We made a vow to each other that we was all gonna graduate… That was our goal, we held each other accountable and made it happen… We knew a lot of people in our community before us had the talent, had the gifts, but ended up taking the wrong path due to a lot of things… I’m all about giving my time, giving the knowledge I have to be able to help another kid get to the next level.

Turan Rush

Turan graduated from Capital High School in 2017. Due to an injury, he had to sit out his junior year of high school football. Turan enrolled at Antelope Valley Community College before transferring to Eastern Michigan University on a full scholarship to play defensive end. In 2021, he became first in his family to graduate college, and is now studying for his Masters in Sports Science at WV State University. As the defensive coordinator, Turan helped West Side Middle School’s undefeated football team win the 2022 championship.

He says the foundation of the team’s success is the Midian Leadership Project. Turan cofounded the group as COO with several classmates to create a system for younger students built on Transformative Community Leadership practices. The team trains at the fresh new gym at the Midian Safe Haven, their latest youth center.