Homewood Children’s Village community dinner
The Place: YMCA Homewood-Brushton on Thursday night.
#PartyWithAPurpose: It was a night for celebrating for more than 280 guests as they came to support the great work in Homewood. Homewood Children’s Village, started in 2008, was founded on the principles of holistic child development, post-secondary educational attainment and improvement of child outcomes through the improvement of adult outcomes. The organization helps to act as a foundation in the community, connecting residents to resources as well as providing students around the city, as supportive programs and well as the first graduating services. “Homewood has a AmeriCorps class. “Being a high mobility rate of 34 percent, part of AmeriCorps helped which means a lot of me build mental flexibility our kids move in and out of and being prepared for anything. homes and schools, affecting HCV helped me see their learning. Our programs what a community should help to address all issues look like and what community that they and their family can do for the individual,” members might be facing,” said Jaquan Gethers. said administrative coordinator The event also recognized MaHallyaDavid Carter scholarship Ramirez. winner Jeremiah Nash, a
This dinner recognizes graduate and valedictorian the achievements made in of Westinghouse High the past 100 days, including School, who already is settling the completion of the summer’s in at Morehouse College Learn and Earn program, in Atlanta and could not which employed 150 attend. His proud father, Jeffrey Nash, recognized the power of being involved in his children’s education. “There’s just been such an outpouring of love from our community for my son. Involve yourself in your children’s education. Westinghouse has a negative reputation, but don’t believe that narrative. It provided countless opportunities for my children.”
Jeffrey Nash, who also lost his son Jeffrey, 21, to gun violence in December 2017, acknowledged how personal choices play into future outcomes. “There are so many possibilities when you work hard and stay focused,” he added. While Jeremiah couldn’t be there in person to accept his scholarship, he did have this to say in the essay that secured him the David Carter scholarship:
“I feel compelled to achieve. My mantra has been that mediocrity is unacceptable for a young black man: A black man who wants to change the narrative that haunts his brothers. Although I had admired my older brothers, I developed into an independent, resilient and passionate individual who made different choices. I was focused on school, on becoming a leader within my community, and on attending a renowned college. I thought of the fight inner-city black men endure to stay focused, invested, and alive. As early as I can remember, I have been surrounded by gunfire, drug dealing and gang-ridden streets. Death knocks on almost every door to steal young black men and women, but despite that reality, I never expected to lose one of my own brothers. In that moment, I knew that my brother’s story is my story and the story of all my brothers and sisters. And yet, I also knew that I am a co-author of my life, and it is up to me to pen a different ending.”
Learn more about what the Homewood Children’s Village has planned in the next 100 days: http:// hcvpgh.org/.