Sandra Turner Hardy established the Denby Neighborhood Alliance with a clear vision in mind: to prepare the youth of today to be the leaders of tomorrow and create safer neighborhoods.

Her approach is simple yet stern: show up on time, do the work to build trust, and continue showing up.

Her goal is to turn at-risk youth into peace ambassadors, mentors, mediators, and organizers who set the tone on the blocks they were once at risk of falling victim to.

Under Sandra’s leadership, Denby has established “radical relationship-building,” which involves volunteers who listen more than they lecture and intervene long before a crisis even has a chance to erupt.

That philosophy fuels Denby’s peace circles for teens and parents, its School Violence-Free Zones, multi-generational walks, and its in-depth trauma training for block captains.

As for Sandra, her leadership style is hands-on and void of ego.

She isn’t some pageant queen or savior type.

She’s a devoted woman who puts in consistent work to help Detroit’s youth stand taller, neighbors communicate more, and block relations run cooler. 

She is the connective tissue between elders with long memories and teens with bright futures, keeping Denby’s initial founding promise intact: to help the people who actually live here lead here.

Victoria Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Victoria Jackson is a lifelong student and sharp-eyed documentarian of all things Detroit, from its rich musical roots and cultural icons to its shifting neighborhoods, storied architecture, and underground legends. With her finger firmly on the pulse of both the city’s vibrant past and its rapidly unfolding future, she brings a deeply personal, historically grounded lens to every piece she writes.

Published on: October 2, 2025