Since joining the Miami Dolphins just over a year ago, linebacker Jaelan Phillips has found one of his passions off the field is serving his community, especially kids.
Some of his biggest efforts have been through VERB Kind, a community outreach program that helps juveniles in detention centers understand that their current position doesn’t have to stick with them for life.
Back in April, ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques caught up with Phillips, and the former Miami Hurricane shared why he’s chosen this cause.
“When you spend time with them in there, you see how much potential these kids have,” Phillips said. “And see how much they want to do more, and how much they want to be better.”
Last week, Phillips brought 18 rookie members of the Dolphins organization with him to Broward County Juvenile Dentition Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The group got a chance to meet with the youth who are incarcerated there and talk about everything from sports to real-life matters.
While there wasn’t allowed to be any filming with the children, a number of the Dolphins did speak about their experience, including Phillips.
“It was something I felt a calling to do,” Phillips said. “When you get in there and talk to them, they’re all just kids. These kids are 16, 17 up to 18 years old. They’re just a product of their environment.”
Undrafted defensive end Owen Carney shared what he expected to get out of the day.
“Just give some guidance to the kids, the youth,” Carney stated. “There’s people that haven’t had really much leadership, and I wish that things could be better for them. Everything happens for a reason. I’m in the position I am for a reason, so I just want to give them some of my wisdom, some of my experience. Hopefully, it can help them change their life for the better.”
This is just the latest example of things that the Dolphins do off the field that are so inspiring.