November 2008 Blog: "Reunion Day"
In the midst of running around Friday finalizing details for upcoming events, gathering information for a $100,000-plus grant that we need, and catching Erica up from the four days she was out of town last week, I had nothing else on my mind except getting on the 13 trolley to see the Phillies World Series victory parade at noon. It's an easy trip downtown to the 19th and Market stop, one block from the beginning of the parade. On my way upstairs from the main office, I met two former students, Ernest, Class of 2008 and James, Class of 2005. I stood listening to the stories of these two young men, which were night and day different; yet, both students are full of integrity.
James' mother and father are both hard-working and despite difficulties in their relationship, have remained dedicated to James' well-being and education. Unfortunately, James has hit some big bumps in the past three years since graduating from Cornerstone. As he describes it, he started drinking, taking drugs and even has a minor drug charge he is facing in another state. He's also had some dangerous confrontations with other young men in the neighborhood around his school in west Philadelphia - he's had guns pulled on him more than once.
James continued to tell Ernest and I that his extended family has had a lot to do with his poor choices. Two men in his family are facing life in prison on drug charges, and they involved James in small ways before they were arrested earlier this year. When I saw him in April after his family members were arrested, he was struggling with attending school, but said nothing of actually doing and selling drugs. This morning however, he was completely honest and was practically begging Ernest to stay away from drugs and the street life. With all the thoughts going through my head on what to say to James', I stood and listened as he implored not only Earnest, but himself, to make better choices. After talking to Ernest and James, I wondered why James came to Cornerstone to unloaded his story.
I came to know Ernest well last school year, his Eighth Grade graduation year. He is a tall and slender young man with a friendly expression on his face. He is a big New England Patriots fan, so the other guys in his class and I had a good time getting on him last year when they lost the Super Bowl. He took it all in stride, and assured us that his team would be back. Ernest's dad is a deacon at their church in west Philadelphia and like James, he has parents who are committed to him.
When I asked both James and Ernest on Friday why they came to see us at Cornerstone, they gave me the response I hear from all graduates who come visit: to talk to their former teachers Ms. Grant, Mrs. Rimmer, Mr. Cammisa, or Mr. and Mrs. Harper. Ernest's school in Center City Philadelphia was closed today because of the Phillies parade; James said that his school's officials told the students that attendance was optional. Well, my kids go to school in west Philadelphia as well and I didn't hear anything about optional attendance because of the parade on Friday.
James and Ernest were not the only CCA graduates on campus Friday. Ellen was also here volunteering in the Main Office. She graduated in 2004, is now a first-year student at Eastern University, and she is fulfilling her community volunteering work at Cornerstone. Ellen is not the only graduate to volunteer at Cornerstone. Last year, we had students from Philadelphia Mennonite High School volunteering in our classrooms.
I love to see graduates come back and see their teachers and serve in the office or classrooms. Whatever the reason graduates come to visit Cornerstone, it's clear they have found a place where they belong. James' experiences were the most profound example of that need. His life is in turmoil because of some poor choices and as he poured out the results, I could hear guilt and fear in his trembling voice. He is watching as his close family members are being convicted and most likely sentanced to life in prison. He is on the streets and guns are being pulled on him. He is in his last year of high school, quickly becoming an adult and as he warns others younger than him to not make the same mistakes, he is thinking about what good choices he can make in the coming months.
We often talk about the Ernests and Ellens of Cornerstone - young men and women who are working hard to succeed in high school, college and beyond. We pride ourselves in helping parents and other leaders in students' lives lay a strong foundation so our graduates can become leaders in the name of Christ. However, we can't forget the young men and women like James who are struggling to find their way out of difficult and perhaps dangerous lives. I worry about James and will pray for him. I told him to make sure he comes to see us more often and to keep thinking about how to make different choices that can lead him into a positive future. My words may be helpful, but they are only a small part of what lies ahead for James. My sense is that most of our graduates are on a similar path to Ernest and Ellen. For James and others like him, it's equally if not more important that we keep our doors and hearts open for when they come back, looking for belonging.
Submitted by Chris Petersen
October 2008 Blog
I was thrilled that
Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, spouses of the Democratic Presidential and
Vice Presidential candidates spoke at Myers Recreation Center, located directly across the street from Cornerstone in late September. Someone worked hard to make it happen, and our students, parents and thousands of others in southwest Philadelphia were inspired by them. I'm inspired simply because they came to this part of town.
I often bike or ride the trolley to work. I live six blocks from the University of Pennsylvania in a neighborhood that has gentrified and my house has nearly quadrupled in value since I bought it over ten years ago. Penn professionals as well as middle and upper income folks are moving through my neighborhood each morning on their way to work or school. I am literally going against the flow of traffic as I make my way to work: most commuters are heading east while I'm heading west to Cornerstone. Honestly, many people avoid southwest Philadelphia if they are able.
Each day when I come to Cornerstone, though, I realize that the same people I just saw in the gentrified middle and upper income neighborhood where I live are very similar to the lower income and poor people I see in southwest Philadelphia. By similarities I mean in the mystical sense: our desires and intuitions are the same. Each of us wants to belong to a community and family, we want to love our children, we want a sense of stability each day. This sounds like something that might have been spoken from the stump by Mrs. Obama or Mrs. Biden.
There is an injustice happening in southwest Philadelphia, and in inner cities across the United States. The financial meltdown our government is attempting to cool is due in large part to poor lending practices. The fallout is affecting millions of people across the economic spectrum who can no longer afford their houses, and are struggling to put food on the table. This struggle, however, gives us a glimpse into what has been happening for decades in forgotten places like southwest Philadelphia. The families who send their students to Cornerstone struggle to do so, and the private school education they pay for is really a privilege: they could send their child to public school - but that choice could be a dangerous one. The injustice is that our nation has provided well for some, while forgetting others. Cornerstone is providing an alternative not so children can escape the harsh reality of an inner city; rather, we want to develop leaders who will remember, no matter where they live, that they were not defined by the forgottenness that surrounded them.
If Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Biden are reflecting with their spouses in the White House in early 2009, or if the Republican candidates are doing the same, I want more than anything that they remember the southwest Philadelphia's and the struggling parents and children they met along the campaign path. I want their reflections to circle around to what they said on the stump at Myers Rec. and the hundreds of other places where they promised us that they would be the genuine agents of change. And then I hope they doubt themselves. Because when they doubt themselves, they will then realize that what they said was nothing more than all the candidates before them said, and that the words of their new speeches were old and dusty.
I must realize the same. We who give for the sake of the children of southwest Philadelphia and Cornerstone must realize that what we do is the same thing Christians have been doing for centuries. St. Vincent de Paul said it well, "When your actions are full of love, words are not necessary." Whether we are parents, caregivers, volunteers, donors, board members, staff, teachers, prayers, pastors, or leaders, what we tirelessly do for 231 students - and the hundreds of others who preceded them - is an ancient act of mercy. When we remember that it is in the name of Christ, while it may feel mundane, in the end it's life-giving.
Submitted by Chris Petersen
July 2008 Blog
Here are a few ways that every dollar of financial support has assisted students, teachers, staff, families and volunteers in the Cornerstone educational community:
- Fully funded our Student Scholarship Fund that guarantees every student a scholarship at Cornerstone. This year, the average scholarship per student was $3,200; for our 211 students that totals over $675,000. In addition, we provided thousands of dollars in financial aid to many students in need.
- Fully funded the Foundations and Frameworks (F&F) reading program. This program brings a focus on reading skills and comprehension each school day. F&F is supported by "Reading Stars," a volunteer program supported by Philadelphia Cares that assists underperforming students in reading.
- Partially funded the computer lab. We are excited that each student at Cornerstone receives challenging and cutting edge computer instruction. This year, we are planning to upgrade the computers in our lab. The total cost of the project is $19,000, and to date we have received $9,000. We want to install the new computers before the beginning of the 2008-2009 academic year in September.
- Teacher bonuses! The Cornerstone teaching staff dedicated themselves to 211 students this year despite low salaries. Many of our teachers could increase their pay by moving into a public school system, but they have decided to be at Cornerstone to fulfill their call to serve in the name of Jesus. This past Christmas, each teacher received a bonus funded through gifts from our partners.
Funding of these programs, and many more, result in our primary aim: the success of our students. As you saw reported in last month's update, The Cornerstone Class of 2008 are on their way to achieving their academic and lifelong dreams with the foundation they received here. We also recently learned that over 90% of the students from the Cornerstone Class of 2004 graduated high school this year, and will attend college. We can't put a price tag on the value of each of these students and that they are becoming leaders. One of these students, Aaron Allen, has been chosen to attend the Presidential Inauguration in January 2009. He is excited that not only will he meet the new President of the United States, he will also be introduced to leaders from across the nation and learn new ideas through the series of inaugural events the week prior to the commencement. This is just one student leader who was prepared for his future at Cornerstone. We are proud to have been a part of each of these students lives, and to partner with their parents, elders, pastors, mentors, and high school teachers.
Submitted by Chris Petersen
June 2008 Blog
Class of 2008
As we reflect on our time with the graduating Class of 2008, one word comes to mind and that is “perseverance”. It has been a pleasure watching this class of twenty-two individuals mature and grow personally, spiritually, and academically during the past three years. This group of individuals has overcome many obstacles over the years, many during their eighth grade year.
This year, approximately half of them have experienced the death of close loved ones including: siblings, uncles, grandparents, and great grandparents. In most cases, the deaths were unexpected; however, in one case it was a long battle with cancer. Students have experienced custody battles, loved ones sent to Iraq, switching households from one parent to the other, and we are sure that there are other situations that were faced that we are not aware of. However, they did not give up. Instead, they learned to become more dependent on God.
Spiritually, these young men and women have grown from being not really sure of their relationship with Jesus to having a strong walk with Him. They have learned to depend on Him for everything. They have learned to encourage one another with God’s Word and have developed a stronger prayer life. They now understand how important it is to spend time daily with Jesus.
Academically, these individuals have gone from having mediocre work habits to having really strong work ethic. They have strengthened their study skills and have become more dependable with turning in assignments. Their hard work has truly paid off, because eleven students are graduating with honors.
We could not have asked for a better graduating class. They have accomplished many successes in spite of their personal trials. Many young people their age would have given up, but this group is the exception. They all have goals of being entrepreneurs, lawyers, doctors, etc. and there is no doubt in our minds that this group of individuals will obtain them. This group leaves a wonderful legacy behind and we will truly miss them.
Written by Ms. Natasha Grant and Mrs. Jamila Rimmer
Listed below are the current 8th graders and their plans for the future.
|
Name
|
High School
|
Career Goals
|
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Amira Barnhill
|
Bodine High School
|
Physical Therapist
|
|
Anvinette Bryan
|
Philadelphia Mennonite High School
|
Marine Biologist or Lawyer
|
|
Brittany Williams
|
City Center Academy
|
Lawyer then Judge
|
|
Caraiah Stout
|
Motivation High School
|
Entrepreneur
|
|
Corbinique Jefferson
|
Undecided
|
Pediatric Nurse or Defense Lawyer
|
|
Eugene Mills
|
Roman Catholic
|
Professional Basketball or Football, or Law Enforcement
|
|
Jalea Grier
|
City Center Academy
|
Undecided
|
|
Kaycia Bynum
|
Central High School
|
Psychiatrist
|
|
Kelsey Chambers
|
Freire Charter School
|
Fashion Designer, Photographer or Pediatric Nurse
|
|
Keyana Harris
|
Undecided
|
Registered Nurse
|
|
Lexus Dean
|
Freire Charter School
|
Professional Singer or Teacher
|
|
Melynnda Graves
|
City Center Academy
|
Surgeon, Lawyer, or Therapist
|
|
Nigeria Rogers
|
Undecided
|
Lawyer or Entrepreneur
|
|
Nyesha Saunders
|
Philadelphia Electric and Technology Charter High School
|
Emergency Physician or Law
|
|
Quadir Robinson
|
Bok Tech Vocational High School
|
Professional Athlete, Entrepreneur, or Law Enforcement
|
|
Ruach Byfield
|
Undecided
|
Professional Football or Computer Design
|
|
Sacoia Way
|
Undecided
|
Pediatric Nurse
|
|
Sierra Lynn
|
Constitution High School
|
Law
|
|
Tishaun Carr
|
Undecided
|
Professional Basketball Player or Automobile Designer
|
|
Whitney Coleman
|
City Center Academy
|
Entrepreneur
|
|
Zaneta Dean-Falu
|
Freire Charter School
|
Pediatric Nurse
|
|
Zilka Osborne
|
Mastery Charter High School
|
Professional Choreographer or Hematologist
|
