My Purpose

Hope is born of poverty and struggle. It doesn’t come from those born with a silver spoon in their mouths and the world at their beckoned call. It viscerally understands the struggles of the least amongst us and rises above the misery while reaching below themselves to help others rise.

I was born Darcy Miller, an illegitimate girl on Detroit’s westside of poverty and struggle. My childhood included addiction; mental illness; disability; physical and sexual violence; and criminality. My adulthood added terrorism, war, systemic injustice, oppression and discrimination. And finally, human trafficking.

I am a survivor of it all. I hold my head up high because of my struggles, not in spite of them. I’m still alive in spite of the evil done to me. It proves my strength, resilience and determination. I am proud of that fact. I am proud of every single scar; every tear shed; every unanswered cry; every denial of my humanity for I am still alive in spite of it all. I am a proven warrior. I am worthy.

I don’t say this to be boastful. I say it to remind you that you are still alive in spite of it all too. You are a proven warrior. You are worthy. I am merely proof of your possibilities by showing you that you are hope for better days.

You are that hope born out of struggle. You are the promise of better days. You rise today so that you can one day lead others to those better days just as others have done for you. Just as I try to do for you with love, understanding and hard truths. We can all see better days as we help each other rise through our struggles together. That’s what community and family do for each other. We help each other rise.

Let’s rise together!

Because every life matters, especially yours.

God bless Nebraska and especially Her people.