www.theyouthconnection.org
When my husband and I retired after decades of teaching in special education, we both agreed that we needed to give back. This need was fueled by our faith-based doctrines that required that we do and not just believe.
During our careers as special educators we experienced many wonderful opportunities that took us beyond our teaching duties, through volunteering. Our time, energy, skills and experience were given to students to expand their opportunities of success academically, culturally and vocationally. However, it was not until we met the very special Dr. Grenae Dudley, CEO of The Youth Connection (TYC), that we recognized what volunteering was all about. This amazing, articulate, fireplug of a woman opened a door that allowed our dreams of giving back to become a reality at a level we never dreamed could come true.
As teachers we experienced repeated frustrations and limitations in our efforts to deliver academic success combined with social and cultural mentoring. We became academic coaches at TYC under Dr. Dudley’s leadership, which has allowed us to be more than just teachers. Now we are able to change a student’s life journey! Through a specialized reading program, small group workshops, tutoring sessions and mentoring, students have grown in reading comprehension, math application, expository writing, school grades and self-esteem. What a rewarding and thrilling experience! Every young life matters and we have found ourselves in the amazing position to matter in those young lives at a level we never imagined. Lives that have often been deprived of so much of what, for most of our lives, we have taken for granted. For that we will be forever grateful.
Now our life and legacy have been permanently altered by Dr. Dudley and TYC. We are humbled and yet proud.
Coleman and Gail Castro, Academic Development Coaches
The Youth Connection, Inc.
Review from #MyGivingStory
