Derrick Baxter: From a Chance Encounter to Community Leader

Most mornings at FOCUS’s Breakfast Club, Derrick Baxter moves through the room with purpose. He greets guests, checks in with volunteers, and makes sure everything runs smoothly. Music plays, coffee is ready, and a calm atmosphere sets the tone for the day.

That calm feeling doesn’t just happen. Derrick puts in a lot of effort to make it that way.

“I’ve got to make sure everything is done right,” he says. “But also that it’s a peaceful, comfortable place. A place people want to be.”

Today, Derrick is the Breakfast Club Coordinator. He leads a team and welcomes over a hundred guests at a time. Not long ago, though, his life was very different.

Derrick has his own office!

A Door Opened

Derrick didn’t join FOCUS through a formal program. He simply walked in from the street.

“I was getting on the bus to go look for a job,” he recalls. “A guy I knew said, ‘Go over there.’ So I did.”

At first, he was turned away since guests can’t just walk into the pantry. But Derrick explained he was looking for work. Soon after, he got a call, filled out an application, and was hired.

“That was a blessing,” he says. “They saw something in me.”

Right from the start, Derrick showed a strong work ethic and paid close attention to details.

“I always say, paying attention to details makes the difference between winning and losing.” He learned quickly, took on more responsibility, and soon moved into a leadership role.

What makes Derrick’s journey remarkable isn’t just how quickly he moved up. It’s also about where he began.

Doing his thing! “Listen up….” 😊

A Different Path

Earlier in life, Derrick faced big challenges like addiction, instability, and time in the justice system. For years, he didn’t have steady work.

“I used to say I never had a job over 30 days in my life,” he admits.

Now, those experiences shape the way he leads.

“I can relate to a lot of our guests,” he says. “I understand what they’re going through.”

You can see that understanding every day in how Derrick manages the Breakfast Club. When tensions rise, which sometimes happens in a place serving people in need, Derrick responds with care.

“You can’t come back at people with anger,” he explains. “You’ve got to understand where they’re at.”

That’s part of what makes the space Derrick has created feel special. Guests come not just for a meal, but also for a moment of peace.

More Than a Meal

The Breakfast Club offers much more than just food. On busy mornings, more than 150 people might come in. They get a meal, but also music, conversation, and a sense of belonging.

“It’s like a community center,” Derrick says. “People can come in, sit down, relax, and start their day.”

With Derrick leading, that sense of community keeps growing. He’s added small but meaningful touches, like an art table where guests can draw and relax, and he always makes sure the space feels orderly and welcoming.

“We want people to leave here with peace,” he says. “So maybe their whole day goes that way.”

Anna and Sara from the Joseph’s House & Shelter table at our breakfast club every Thursday and cater to approximately 60% of our guests.

FOCUS also connects guests with more support through community partners. They help with IDs, medications, job opportunities, and more. Derrick is part of these efforts, even helping some guests move toward employment.

“I see people who still want to work, who still want to do better,” he says. “Sometimes they just need a chance.”

It’s a chance he knows can make a difference.

Showing off his grilling skills at the spring cookout at Sheridan Park, hosted by the National Union Of The Homeless.

A Community That Shows Up

Derrick’s belief in FOCUS isn’t only about what it gives to others. It’s also very personal for him.

Recently, he faced a serious health challenge, undergoing surgery and spending weeks out of work. During that time, the FOCUS community stepped in.

“They didn’t have to do that,” he says. “But they did.”

Volunteers and staff brought meals, gave financial help, and checked in often. It was a strong reminder that FOCUS is not just a place that serves the community, but a community itself.

“The support was wonderful,” Derrick says. “They really helped me in my time of need.”

Becoming Someone

Ask Derrick what FOCUS has meant in his life, and his answer is simple.

“It changed my life.”

Derrick with the previous FOCUS Executive Director, Fred Boehrer.

Because of the chance he was given and the people who believed in him, Derrick found more than just a job. He found a sense of purpose.

“I always wanted to be somebody,” he says. “Now I feel like I am somebody. I feel like I’m making a difference.”

But Derrick isn’t finished yet. He keeps growing in his role, building partnerships, speaking up for resources like housing support, and looking for new ways to help the community.

“I just want to keep doing more,” he says.

Grateful to Joe Paparone and Bebhinn Francis of the National Union Of The Homeless for the invitation and to be in conversation with leaders including Linda Rosenthal, Gabriella Romero, Senator Brian Kavanagh, Senator Patricia A. Fahy, Alfredo D. Balarin - 11th Ward Common Council Person, and City Auditor Sam Fein. Together, we lifted up the need for stronger support of the Housing Access Voucher Program, a critical step toward ensuring safe, stable housing for all.

A Place Where Change Happens

Derrick’s story is inspiring, but it’s not the only one at FOCUS. Every day, people come in looking for help and find something more.

A meal. A connection. A second chance.

“FOCUS is a friend to the community,” Derrick says. “We care.”

For everyone who volunteers, donates, or supports this work, that care is what makes it all possible.

And for people like Derrick, it’s what turns a moment of opportunity into a completely new direction.

If you want to be part of stories like Derrick’s, think about volunteering or supporting FOCUS. Together, we can keep being a place where lives change and everyone has the chance to become someone.