As epiphany’s go, this one was a long time coming.

Okay, obviously I’m devoted to how opportunity shapes our lives. 

But opportunity, after all, is a relatively blind marker. Most privileged kids know the bubble that encompasses their lives; if knowing little else about the deep and durable benefits that privilege yields. The intersection of wealth, high-quality schools, well educated parents, and countless role models and community reinforcements yield a basic comprehension of the contours of life and how the world is largely stacked in their favor.  

Poor kids are no different really; just seeing that deck in reverse.

What marks us fundamentally, however, regardless of our starting position, is the adversity we face and how we address it.

Think about it.  Adversity demands a reaction—some embrace the challenge when others cower.  Some face difficulty, hardship and loss to emerge stronger and wiser for the experience where others become the victims of external forces, unable to differentiate unfair circumstances from the deeper injustices in life.

See, it’s opportunity that defines what’s possible for most. Enhancing it must remain the central goal for antipoverty efforts.

But, ultimately, it’s adversity that defines who we are and what we believe in most. Adversity sets the stage for a lifetime of empowerment or victimization in the face of trying circumstances.  

Adversity sets the context for our shared difficulties and deepest losses—of loved ones or innocence or trust in others. Adversity sets each and every single person up for the fundamental facts all of us face, whether born the richest or the poorest—that life is trying, filled with uncertainty, moments of despair, loss and profound tragedy.

No matter how deep one’s advantages may be, it offers little solace to the insecurities “having everything” can breed, including the task of becoming self-made.  I know, “first-world problems” like these can seem hallow in the face of real deprivation. 

But, the lesson is simple—our common humanity is not really derived from the boundaries of our intellect, physical skills, personality, or resources. Although each of these play their part in shaping our lives, what binds us is the very personal human experience with overcoming profound obstacles — fears, insecurities, and significant challenges.

Thinking back to my research, this exposes an important flaw in how I sought to really unearth how Detroiter’s framed opportunity in their lives.  For them, as is the case for almost all Americans, the basic notion of the “American Dream,” or being able to achieve one’s goals if one is willing to work hard for them, was universally consistent.  But I wonder if I had framed the dialogue to the adversity one faced in achieving their aims, how much richer and textured the conversations would have been.

The implications for thinking about how we tackle unequal opportunity with a deeper emphasis on how adversity shapes people’s lives are readily apparent. In our appeals, we should first of all stop emphasizing how others have less, but rather how much steeper their climb is from truly disadvantaged circumstances. Adversity, from this vantage point, empowers all of us.

Imagine your own life — reflect on your greatest achievements — emotional, physical, or relational and I’ll bet adversity has better sculpted those achievements than opportunity.  What likely matters more to who you are at your core has very little to do with the privileges you may have had growing up and virtually everything to do with the adversity you faced and how you overcame it.

When working with others then, remember, it’s the adversity we all experience that can bind us into shared purpose and common cause.  Adversity is a deepening force, and one we should all spend more time exploring in our relationship and community building efforts. Tackling adversity becomes then a more effective framing mechanism for mobilizing diverse stakeholders to Detroit’s revitalization efforts.

For Detroit, this means that in emphasizing the city’s profound opportunity to emerge into an extraordinary city for all its residents, more thought and emphasis should be given to the collective adversity we will no doubt confront.

Detroit must conscientiously celebrate how we move from a city that absorbs its challenges from a victimization frame to one that is empowered to own its narrative and tackles its challenges directly with conviction.

One win in this category is unquestionably the Proposal C efforts to reform the city Charter, which was a citizen led effort. Imperfect as it may be, The Charter reveals a Detroit community dedicated to shaping it’s own destiny in the face of city-wide demand for real and substantive change.

The proposed charter revision was crafted over a two-year period by an elected commission that was given the task of drafting a government blueprint for Detroit’s future.

If approved, supporters said, the charter will pave the way for a more transparent government that represents the diverse interests of a city shedding residents, jobs and city services.

With The Charter process complete, and other challenges ahead, we’ll learn in Detroit to change by embracing adversity differently. Through it, Detroit will learn to celebrate the process of overcoming community-wide obstacles with resolve.

Detroit’s empowerment begins by seizing the challenges we have and addressing them directly, not avoiding them. Tonight, we’ve achieved an important milestone. It’s worth celebrating; it’s worth replicating.

Now, does that mean I’m going to change this blog to the “Detroit Adversity Project?”  

Don’t count on it. That story’s already been written.