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    DCFC Community Benefits Process Kicks Off in Mexicantown

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Community Mourns the Loss of Beloved Couple Making a Difference in Detroit

EL CENTRAL by EL CENTRAL
May 8, 2025
in Community, Español
Reading Time: 5 mins read
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On Friday, April 25th, a speeding vehicle crashed into a bus stop near Evergreen and Fenkell in Detroit, ending the life of a beloved husband and wife, Kwasi and Elizabeth Agbottah, ages 43 and 41, leaving five children orphaned.  This week, community members from Brightmoor to Southwest Detroit will gather at the Greater Burnette Baptist Church (16801 Schoolcraft Rd, Detroit, MI 48227) to celebrate the couple’s life and their enduring love for others.

 Kwasi and Elizabeth had close ties with the Southwest Detroit Latino community.  Originally from Austin, Texas, Kwasi worked with his wife as a tutor and mentor of low-income children and youth, many of them children of immigrants. Elizabeth had learned Spanish in Morelia, Mexico having served there as an educator at  a local orphanage. She helped her husband master the language as they both mentored youth from Mexican descendant in Texas. When their children were born, they intentionally taught their first two sons, Abraham and Elijah, to speak Spanish at home. Upon moving to Detroit, Kwasi worked a variety of education-related jobs, including as a substitute at Clippert Multicultural Magnet Honors Academy on McKinstry.  They later enrolled Abraham (now 15) and Elijah (13) at the Academy of America, high-achieving students at the dual immersion school. Their sons also became faithful attenders of the First Latin American Baptist Church on Scotten.

Kwasi and Elizabeth loved their children dearly, setting aside career opportunities to dedicate their attention to being present in their children’s life and parenting their five children in the underprivileged community of Brightmoor where they lived. They considered their neighborhood as the place to shine the light of God’s Kingdom and love, living modestly and, at times, taking into their home homeless families and others fleeing from challenging situations. They actively cared for their neighbors and the homeless in the community and participated in a variety of projects to improve the quality of life of their neighborhood. They installed, for example, beautifully designed bird feeders, inscribed with inspirational verse from the Bible to greet those walking by with hope throughout parks in underserved areas of Detroit. Kwasi and Elizabeth’s bright smiles, friendly conversations, and interest similarly were a welcome site as they rode their bikes or strolled through the neighborhood streets. They especially had an impact on the youth and children they sought to mentor.  As urban missionaries, “they were the real deal,” recounts friend, Pastor Semmeal Thomas.

On that tragic evening, they awaited a bus to pick up some groceries for their family. Close to four hours later, officers of the Detroit Police Department knocked on the door of their humble home to inform their children that their parents would not be returning. Their grandmother is seeking custody as they await the result of charges being brought against the driver of the vehicle and transition to a life without dear Kwasi and Elisabeth. A devastated community mourns alongside them. A GoFundMe account has been set up to support the family before this horrible loss. For more information visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-support-the-agbottah-sons-after-tragedy

La comunidad llora la pérdida de una querida pareja que marcaba la diferencia en Detroit

El viernes 25 de abril, un vehículo a alta velocidad se estrelló contra una parada de autobús cerca de Evergreen y Fenkell en Detroit, puso fin a la vida de un amado esposo y esposa, Kwasi y Elizabeth Agbottah, de 43 y 41 años y dejó a sus cinco hijos huérfanos.  Esta semana, miembros de la comunidad desde Brightmoor hasta el suroeste de Detroit se reunirán en la Iglesia Bautista Greater Burnette (16801 Schoolcraft Rd, Detroit, MI 48227) para celebrar la vida de la pareja y su amor perdurable por los demás.

Kwasi y Elizabeth tenían estrechos vínculos con la comunidad latina del suroeste de Detroit.  Originario de Austin, Texas, Kwasi trabajó con su esposa como tutor y mentor de niños y jóvenes de bajos ingresos, muchos de ellos hijos de inmigrantes. Elizabeth había aprendido español en Morelia, México, después de haber servido como educadora en un orfanato local. Ella ayudó a su esposo a dominar el idioma mientras ambos eran mentores de jóvenes de ascendencia mexicana en Texas. Cuando nacieron sus hijos, enseñaron intencionalmente a sus dos primeros hijos, Abraham y Elijah, a hablar español en casa. Al mudarse a Detroit, Kwasi trabajó en una variedad de empleos relacionados con la educación, incluso como maestro suplente en la Academia Multicultural de Honores Clippert en la calle McKinstry.  Más tarde inscribió a Abraham (ahora de 15 años) y Elijah (de 13) en la Academia de las Américas, estudiantes de alto rendimiento en la escuela de doble inmersión. Sus hijos también se convirtieron en fieles asistentes de la Primera Iglesia Bautista Latinoamericana en la calle Scotten.

Kwasi y Elizabeth amaban mucho a sus hijos, y dejaron de lado oportunidades profesionales para dedicar su atención a estar presentes en la vida de sus hijos y criar a sus cinco hijos en la comunidad de bajos recursos de Brightmoor, donde vivían. Consideraban su vecindario como el lugar para brillar la luz del Reino de Dios y su amor. Vivían modestamente y, a veces, acogían en su casa a familias sin hogar y a otras personas que huían de situaciones difíciles. Cuidaban activamente a sus vecinos y a las personas deambulantes de la comunidad. También participaban en una variedad de proyectos para mejorar la calidad de vida de su vecindario. Instalaron, por ejemplo, comederos para pájaros bellamente diseñados e inscritos con versículos inspiradores de la Biblia para saludar con esperanza a los que caminaban por los parques de las zonas marginadas de Detroit. Las sonrisas brillantes, las conversaciones amistosas y el interés de Kwasi y Elizabeth de igual forma fueron un encuentro bienvenido mientras paseaban en bicicleta o caminaban por las calles de su vecindario. Tuvieron un impacto especial en los jóvenes y niños a los que buscaban orientar.  Como misioneros urbanos, “eran genuinos, no falsos”, relata su amigo, el pastor Semmeal Thomas.

En esa trágica noche, esperaban un autobús para recoger algunos comestibles para su familia. Cerca de cuatro horas después, oficiales del Departamento de Policía de Detroit tocaron a la puerta de su humilde casa para informar a sus hijos que sus padres no regresarían. La abuela ha solicitado la custodia de los niños mientras esperan el resultado de los cargos presentados contra la conductora del vehículo y la transición a una vida sin los queridos Kwasi y Elisabeth. Una comunidad devastada se une en luto con ellos. Se ha creado una cuenta de GoFundMe para apoyar a la familia ante esta horrible pérdida. Para más información, visite https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-support-the-agbottah-sons-after-tragedy

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