DETROIT – Everyday Hero: Making A Difference, Derek Atlas
Derek Atlas, the head track coach at Crockett School in Detroit, uses track to help students build self-esteem.
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Atlas has been a track coach for nine years. He graduated from University of Detroit-Mercy with a major in biology and a goal of becoming a doctor. But somewhere along the line, he got hooked on working with youth as a track coach.
He noticed that a lot of kids showed an interest in track, but were shy because they were overweight. Their self esteem was also lacking because of their weight. So Atlas thought, "If I can develop a track program that specializes is working with youth who are overweight, I can lift up their self esteem."
Atlas wanted to develop this specialized track program out of the Paul Robeson/Malcolm X Academy. He got the support and help of the principal, Mr. Jeffery Robinson, and off he went.
He concluded that the age group of 14 and under was a student population that was underserved in track. He began recruiting students with the carrot of, "If you join my track team I can help you lose weight". Students signed up. He ask them to create a name to get their buy in. They came up with STR8SmokinTrack Club. Now, this is young folk's lingo, but I do understand the smoking part. You know, getting rubber with your ride, "smoking."
Atlas began to teach them about eating the right types of foods and showing them what to stay away from. He promised that if they adjusted their diet and stayed with the track club, they would lose weight and have some fun, too.
The students were first trained in the area of field events. He coached them small steps at a time until they could do the entire workout. Then, as they began to lose weight, he moved some over to track events. The students self-esteem grew along with their academic progress. As the program gained recognition around the school and community, staff from the school and members of the community began to come and work out, too.
Atlas' students have qualified for the state and regional track meets. Some have even advanced to the Jr. Olympics. He has had three times as many students qualify in his age group and many win medals. Last year, he had 52 youths and this year he will have about the same number.
Atlas says, "If I could write a check to pay for the smiles of pride and accomplishment that I see on these young folks faces now, there are not enough zeros."
Derek Atlas is an everyday hero turning the lives of young folks around.
Do you know an everyday hero in your life? E-mail us and tell us about them.
Rev. V. Lonnie Peek, Jr. located in Detroit in 1975. After teaching 2 years in DPS, he went to WSU receiving a Masters of Social Work, an activist on campus he created the Association of Black Students. He is an entrepreneur and serves on such civic boards as New Detroit, Inc, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. With extensive radio background expanding 25 years, he writes a weekly column for the Michigan Chronicle. He has been a regular on local/ national television shows dealing with political and social issues. An ordained minister and seminary graduate, he serves on the executive committee and is the public relations chairman for the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity and is Assistant Pastor at Greater Christ Baptist Church.