Some people probably never thought six-year-old Miguel would become a positive role model in his community ten years later. When most children were joining the Scouts or a baseball team and selling candy bars, Miguel was in a gang, dealing and using drugs. His family was of limited means and his neighborhood, Leisure City, has one of the highest crime rates in the country. He foresaw a bleak future for himself and said, “I will not live past 10,” convinced he would die on the streets. He and his mother were referred to the FAST Prevention Program of Family Counseling Services. The prevention program gave him the tools to explore effective problem-solving skills. His mother also learned and practicing communication tools and methods that helped Miguel think for himself.

Miguel was making progress at FCS when he was put to the test. At ten-years-old, his best friend was killed in a gang-related shooting. Miguel was angry and his natural instinct was to meet violence with violence. He was at a crossroad, and his future hung in the balance. But instead of fighting, he began a crusade for peace in his neighborhood. Risking his life, he called on his old gang and its rival gang to meet up and resolve their issues peacefully.

Then, at 13, he joined the Miami-Dade Explorers, one of Family Counseling Services’ many partner organizations. Miguel continued to apply the problem-solving skills into his teen years and graduated from high school with honors.

Looking back to his first day in the program, he becomes overwhelmed with emotion when he remembers saying, “I will not live past 10.” Now at the age of 16, Miguel plans to join the police force and motivate young children. He says, “I want to provide them with hope that there is a future–the same hope that FCS gave me.”