Remembering the Life of Community Champion Deshawn Leeth
The Corner Health Center mourns the loss of community champion and founder of Underdawg Nation, Deshawn Leeth.
Deshawn was a leader for young people in Ypsilanti, always willing to show up and help where it was needed, a truly special person. He founded Underdawg Nation in 2021 in an effort to provide young people guidance and mentorship. Click here to learn more about Leeth's remarkable journey. His untimely passing is undoubtedly felt by youth, community members and leaders across Washtenaw County. He was a mentor and partner in a number of programs with The Corner Health Center and often provided valuable insight, connection and support.
Deshawn was a leader for young people in Ypsilanti, always willing to show up and help where it was needed, a truly special person. He founded Underdawg Nation in 2021 in an effort to provide young people guidance and mentorship. Click here to learn more about Leeth's remarkable journey. His untimely passing is undoubtedly felt by youth, community members and leaders across Washtenaw County. He was a mentor and partner in a number of programs with The Corner Health Center and often provided valuable insight, connection and support.
The Leeth Family has created this GoFundMe to help cover the unexpected expenses related to Deshawn’s passing and to continue the work he started. Every contribution, big or small, helps us honor his life in a way that reflects the man he truly was a man of strength, heart, and purpose.
"Deshawn’s contributions to Ypsilanti’s young people will be measured generationally. By seeing themselves reflected in his experience and in his tremendous growth and potential, Deshawn gave young people hope for their future. His loss is one that we will feel for a long time."
Join us in honoring Deshawn's life! Saturday, April 12 -- 10 a.m. -- Community Resource Center -- 1515 South Harris Road -- Ypsilanti, Mich.
"Our founder, Joan Chesler, believed in the Lotus Flower Theory, anyone can bloom in murky waters and Deshawn embodied that message. He was passionate, consistent, humble but also unafraid to speak up for the young people in our community. We were fortunate to partner with him in many aspects of our work and looked to him as a resource. There were days he would come to Corner and just share his heart with me and I’m better because of it. He will be missed immensely, and he will be remembered by us as a youth champion, passionate advocate and dedicated partner."
Deshawn Leeth with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, The Corner Health Center, and other community leaders at a sit-down discussing youth support and justice system reform.