Dyshawn Underwood

About Dyshawn:

Dyshawn is an 11th grader at Focus Learning Academy South West. What inspired her invitation to speak at TEDxYouth@Columbus was the following of application to be an audience member (i.e. “Change Agent”):

“I had recently had a friend get killed on Frebis Avenue. He played football for Marion Franklin High School. He had a beautiful baby girl and he got shot and lost his life. In 2010 there was 83 homicides in the summer mostly youths. I can at least name 15 of the people that died last year that I knew of. One of them was family members. That is too big of a number for us youth. Most of this comes from gang activity or kids who think they have no other way. So with this being said I think instead of people investing in us going to jail they should invest in us going to college.In 2010 number of offenses committed by youth was 3,442, and number of youth offenders in 2010 was 2,271. Most of that number was male. “

Her idea for creating change was described as:

“Well I would like to have a center for the kids that live in the poverty area or who engage in gang activity.I think there should be a center with sport or anything kids are interested in. It should also have scholarships, counselors, people who can teach how to get a job and mentors.”

She will be the last speaker of the day, a perfect continuation to the afternoon ‘action’ workshops for the HS “Change Agents” and our professional mentors.