Detroit City Lions Youth Club
The mission of the Detroit City Lions Youth Club (DCL) is to provide at-risk boys and girls (ages 5 - 24) access to much-needed sports programs and academic services. To that end, DCL focuses on providing both traditional and non-traditional sports such as football, soccer, basketball, baseball, chess, lacrosse, swimming, gymnastics, dance, and cheer; as well as theater, culinary arts, tutoring and mentoring services, STEAM programming, robotics, conflict resolution, leadership development, financial literacy, and youth employment.
DCL’s efforts will help to cohesively develop healthy bodies and healthy minds of area youth, readying them to become physically and academically competitive in today's world. This makes Detroit City Lions one of the most diverse youth sports programs in the Metro Detroit area.
Program Leader
Devon Buskin
Founder & President
As the product of a caring community of coaches, mentors, and teammates, Devon Buskin is a true believer in the developmental power of youth sports. For him, athletics offered an opportunity to explore his strengths and build the skills he needed to be successful later in life. This crucial experience is something Devon works to pass along to future generations as the Founder and President of The Detroit City Lions Youth Club (DCL).
Founded in 2018, DCL provides over 200 young people ages 5 to 15 with equitable access to sports and skill-building activities. Under Devon’s leadership, the organization has expanded from its original football program to include 10 unique athletic opportunities including basketball, baseball, soccer, cheer, and dance, lacrosse, robotics, chess, hockey, and volleyball. Many of DSL’s youth participate in multiple sports, keeping them engaged and active year-round. The organization also offers wraparound family services and academic support to help create well-rounded student-athletes and ensure that participants can take full advantage of future scholarship opportunities.
In addition to his role with DCL, Devon also serves as Director of Workforce Development at Greening of Detroit where he has led the training and employment of 2500 Detroit residents into green-collar jobs that help revitalize their neighborhood and city. His passion for youth engagement also drives his involvement as the administrator of the organization’s Green Corps Youth Employment Program which employs over 200 students each summer, providing both work and college prep experience.
Devon is a proud graduate and product of Samuel C. Mumford High School and continued his education at Western Michigan University. He is a proud husband and father of four children and is blessed to have a strong support system of family, friends, and community members to support him in his work.