Medical Technologist
Henry Ford Health System

Deleah Sharp is a Medical Technologist in the Pathology Laboratory of Medicine at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. A fifteen-year plus profession career has not stopped her from pursuing her passion for civic engagement and advocacy. A passion that developed after enduring one of the most painful times in her life, where at the age of 17, she lost her older brother to gun violence in Pontiac, Michigan. She discovered, when human beings experience trauma or severe life stressors, it is not uncommon for their lives to unravel. Feeling lost, unable to properly process grief, or a healthy way to express herself, she longed for an escape, or safe space to foster healing. Her love for dance became her escape, a gift that helped to mend her broken heart. About 8 years ago, Deleah started a non-profit organization, Identify Your Dream Foundation (IDYD), in honor of her brother Dean J. Samuel. The vision of this organization is to transform a tragedy into strategy, changing the narrative in the community as it relates to violent crimes. IDYD organizes peace rallies, marches against violence, candlelight vigils for grieving families, and offers grief support for children who lost a parent to violence. IDYD provides victim advocacy and case management for families in need. In January 2018, she started a mentoring program, for children of murdered parents, she wanted to create that safe space that she needed when she had lost her brother. Her greatest passion is bringing healing to people who have been through a traumatic/stressful experience. She is a part of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Relation Team involving roundtable discussions with stakeholders in the community formulating plans to minimize violent crimes. Deleah has recently partnered with a national organization, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, governed by survivors coming together to heal and take action. Her educational background includes a B.S. from Michigan State University and a master’s Degree in general psychology from Walden University. Deleah currently resides in Farmington with her husband D’Ante and their three daughters.

The information presented here was accurate as of January 1, 2019.