Derschaun Sharpley, Founder and President H.I.S. Organization

Business Phone: (313) 522-2503
Email: info@hisagency.org
H.I.S. Website

Derschaun Sharpley is the president and founder of Helping Individuals Succeed (H.I.S.). Launched in August of 2004, H.I.S. is located in Detroit, Michigan and focuses on developing positive character, building self-esteem and leadership skills, and enhancing etiquette skills in the lives of inner city youth.

Derschaun grew up in a neighborhood that offered few advantages. Born and raised on Detroit’s west side and educated within the Detroit Public School system, she spent hours giving manicures and makeovers to friends and family. She also studied Fashion Merchandising at Randolph Vocational/Technical School.

From early childhood, she appreciated the values of family, charm and etiquette; something that would later translate into a career in helping others.

Derschaun graduated from Mumford High School. After high school she became a licensed cosmetologist. To further her education, she enrolled in the Detroit College of Business where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Care Administration. During her senior year, she accepted an internship at the Detroit Medical Center in Human Resources.

She also went to The Detroit Entrepreneurship Institute to further enhance the success of her business.

Derschaun worked as a Program Manager at Drew Middle School in Detroit, MI for approximately eight years developing programs and initiatives for children with social challenges. She was tasked with creating programs to decrease student code of conduct violations, improve attendance while developing strategies to improve test scores and grade point averages.

With limited school funding resources, Derschaun was unable to find a program that could effectively meet all this criteria in a way that was both affordable, and enjoyable to the students.

Due to budget cuts, Derschaun was laid off for over a year. During this time she felt a strong calling on her life. She realized that if simple life-skills, respect, and love had meant so much to her in her own upbringing, perhaps these same things could be used to reach inner city youth. She decided to jump in with both feet and start her own business to continuing helping children in crisis.

Ms. Sharpley saw a need, and met it by creating fun, innovative programs that children love, that get results, and are affordable.

While teaching life skills, including manners, Derschaun's kids also make memories that will carry with them for a lifetime. She holds events like the Chocolate Spa-licious Slumber Party, where little girls get to be princesses, enjoying manicures, pedicures, and facials. They have a "Princess Idol," PJ fashion show, and even make chocolate lip-gloss. They conclude the event with Girl Talk sessions that they lead.

H.I.S. offers programs to boys and girls, and is now reaching out to adults who also want to learn social skills.

Derschaun teaches her protégés that in order to receive they must first learn to give and with a loving heart. This is a lesson that she lives each day through the services she provides to families in her community.

Derschaun states, “my calling was confirmed by a young girl in my old neighborhood who recently said, 'when I grow up I want to be just like you.'"

Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the worst poverty of all, Mother Teresa famously stated. Sometimes we see someone who feels lonely or unloved, and our instinct is to mind our own business. We must remember that the Golden Rule is proactive, not passive. It may be easy enough for us to smile at others and not cause disruptions or chaos. But if you were lonely and depressed, wouldn’t you want someone to reach out to you?

This means that above and beyond acting respectfully and paying our debts and avoiding conflict, we should also seek out those who are isolated and fearful, and give them a community.

Derschaun is planning to take her programs national someday, touching the lives of children across the nation.