Turning Your Life Around

There is an old saying, “never judge a book by its cover.” Taking a deeper look, might show you things you never expected. A true hero is someone who does something bigger than themselves, for the benefit of another. I first realized this when I met Ken Baker.

Two summers ago, a good friend told me about this place called the “Soaring Above Teen Center.” When he mentioned they had games and food I was curious! When we went to check it out, I had a great time. I kept coming back, but started to notice the kids that kept showing up seemed like kids who really needed a safe place to go. They seemed hungry and needy. I wasn’t hungry or needy, I just wanted something fun to do. The center passed out things like shampoo, body wash and offered free lunches. I started to see this was a place for kids needing more than just free summer fun.

Recently, I have gotten to know the center’s founder, Ken Baker. I have watched him cheer kids up and cheer kids on. I asked Ken what made him decide to open this center. That’s when I learned that there is often more to a person, than meets the eye.

Ken Baker grew up poor, in a severely abusive home. He ran away at 13, and lived on the streets. He made poor choices and was sent to prison shortly after his daughter was born. Ken got an early release of 9 months, when he was looking at 25 years. He made a promise to himself, to never go back to prison. Ken wanted to be the father to his child, that he never had. Ken went eventually went on to earn his GED, Associates and Bachelors degrees. When his daughter was older, he volunteered at a Boys and Girls Club in Alpena, Mi. His daughter suggested he move closer to her and her children in Ionia, and open a teen center here. 6 Years ago this month, his daughter Tragically lost her battle with depression. Ken opened the teen center in her memory, and has helped over 500 children.

The last question I asked Ken was “What do you want your legacy to be?” Ken told me, “that I proved our past mistakes and poor judgements does not equal our future. They are just events in our lives that we get to learn from and build on to become better people. How we were raised as children does not mean we have to continue that cycle.

Ken Baker is My Personal Michigan Hero because he has chosen to take his painful past and turn it into a beautiful legacy. Ken rose above adversity and became an invaluable member of my hometown. His mission to be a mentor will no doubt change the lives of many for years to come.

 K. Hixon