Below is a great feature about one of Way to Grow’s families published in the Pioneer Press.
Jyakima is a single father whose holiday wish is full-time employment. In the meantime, he’s a full-time volunteer. What a guy!
Thanks to the Greater Twin Cities United Way for helping Jyakima’s wish come true!
[excerpted from the Pioneer Press]
Jyakima Cration is a volunteer the students and staff at the Little Earth Youth Development Center can count on.
As the kids flowed into the after-school program at the Minneapolis center on a recent afternoon, Cration was there — as usual — to help with homework.
“I have a lot of volunteers, but only two who are consistent, and one of those is Jyakima,” says Frank Downwind, the center’s youth services director. “With cutbacks and shortages in funding, consistent volunteers who can help with the kids are more important than ever.”
Cration, 37, a single father, was nominated for Holiday Wishes — the newspaper’s annual giving program with Greater Twin Cities United Way — by Way to Grow, an early-learning program.
“Jyakima was referred to Way to Grow through the Father Project,” wrote Jill Johnson, a Way to Grow spokeswoman. “He and his son, Saint, have been working with one of our family educators since February 2011.
“Throughout the past two years, Jyakima has many accomplishments under his belt. He graduated from the Father Project, a job-training program, now works with a temp agency, received full custody of his son and began mentoring teen boys at Little Earth. He has made huge strides in working toward financial stability.”
**To read the full article visit the Pioneer Press.
