Darrell Tubbs, MPH- CEO, Building Bridges

For me, healing has always been connected to opportunity. Growing up in Detroit, I learned early that access to education, resources, and hope was never guaranteed. It was something you had to fight for and, at times, something you had to imagine for yourself before you could even see it.

Initially, football seemed like my only bridge to a different life. But when that chapter closed, I found myself drawn back to parts of me that I had pushed aside—my love for science, my passion for community, and my belief that education could be a pathway to real change. Public health provided me with the language and tools to understand the inequities I had experienced and, more importantly, to work toward something better.

Today, through my work connecting young people to education, resources, and support, I carry that same spirit. I know what it feels like to chase a future you can’t fully envision. I understand the importance of having someone open a door for you—not just providing opportunities but also offering belief. Every time we help a young person navigate barriers to education, health, or stability, we are doing more than offering services; we are nurturing resilience, restoring possibility, and engaging in the work of healing.

Public health taught me that healing isn’t just about medicine; it’s about creating conditions where people can thrive. It’s about building bridges strong enough for others to cross. It is the greatest honor to help light that path, just as someone once did for me.