Noah Patton, a 28-year-old native of Flint, Michigan, has seen his fair share of hard times.

His mother committed suicide when he was a teenager, he's had some run-ins with the law and now he's struggling with the knowledge his kids were poisoned by lead due to the water crisis in his city.

Growing up in Flint isn't easy for anyone, as it has some of the highest rates of poverty and violent crime in the nation. The ongoing water crisis, which has exposed over 8,000 children under the age of six to lead, has compounded these issues.

But in spite of both his personal struggles and the myriad problems his city faces, Patton refuses to give up.

He's a minister at Joy Tabernacle Church, which is at the forefront of efforts to help address the water crisis and bring the community together as it fights for survival.

Patton might have a troubled past, but he hasn't let this deter him from emerging as a vital leader during one of the worst calamities his hometown has ever faced.

People like Patton are a testament to the fact it's never too late to turn our lives around.