Member Voices

Mike Reid: Helping Students “Create a Vision”

Watching what kids can do was astounding. I had some prior background in media production so I started serving in the EW youth media camp at South Philadelphia High School, working with 40 kids every day. Going in, I was somewhat skeptical, because of the stereotype that kids from that neighborhood are underachievers. But as soon as I got there, I put my all in and I really had faith that they could achieve a lot.

During the first week, it became clear that the kids weren’t interested in learning about music; they want to get involved and actually produce music. Slowly but surely, they started carving out leadership positions – I mean, they were just doing it! It was astounding. With just a little help from AmeriCorps members, they produced and mixed music. They were on a production level equal to that of seniors in college. They were creating a vision.

One kid I worked with took the director position very seriously. He had no directing experience in his entire life, but he had a vision for a movie called “Hi, My Name Is…”, which chronicled issues kids face on the streets of Philly. He got everybody going, gave out roles and advised the actors on their scripts. He just took the lead of the entire project, to the point where I felt like I wasn’t even the one facilitating this, although I was helping him with things like camera angles and shot composition.

Serving as an AmeriCorps member showed me if you have some faith in these kids, their potential is astounding. This experience was life changing for me; that’s why I’m serving for a full year now. I also want to give back to my community. I have faith that those around me can change the world around them. I tried to get the students to understand that they are life changers, they’re movers and shakers, and they have to use their power and potential to change what they’re upset about, to change their entire lives.

I was in a bubble before I began serving – I didn’t understand what these students had to overcome to succeed. But they work hard, because they want to achieve. I told them every day: "You are amazing.”

Darryl Bradford : Finding a Career Path

EducationWorks changed my life. Its staff enabled me to have respect for myself and gave me a career path. 

My first experience with the corps was in 6th grade at McMichael School in Philadelphia. I had a speech impediment and was very shy. I kept returning to the program because the team gave me confidence and boosted my morale enough that by the 8th grade I was able to do public speaking.

I graduated from University City High School, returned to EducationWorks as an AmeriCorps member. It was a fantastic, surprising year. I now am a Computer Support Specialist at my alma mater, University City High School, where I keep over 700 computers in good repair.

Damaris Perez: Ready to Teach

I was in my second year of college as an education major when I began to have some doubts. Introduced to EW, I thought this opportunity would tell me if I really wanted to major in education or not. In the first two years I learned that the most important thing is our presence, just being there, giving hugs and making children feel important. Last year I worked with two students who had severe learning problems. They were first graders who were functioning below the kindergarten level. During the year they learned to read and one student wrote her first sentence -- "I love Miss Damy." That's when I realized it was worthwhile.

Kyla McHale: Sharing My Passion

I decided to serve as an AmeriCorps member so I could give back to my community, and more importantly, because I felt arts education could positively change people’s lives. As the AfterSchool Arts Coordinator, I created art and performance programs which I then taught at EducationWorks’ afterschool sites. I was able to connect students to performances around the city through Art-Reach and the Arden Theatre Company’s Arden for All program.

There isn’t one individual experience that tops all the others. I love every day when I go to one of my sites and the students jump up and rush to tell me how they finally are able to say one of our tongue-twisters or how they have been practicing the characters, or they have a plan for the puppet they want to make. Those moments are my favorite – and luckily they happen all the time.