By Wendy Kemp

Well here we are, the Detroit Steering Committee for Camp New Look. What a journey.

    In March, I was approached by my friend and colleague Dee Dee McKinny Odom from MGM Casino in Detroit to be a part of a committee to select 20 students to attend Grammy award-winning musician Usher’s Camp New Look in Atlanta, GA.  The aim of the camp is to assist young people in becoming future entertainment moguls and entrepreneurs who have heightened awareness of social responsibility.

    I thought wow, how cool is this, business and community partners working together to make a huge impact on Detroit youth.

    Working on this project was like a major extra credit assignment that was triple the grade. We had late night phone calls, in-person meetings, and binders that looked like we were in pre- law filled with information on students we had to evaluate.  We even had some mild debates when it came down to the final selection, which indicated we had a great pool of students from which to choose.

    There were 9 of us on the committee to help show Camp New Look that Detroit has what it takes to be a part of the camp. We met the students on April 24 at the Charles H. Wright Museum in Detroit. I was partnered with Juanita Moore who is the President and Chief Executive Officer for the museum. Juanita and I had never formally met until that day -- she is an absolutely lovely person with a contagious smile and a dynamic speaker. But whatever you do, don’t let that smile fool you, she is feisty!

    The students arrived and we began the student interviews. Each student selected one talent to display ranging from acting and music to video production, sports and dance.  Juanita and I judged the dance portion, but we could be moved to any of the other areas if we were needed to assist interviewing students.  All of us on the committee had the opportunity to grill the students to make sure they showed they had the business sense and commitment to hard work that would make them a great fit for Usher’s camp.

    On the following Monday, we were back together to make our final recommendations and cuts to the list. After two hours of debate, the list was ready to be submitted.

    With the help of our sister company, Fathead, we were able to give each of the students headed to camp, luggage, fans and lanyards to help identify them when they arrived at the airport.

    Detroit MGM threw a send-off party which gave us a chance to meet the campers’ parents and answer any last-minute questions, while the students met with staff from Camp New Look and got a first-hand explanation of how their days at camp would be filled. 

    In addition to the luggage, the campers received sleeping bags, towels, disposable cameras, sun block, note pads and pens, and a Target gift card to purchase other supplies. Usher’s Foundation took care of the flight, lodging and everything else. 

    I want to send a huge thank you to Equilla Wainwright from Blue Cross Blue Shield, Dr. Thomas, and Bob Waller from Gordon Food Service for all of their help in providing camp items for the students.

     Right now there are 18 students in Atlanta representing Detroit. Their days are filled with rehearsals, creating business plans, advertising as well as a special community service project that they will share with all of us when they return to Detroit.

    It is my hope that we will be able to bring camp New Look to Detroit. The ability to be a part of this camp is not just a great opportunity to be a part of something cool, it is about hope.

    Last but not least, a huge thank you goes to Dee Dee McKinny Odom for allowing us to be a part of this special event.