Passion and love are the fuel for hope

Professional sports never fails to provide unbelievable jaw dropping moments that are talked about and remembered for years. The athleticism and presence of mind found in professional athletes can at times seem unimaginable and beyond any fans belief. In times of uncertainty and confusion we can rely on our favourite sports heroes to provide us with stability and a chance to forget our problems. At times, we the fan can forget the real and the difficult lives these stars may live beyond the limelight. Professional athletes all come from different walks of life and have taken different paths to get to where they are today. For Detroit native and former NBA star, Jalen Rose, his ride was a bumpy one that eventually led him to become a hometown hero and an ambassador for the state of Michigan.

Rose was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and was the son of former NBA first overall pick Jimmy Walker; although Rose never met his father who passed away in 2007. His time on the basketball court served as an outlet for his frustrations and used his absent father as his fire and motivation. Jalen attended Southwestern High School and the University of Michigan where he helped lead the Wolverines to two back-to-back NCAA Final appearances as a member of the Fab Five. Although falling short both finals appearances, the team and the Fab Five gave the proud people of Michigan something to call their own. His success with the University of Michigan would only be the beginning of his significance to the city of Detroit and State of Michigan.

Rose was selected 13^th overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 1994 NBA Draft. He was later traded to the Indiana Pacers where he would go on to make a positive impact despite having to wait for his chance to earn a spot as a solidified starter. Rose played for six different organizations over his 13-year career including a better part of three seasons with the Toronto Raptors. After retiring from the NBA, Rose has kept active within not only the basketball community but the Detroit community as well.

The Jalen Rose Leadership Academy opened its doors to 120 ninth graders in September, 2011. The school is an open enrollment public charter high school located on the Northwest side of Detroit. The Academy aims at giving students a leadership-focused education with the basis of real-world, project-based experiences within the career fields of sports and entertainment. All students are required to take the minimum of three university-based courses to ensure their transition for college entry.

The Jalen Rose Leadership Academy provides students with a leadership stressed experience within a high-performing school that not only engages but also inspires Detroit-area youth. His love and passion for the city of Detroit is the fuel for his commitment to give back to the city he calls home and gives inner city youth a chance to accomplish their dreams to live a positive productive life.

Through proper, effective education, Jalen Rose hopes to turn the city of Detroit into a more vibrant, intellectual and economic community. By providing quality education through the career contexts of sports and entertainment, Rose hopes to prepare and educate young minds to make a positive and effective contribution to the growth and revitalization of Detroit. Jalen Rose had the opportunity to use the game of basketball as an escape from a harsh reality that faces many inner city youth. Basketball gave him a chance to create a better life for himself and his family, a chance he hopes to give thousands of Detroit’s youth today.

Hope is the heart of a dream and without hope dreams can seem impossible. Jalen Rose if offering hundreds of children the chance to have hope and faith in their dreams.