Today we’d like to introduce you to Doris Hage.
Hi Doris, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
From as early as I can remember, I have turned pain into purpose. I grew up in a Lebanese and Hispanic family, surrounded by love but also by unspoken struggles and generational trauma. There was a constant pressure to be strong, to keep moving, and never to let life see you break. I learned resilience not because someone taught it to me, but because life required it of me long before I understood why.
As an adult, I experienced challenges that shook me to my core. I faced health issues, personal setbacks, and moments where I had to rebuild myself from the inside out. Through that process, I discovered a deeper compassion for people navigating disability, adversity, and a sense of being lost or unseen. I began to see that the strongest individuals are often the ones who have no safe place to fall.
Working in youth development and rehabilitation services opened my eyes even more. I saw young people, especially youth with disabilities and youth carrying trauma, who were brilliant and full of potential yet consistently overlooked by systems that did not know how to see them. They were spoken for before they knew their own voice. Their barriers, instead of their strengths, defined them. It lit a fire in me.
Life on Purpose Detroit was born from that fire, from the desire to create a place where young people could understand who they are before the world tells them who they are not. I wanted to build a space where confidence, leadership, and self-worth could grow, where students and adults with disabilities could learn to advocate for themselves, and where purpose became the foundation that guided them into employment and independence.
I started this company with a laptop, a mission, and the belief that every person deserves to rise. Today, Life on Purpose Detroit serves multiple counties, partners with federal, state, and local agencies, and helps youth and adults build confidence, leadership, and real-world readiness.
My story is real, imperfect, and still unfolding. But it is the reason I show up with heart every day. Purpose saved my life, and now I get to help others find theirs.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Our greatest challenges have shaped our greatest strength. In 2025, Life on Purpose Detroit lost 180,000 dollars in federal and local funding for a growing organization serving vulnerable youth, which could have ended everything. I remember the day I received the call. My stomach dropped, my hands shook, and I stared at the wall, knowing I had minutes to choose between giving up and reinventing everything.
We chose resilience.
My team and I tightened systems, leaned into creativity, and refused to let our youth lose their support. We kept going without missing one session. That moment taught us that purpose is more powerful than circumstances.
Our students face obstacles just as heavy. Many come to us battling anxiety, trauma, learning disabilities, or environments that have not supported their growth. Earning their trust takes patience, consistency, and compassion. But every breakthrough, every smile, every moment of confidence makes the hard days worth it.
Personally, I have led this mission while navigating my own health challenges and seasons of uncertainty. There were days when courage looked like simply showing up. But every challenge strengthened me and deepened my purpose.
Obstacles did not stop us. They sharpened us. They taught us to be agile, heart-centered, and unshakeable in our mission.
As you know, we’re big fans of Life on Purpose Detroit, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Life on Purpose Detroit helps youth and adults with disabilities and at-risk youth build confidence, purpose, leadership, and real-world job-readiness. We serve individuals who are often overlooked or underestimated, and we give them the tools to understand their strengths and step confidently into employment and independence.
One of our most impactful initiatives is our Summer Work-Based Training Program. Each summer, our students participate in paid learning that blends nature, technology, character development, and hands-on work experience. We partner with Grow Detroit’s Young Talent, school districts across Metro Detroit, and the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge to create a unique environment where youth explore the outdoors, use technology to create conservation-focused content, develop leadership, and learn valuable workplace skills. This blend of nature and tech helps young people connect with the world around them while building digital skills, teamwork, creativity, and emotional awareness.
We also partner closely with Michigan Rehabilitation Services to serve youth and adults with disabilities year-round. Through Pre ETS, vocational support, job readiness, and employment coaching, we help students and adults overcome barriers, build self-advocacy skills, and prepare for meaningful employment. In addition, we work directly with clients and families on a personal basis, ensuring they receive individualized support, confidence-building, and the tools they need to succeed in school, work, and life.
Our work focuses on the whole person. Many of our youth arrive carrying anxiety, trauma, learning barriers, or years of feeling unheard. Through our character development lessons, leadership coaching, emotional wellness support, and daily encouragement, we help them find their voice. We teach communication, teamwork, professionalism, problem-solving, emotional regulation, and the tangible skills needed for employment.
Watching a young person step into their purpose is the most powerful part of our work. We see youth go from whispering to speaking up with confidence, from isolating themselves to leading a team, from doubting their value to discovering strengths they never knew they had. These moments, whether in the classroom, in nature, or at a worksite, remind us that purpose can change a life forever.
Life on Purpose Detroit meets youth where they are, guides them through who they can become, and prepares them for the opportunities they deserve. When a student has a barrier, fear, or circumstance, it is our job to help them transmute the energy into a superpower, into a purpose, into a mission. We always say, “You had a purpose before life gave you an opinion.”
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Life on Purpose Detroit is built by a village. First, I want to honor our co-founder, Taurean Thomas. His leadership, creativity, and passion for youth have shaped the heart of our programs. He brings vision, imagination, and compassion to every space we create.
I also want to recognize Dr Maxine Hankins Cain, who has supported me for more than ten years. Her wisdom, strength, and commitment to youth empowerment laid the foundation for who we are today.
Our gratitude extends to Natalie Butler and Marty Sheedy, two team members who represent the spirit of our mission. Natalie is a recent college graduate who stepped into her purpose with courage and heart. Marty began as one of our students and grew into a coach who inspires others through lived experience. Both reflect the growth and transformation we hope to ignite in every young person.
We are also deeply thankful for the case workers, counselors, and government partners who trusted us when we were still new. Their support allowed us to expand and reach more youth who needed purpose, confidence, and opportunity.
We honor the parents and families who allow us into their lives with trust and hope. And most of all, we honor our students and clients. They took a chance on a program that dared to do things differently. Whether they were with us for a moment or for a lifetime, they shaped our mission.
Life on Purpose Detroit exists because of a village that believed in purpose, community, and the strength of young people.
Pricing:
- Based on State of Michigan Guidelines
- Private Sessions Available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lifeonpurposedetroit.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/life_on_purpose_detroit_llc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Life-on-Purpose-LLC-Detroit-100046954608433/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorishage
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dorishage6400
