‘The Way’ Community Center

Growing up in North Minneapolis as a teenager, it was easy to fall into the wrong crowd. Idle time wasn’t just boring, it was dangerous. Many girls my age were getting pregnant, experimenting with drugs, or drifting deeper into street life. 

I knew early on that if I wanted a different future, I had to keep myself busy with something that mattered. I told myself that one day I’d be a legend in whatever I chose to do.

It wasn’t easy to stay on the right path. Violence, substance abuse, and teen pregnancy were part of everyday life. To make it out, you needed a strong head and good influences, but those were hard to find in my neighborhood. So I turned to the one thing I loved most: dance.

Dance was my escape and my voice. I always had a crew, performing whenever we could, even opening for major headliners. Then I discovered the Leo Johnson Drum Corps, the most precise, powerful and passionate group I had ever seen.

My way in came by chance. I spotted my sister practicing with a friend and followed them to a place called “The Way” in North Minneapolis. Inside, I saw girls dancing in perfect sync while drums pounded like thunder. The energy was magnetic. I knew I belonged there.

I asked a young man, who I later learned was Bobby Joe Champion, now Minnesota Senate president, how to join. Watching the tryout routine, I picked it up in less than 10 minutes. When Bobby Joe asked if I was a good dancer, I told him straight: “I’m the best in Minnesota.” 

Then I told the drummers to give me something fast and funky, and I went all in: jumping, spinning, hitting every move with everything I had. By the end, I had earned my spot. From then on I ate, slept and breathed drill team. 

Over time, I earned the nickname “Queen of Drill Team,” a title I carried with pride. The drill team gave me more than a stage; it gave me discipline, creativity, confidence and sisterhood. It gave me purpose. Most importantly, it kept me off the streets and showed me I had a future worth protecting.

I share my story for every young person standing at a crossroads. You don’t have to follow the crowd. If you’re down to nothing, find something. Connect with a purpose, and chase it relentlessly. Your passion, whether it’s dance, music, sports, writing or something else, can be your way out.

We’re losing too many young people to violence, overdoses and incarceration. We need to change that trajectory. There are programs right here in our community that can help you find your path and build your legacy.

For more information about youth programs or housing connections, email cpc@cpcmn.org.

Shanasha Whitson, is dedicated to highlighting mobilizers in the local community. She is the executive director of Community Partnership Collaborative 2.0 (CPC 2.0), a nonprofit health and wellness HUB....

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