Justice Gunter and Donovan Reaves know what it’s like to stand at a crossroads — to face choices that could shape the rest of their lives. Not long ago, both were on a path that risked pulling them deeper into trouble.
But through the City of Danville’s Project Imagine program, they found mentors who believed in them, tools to redirect their future, and the courage to lead by example. Their journeys have now come full circle as they have received the “Dare To Dream Award,” serving as living proof that change is possible.
The award recognizes former Project Imagine participants who have been out of the program and continue to make strides in their personal and professional lives. Robert David, violence prevention manager for the City of Danville and head of Project Imagine, praised the award winners for their determination and example.
“It is one thing to start something, but it is another to continue,” David said. “What do we say: ‘if you want to do better, then you need to know better,’ and sometimes knowing better is watching someone else do it.”
Project Imagine also recently celebrated five more youths who completed the program’s orientation, bringing the total served since its 2018 launch to 215.
“Every young person who comes through this door (Project Imagine) has the potential to do great things,” David said. “No one can be judged on the first 16 chapters of their life when they might live to 92. These young men and women are turning the page.”
Big dreams need bold steps — just ask Donovan Reaves
Reaves joined Project Imagine in May 2024. A rising senior at George Washington High School, he plays defensive tackle, fullback, and tight end on the football team and is also a member of the wrestling team. Reaves has committed to play football at North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C., after receiving multiple Division I scholarship offers. He aspires to play in the NFL but is also interested in precision machinery and entrepreneurship.
“It really has changed me,” Reaves said of Project Imagine. “It made me the young man I am today. Beyond the skills, it was being part of a family atmosphere that meant the most.”
Finding a new path, Justice Gunter shows what’s possible
Gunter entered Project Imagine in October 2023. He, too, enjoys sports and plays football and basketball for Hargrave Military Academy. Gunter credited Will Thompson, who serves as an outreach worker for Project Imagine, for encouraging him to join the program.
“I was really headed down the wrong road,” Gunter said. “I used to go GW and hang around people that I didn’t need to be around. He came and grabbed me, took me through these classes, and the love they showed meant a whole lot.”
He plans to attend college and hopes to earn a scholarship to continue playing sports. His advice to younger kids: “Stay true to yourself, stay out of the way (of trouble), and do what is best for you to put yourself in a situation that you can do better in life.”
New graduates join growing roster of success stories
Five teens were recently recognized for completing orientation for the Project Imagine program. Each graduate took part in intensive life skills training and goal-setting sessions designed to equip them for long-term success. Participants receive mentorship, complete strength-based assessments through Casey Life Skills and Clifton Strengths, and establish key goals like finishing school, avoiding legal trouble, and gaining employment.
The teens were Leondra Clax, Jesiah Glass, Jamiean Goode, Sierra Pettie, and Tyaun Waddell. Each participant is assigned an outreach worker who provides ongoing mentorship for at least one year.
“Once you develop a support system and a connection, we don’t want to break that,” David said. “It might be 10 years from now, but you can reach back. We are going to be here.”
About Project Imagine
Project Imagine has become a cornerstone of Danville’s youth violence prevention efforts, drawing attention and praise across Virginia and nationally for its effectiveness in transforming lives and strengthening communities.
For more information about Project Imagine, contact its office at (434) 857-3354 or visit its website.