May 12, 2008
‘Pillars of Hope’ offers support for city
students
jeanette.colby@rochester.edu
According to the dictionary, “pillars”
are either structures offering freestanding vertical support or individuals
with central or great responsibility. But for one group of African-American
professionals from across the University, both definitions apply. Once a
month during the academic year, these “Pillars of Hope” meet
with some 60 students at Rochester’s School No. 41 to offer
educational support and an example of success for urban students.
Pillar volunteers from left, Damian Garcia, College
admissions counselor; Terrance Liverpool, Simon School M.B.A. candidate;
Deborah Harris, registered nurse, Strong Ties; Kareem Hayes, academic
advisor, McNair Program; Judie Myers-Gell, senior human resources
representative, Multicultural Affairs and Inclusion; Tobias Simpson,
information analyst, University Facilities and Services; Deborah
McDell-Hernandez, coordinator of community programs and
outreach, Memorial Art Gallery; and Gary Whidbee, regional director, Office of Advancement.
outreach, Memorial Art Gallery; and Gary Whidbee, regional director, Office of Advancement.
The University group is part of the citywide Pillars
of Hope program, an initiative of the City of Rochester’s Bureau of
Youth Services that recruits African-American professionals to serve as
role models for students and to share personal stories of overcoming
obstacles in their lives.
“We share a part of our journey—the
experiences that have made us what we are and ultimately contributed to our
career successes,” explains Dena Phillips Swanson, assistant
professor at the Warner School and one of the Pillar volunteers. Swanson,
whose research focuses on minority youth, is particularly interested in the
program because of personal challenges she faced while growing up.
“These experiences could have placed me on a very different and
negative trajectory,” a trajectory, she says, many of her peers
took and one that is not uncommon among urban youth today.
The University group, which includes individuals from
the Medical Center, the River Campus and the Memorial Art Gallery, was
recruited by Judie Myers-Gell, senior human resources representative in the
Office of Multicultural Affairs and Inclusion. The team officially
began participating in the program in January 2008, when they first met
their middle school students at School No. 41. Each month since, a program
has been organized by a member of the team, while the other volunteers are
there to be a support to each other and the students.
In March, Damian Garcia, College admissions counselor,
organized a field trip for the students to the River Campus that included a
scavenger hunt and an opportunity for students to get a peek at what life
is like on campus. On that day, Swanson gave a PowerPoint presentation that
illustrated the meaning behind the word “pillar” and pointed
out that one day, they too, could be a source of support for others.
“I find that the students have many questions
about what it takes to prepare for college and what it takes to pay for
college. What they have to do in the interim is to prepare for college. We
are instrumental in answering their questions in addition to providing
feedback on setting and achieving goals, despite the obstacles they
encounter,” says Swanson.
The volunteers address many of the problems that
plague students, including bullying, peer pressure, and low self-esteem.
“Many of these students have a lack of exposure
to adults with career backgrounds,” says Jackie Campbell, director of
the city’s Bureau of Youth Services. Campbell notes that the program
is much more powerful when the interaction with students is with an
organization as opposed to an individual.
“It makes a big statement when a group of
professionals walk into their school with the same professional
attire,” says Campbell. The University Pillars have made it a point
to wear Rochester blue and dandelion yellow to symbolize their professional
connection to the College.
In addition to benefits to students, Myers-Gell
credits the Pillars program with helping the University as well. “In
essence, we are feeding [future minority students and employees to] the
University by building a pipeline,” she notes.
For more information, or to volunteer for the Pillars
program, contact Judie Myers-Gell at 257-2200 or judie.myers-gell
@rochester.edu.
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