PERSON OF THE WEEK IS A DREAMER

Our Detroit 2020 Person of the Week is a man we met as we recorded the video for our anthem “Turn It Around.”

His name is Jonathan Parks and he’s a self-proclaimed dreamer.

When we first interviewed members of the band, Rock Nation, we also met a man who shares their passion for Detroit and determination to turn things around.

Jonathan told us “Detroit birthed the middle class.  I would love to be a part of the movement — I have to be part of the movement — that sustains that or brings it back full circle.”

Jonathan’s spirit of Determination has been lifelong.  As a toddler he experienced a health crisis that is difficult for many adults to overcome.  He says, “I was 18 months old when I had a stroke on the right side of my brain which affected my left side. “  He says there is still a noticeable difference between the two sides of his body.

Doctors were not sure if he would ever be able to speak normally.  But today Jonathan is a motivational speaker.  His message is, “To use your gift, whatever it is you do the easiest, to benefit someone else other than yourself.”

The Michigan Chronicle recognized Jonathan as one of the area’s Young History Makers.

He has joined some of the members of Rock Nation to form the “Five Dreams Project”.  According to Jonathan, “Hopefully just the positive energy of individuals working together will become contagious and spread, people will make their own team of dreams.”

Jonathan Parks will host a Live Talk tomorrow, June 16, 2012, “How to Pursue Your Dreams”.  Click here for complete details.