Our Story

The genesis of change...

Part One.

In the heart of mid-20th Century America, Lee-Eric and Dewayne, born just days apart in Osawatomie, Kansas, became witnesses to the persistent wounds of racial injustice. Their birthplace, marked by historical significance, stood as a backdrop to unresolved echoes of the past, notably the Pottawatomie Massacre, a precursor to the Civil War. This battle, where Abolitionist John Brown fought against pro-slavery advocates, remained an unfulfilled illusion of victory for many underprivileged U.S. citizens.

The scars of bigotry and racism continued to afflict their community during their teenage years leaving indelible deep scars on Lee Eric and Dewayne and yet even deeper motivational and inspirational marks in their minds. These scars play an important role in how and why they continue their life-long journey to combat these ills. 

One powerful example in their lives occurred during the basketball season of their eighth-grade year. Both were starters on the talented team, Lee Eric as a forward, and Dewayne as the point guard. Early in the season, Dewayne suffered an ankle injury, that kept him on the sidelines for two weeks. Most would agree, that any fair coach of any team abides by an unwritten rule, that a player can never lose his starting position due to injury. The white coach of these young players had rules of his own. 

Once ready for his return, the coach informed Dewayne and the team that an entire practice would be dedicated to a one-on-one competition for Dewayne to “earn back” his starting job. To add insult to injury, the coach informed the team that his challenger for the starting position would be Lee-Eric rather than the player who had been inserted. Every member of the team was bewildered. 

After a grueling hour-long competition that saw both youngsters scratch, claw, and exhaust themselves, the coach blew the whistle ending the practice session and instantly changing Lee-Eric’s and Dewayne’s expectation of fairness. The two best friends walked side by side, the entire way home; tired, tested, and in tears, confused by the grotesque event in which they were forced to be the spectacle. This demonstration of the subtle, yet significant, impact of bigotry by a person of power taught the two learned a cruel lesson, and the effects linger in their psyches to this very day.

Discrimination permeated every facet of their community – from job opportunities, where blacks struggled to find employment in privately owned businesses and had to settle for meager jobs miles away, to the Kansas education system, where racism, bigotry, and sexism persisted despite the vision of equality championed by Martin Luther King Jr.

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In a chilling incident during their sophomore year in high school, Lee-Eric, Dewayne, and a couple of their friends found themselves pursued by cars and trucks of white men with bats, rifles, and handguns through downtown Osawatomie for no reason. As they turned a corner with the pursuers on their heels, the black boys were stunned to find a speeding, thundering freight train impeding their escape. “Jump it! Jump it! Jump it!” one of them yelled and they all scrambled over to the other side.  Once reaching safety, they believed they had escaped the immediate danger, only to discover that their friends, other black teens, were trapped and facing off against a large group of white men at a nearby gas station. The ensuing riot, lasting the better part of an entire night, saw local police marching alongside the racist citizens during the altercation.

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The escalation of violence prompted the Carter administration to impose martial law on the town, with federal mediators stepping in to address grievances. In this tumultuous period, Lee-Eric and Dewayne were elected by the black community to represent its side – a responsibility shouldered at the tender age of 15.

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From that pivotal night onwards, Lee-Eric and Dewayne embraced the realization that their purpose and destiny were intricately tied to changing the lives of those who shared their struggles. They started their focus on community by organizing a basketball league and petitioning the city for playing facility access.

Motivated by a commitment to personal accomplishment and the betterment of others, they envisioned Mother Earth & Me as the vehicle and Dash to Tomorrow as the engine – lifelong promises aimed at offering real opportunities for the pursuit of happiness and contributing to the fulfillment of America's unmet promises.

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Aligned with Martin Luther King's dream, they advocate for a world where individuals are judged solely by the content of their character, irrespective of color, creed, gender, sexual preference, religion, or financial status. For Lee-Eric and Dewayne, true equality is rooted in providing real opportunities. Their program stands as a beacon of possibility, offering a pathway and roadmap for those in need of a helping hand to reach their destined future.

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Part Two.

One late June summer night, fresh into their 18th year, Lee Eric and Dewayne cemented their fate as they drove cross country to San Jose, California. The two best friends pulled their rebuilt 66' Ford Fairlane car off the highway, at a noisy roadside rest stop in New Mexico. While there, they agreed to the most pivotable decision in their lives...without a word being spoken between them. 

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After counting the meager cash they had left at a concrete rest stop table, Lee-Eric projected that with gas and oil (because, of course, the decrepit car leaked oil like a sieve) they would have just enough money to turn around and drive back home to the familiar, or they could continue on to California. They lowered their heads for a minute then got into the old Ford taking the on-ramp west, both crying tears silently. 

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After a few harrowing and unsettling days on the road, with little to eat for fear of spending the last bit of their precious resources, the pair made it into California.

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Shortly after passing the San Jose city limit welcome sign, a flat tire demanded an immediate stop. A Highway patrol officer pulled on the shoulder behind them. When after emptying the over-stuffed items from the trunk, the two discovered that the spare tire was an oversized snow tire. They searched for the missing jack-handle and the officer tossed the tool from his cruiser into the dirt at their feet. 

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Time, too, was a crucial factor. Dewayne was due to attend tryouts for a walk-on spot with the San Jose City College football team. The plan was that once he had secured a roster spot, financial aid would help secure a place to live. Their mothers’ foresight, packing jars of peanut butter, sustained them through lean days and restless nights spent huddled in the cramped confines of the car. Peanut butter sandwiches became their staple diet.

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Nights were a blur of fitful sleep, alternating between the uncomfortable contours of the front seat and the cramped confines of the transmission’s  floor hump. Each morning brought a new ritual: sneaking into the college locker room for a semblance of grooming, while Dewayne chased football dreams and Lee-Eric scoured the city for job opportunities.

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The peanut butter diet led to Dewayne's repeatedly failing football physicals, dashing their hopes time and again, and delaying their plans for stability and security. The Coach informed him before his final test that his urine was too concentrated, so Dewayne, in a bold move born of desperation, diluted his sample with tap water, a gamble that paid off as he finally passed the physical and secured his spot on the team. ​

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Donald’s journey to San Jose, California, somewhat paralleled Dewayne and Eric’s move from their hometown of Osawatomie, Kansas, but with a slight detour. Before boarding a Greyhound bus west, Donald turned down a full college basketball scholarship close to home. A two-sport high school star athlete, football was his true passion. Destiny called when his brother Dewayne informed him that San Jose City College needed a running back—Donald’s natural position.

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The Brady brothers had the rare opportunity to play college football together for two years, with Donald eventually moving on to Saint Mary’s College from San Jose.

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After his playing days, Donald landed a job with Apple Computer in the facilities department. This role inspired him to launch his own company, which he has successfully owned for more than 40 years. Donald’s knowledge, forward-thinking, and experience have opened doors for him and his company to partner in various roles as a Facilities Service Manager, Partner, Project Manager, and Consultant with industry giants including Apple Computer, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Sun Microsystems, Dell, EMC, and several others. Donald brings invaluable knowledge and experience to the team!

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Their journey to San Jose was more than just a physical one; it was a rite of passage, a testament to the strength of their bond and the depth of their determination. And as they stood on the threshold of their new lives, they knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, as brothers in arms.

Since our launch in 2000, the team at DashToTomorrow has worked tirelessly to promote our cause. We are fortunate to have volunteers and staff from all walks of life who bring their unique expertise and resources into everything we do. This is what enables us to achieve our goals year after year.

While there is always more that can be done, there is no doubt that we are making a significant impact. We don’t measure our success through just facts and figures but through happy faces and heartwarming feedback. See how you can become part of the difference.