Growing up in Covington, Kentucky, Derrick Barnes saw firsthand the effects of poverty and violence in every corner of his community. His single mother worked tirelessly to keep their family steady, but in a place with few role models and fewer resources, dreaming of something better often felt like just that — a dream.

Until one day, when Barnes met former NFL star Andrew Whitworth at the Cincinnati Boys and Girls Club. Whitworth didn’t know it at the time, but this meeting would have a lasting impact on Barnes’ ideas about leadership, caring, and what it looks like to give back.

Barnes knows how one person’s belief can change everything — and he’s made it his mission to do the same for others.

Today, as a linebacker for the Detroit Lions, Barnes is determined to show up for the next generation. Through his work with DBG Detroit — one of the nation's leading youth development programs — he’s using his platform, discipline, and heart to help kids believe in their own potential.

“When you're surrounded by a lot of bad, you become a product of your environment,” Barnes said. “I didn’t think that I could make it out and become a different person, but Andrew Whitworth came to my after-school program. He sat down and mentored me and told me what was possible in life.”

Years later, when Barnes saw Whitworth on the football field, he finally got to thank him.

“He goes, ‘You know what? I made it to the NFL, Big Whit,’” Whitworth said. “I made an investment in him, and I didn't even know it.”

The life-changing power of relationships

At DBG Detroit, relationships are at the heart of their work. Students are the drivers of their own growth, and they are surrounded by adults who support and help them build toward their dreams.

Josh is a 15-year-old at DBG who is passionate about apparel and footwear design. This year, in partnership with Barnes, he was given the opportunity to custom-design Barnes' game cleats for the NFL’s annual My Cause My Cleats campaign, where players highlight the mission-driven organizations and issues they are passionate about by wearing custom-designed cleats representing their chosen cause.

Before coming to DBG, Josh had faced some obstacles and was still discovering himself. But with the consistent support of DBG and others within their ecosystem, Josh now gets to showcase his talent and creativity on a national stage.

“My hope is for him to complete whatever dream that he's going after right now, designing clothes, shoes — you know,  exactly what he loves,” Josh’s mom said. “DBG has kept him on track. From the quiet kid to his liveliness now, he came right out of his shell.”

DBG walks alongside students and families from elementary school through adulthood — providing academic support, mentorship, resources, and whatever else is needed to support their growth and help them achieve their goals.

“When I was younger, a lot of people were doing bad things, which led to jail or death,” Barnes said. “I wasn't really good at school; I got into a lot of trouble. It was Andrew Whitworth who, every week, took the time out of his day to come and support little kids like me and guide me. Those conversations really made me try to be my best and then realize my full potential.”

The mindset: Whatever it takes

Those kinds of connections are what DBG Detroit is all about. The coaches, staff, and mentors at DBG help to create an environment that allows students to lean into their sense of purpose, build confidence, and feel a sense of belonging.

They will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes.
 

DBG is one part of a complex ecosystem of support that respects the agency of each young person, their families, their community, and their inherent strengths. Once kids walk through the door, they're surrounded by people who see them as highly capable.

Each young person at DBG is provided with individualized support to meet their needs and the needs of their families, plus free transportation, tutoring, and opportunities to explore their interests. But at the heart, relationships and deep listening provide the building blocks for transformation.

“We listen here, and we try to figure out which path they're taking, and how we help them get there,” said Khali Sweeney, CEO and founder of DBG. “The power of mentorship is priceless.”

This year, Barnes is using his cleats in the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats campaign to help others experience that same connection through DBG Detroit.

“Detroit is a place where we're going to fight, scratch, and claw to make things better, and that’s what DBG embodies,” Barnes said.

A team everyone should be on

Other Detroit Lions players have noticed DBG’s impact: David Montgomery and Penei Sewell are designing cleats with two additional students.

“These are pivotal moments,” Sweeney said. “One of these young men or women may go off to become your next greatest designer who comes back and then empowers more people in the community.”

DBG’s results speak for themselves. Of the 1,500 students the organization has served, 100% have graduated from high school, and 98% have continued on to some sort of postsecondary education. Additionally, DBG students report higher year-over-year increases in adaptability, self-efficacy, sense of agency, and self-regulation, outperforming the national averages in social-emotional growth. Over 98% of parents also say DBG has had a significant and lasting positive impact on their child's life.

But there’s more work to be done. Currently, there are about 3,000 young people on DBG’s waitlist. While DBG is looking to expand, it wants to do so strategically to ensure that no one slips through the cracks.

DBG's model of support starts with adults thinking differently about how they help young people, and means leading with consistency, active listening, and humility. It can be replicated all over the country, and Barnes encourages everyone to get involved in their local community and do what they can to give back and make it better.

“I didn't realize my full potential until I got around people who believed in me and told me what I could be,” Barnes said. “People say they want the world to be a better place, but what are you going to do about it? Are you going to be one who sits back in the shadows and just lets other people go to work? Who do you want to be? How do you want to be remembered?”

Fans can join Derrick Barnes by visiting his My Cause My Cleats page to directly support DBG Detroit, bid on his custom cleats, or find another cause near you.

This story is part of a special partnership between the NFL and Stand Together, focused on amplifying and growing the impact of the philanthropic work of NFL players. Together, this collaboration shows real strength comes when we unlock the strength within communities and the critical role each of us can play in contributing to solving problems around us.

DBG is supported by Stand Together Foundation, which empowers individuals to reach their full potential through community-driven change.

Learn more about Stand Together’s top issue areas and explore ways you can partner with us.