot program at Renaissance High School, where I’m a DREAM director. Basically, you help young people direct their dream. I’m a life coach, a mentor, a guidance counselor, mama, sometimes auntie, all in one, at the school, Tuesday-Friday. I’m still doing Detroit Speaks full time and still doing this full time. I’m trying to find a balance. It’s been such a blessing because I always say I wished that I had someone who could have guided me through life like and older sibling or mentor. I didn’t get my first mentor until my senior year of college. I have two younger siblings and we were literally winging it my whole life. I feel like I would have not made some of the decisions that I’ve made if I had someone holding me accountable and holding my hand like, “Learn from me.”