Youth leaving the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility will now walk out with new athletic shoes and Detroit Pistons jerseys, thanks to a donation from Kalasho Education and Youth Services, Huntington Bank, and the Detroit Pistons.
The gifts, presented on July 29, are far more than just fashionable gear. For many of these youth, they represent recognition, dignity, and the possibility of a brighter road ahead.
The donation included 150 pairs of Jordan brand athletic shoes and 40 Detroit Pistons jerseys. As these youth prepare to step out of the facility and re-enter their neighborhoods, they’ll do so with symbols of support in hand and new gear that lets them know that they are not forgotten.
Wayne County officials were quick to emphasize that deeper meaning behind the donation. County Executive Warren C. Evans highlighted the challenge of re-entry for justice-involved youth and why gestures of belief and belonging can be transformative. 
“Oftentimes for these young people, returning to the outside world can be as difficult and challenging as the time spent on the inside,” Evans said. “That’s why it’s so important to let them know we believe in their ability to rise above their circumstances and to leave the Juvenile Detention Center stronger, better equipped and more ready for the world than when they came in. Motivation is central to rehabilitation.”
For the young people at Wayne County JDF, whose time inside often includes rigorous efforts toward personal growth, education, and behavioral change, stepping out into the community can feel like starting over. Many return to unstable environments, limited resources, or fractured support systems. A new pair of shoes or a jersey bearing the name of a Detroit sports team may seem simple—but in the right context, they’re messages: you matter, and your community is rooting for you.
The project was led by Kalasho Education and Youth Services, a nonprofit organization with a mission to empower underserved youth through education, advocacy, and enrichment. Executive Director Sumaiya Ahmed Sheikh said the donation reflects their belief that small gestures can carry meaning beyond the threads used to stitch them together, particularly for youth navigating difficult transitions.
“We believe every young person deserves a chance to feel valued and seen, especially during moments of transition,” Sheikh said. “These jerseys and shoes are more than just gear—they’re symbols of hope and perseverance. Our goal is to remind these youth that their future is not defined by where they’ve been, but by the strength they carry forward.”
Kalasho’s involvement is part of a broader approach to youth engagement, one that merges sports, mentorship, and learning to help young people build identity, agency, and confidence. The group has long maintained that visible community support can spark meaningful change, especially when that support comes from prominent institutions like the Detroit Pistons and Huntington Bank.
Both partners have deep ties to community service and youth programming in Michigan. For the Pistons, it’s part of their continued commitment to using sports as a vehicle for positive social impact. For Huntington Bank, the donation aligns with its broader focus on inclusive economic opportunity and youth development.
The hope, organizers say, is that these kinds of collaborative efforts can create ripple effects and help to make the reintegration process not less daunting and even empowering.
At its core, the donation is a nod to resilience. For every youth walking out of the detention facility, it’s a reminder that they are not alone and that the city around them, its leaders, its teams, and its institutions, see their worth and want them to succeed.
