Junior Wilson making a difference one life at a time
Citing the parish’s struggles with the upsurge in crime, he said, “Taking one youth off the street can probably save a life.”
Wilson lives what he is preaching as he is has sponsored a student up to the university level.
Now he has signed on to another student who was driven to the brink of suicide and thought there was no hope.
He said that being part of the business community in the parish, he sees it as his mandate to give back even though giving comes naturally to him.
“Some of them (at-risk youth) just want an opportunity because I can tell you, in my business place, I see young men coming there to work from certain areas in Clarendon,” he said, sharing that many would be hesitant to go into these areas. But he said that these young men had proven to be some of his best workers.
“So sometimes you can’t even look at the area, just opportunity,” said Wilson as he shared that he has even employed persons who could not read or write and encouraged them to go back to school.
He said that one such person is now working with a top food company as he worked with him while attending evening classes.
Wilson said that over the years, he has made it a habit to help those around him, including the destitute, seniors, and hungry children.
He said that on any given day, youngsters would come to his business place, seeking assistance with lunch money for school.
He said that other business persons should never think about just taking from the community and never giving back.
Wilson’s words of advice, given to him years ago by a friend, still ring in his ears.
“If you are somewhere earning, eating steak every day, nothing is wrong if you can make a man eat chicken back,” he said.
For Wilson, it doesn’t take a lot to make a difference, and he said that he is happy that his son has learnt that lesson from a young age.