If You are Going to Rise You Might as Well Shine
As a single parent raising four children, Azaira’s mother needed a safe place to send her kids after school and during the summer break while she was at work.
Crispus Attucks York was able to provide, through the Rising STARS program, structured activities and educational opportunities to Azaira and her siblings while their mom was working hard to support them. The Rising STARS program provides after-school and summer educational, recreational, and social responsibility opportunities for York’s youth and their families.
Because of these programs, Azaira’s childhood is filled with fun memories of running around CAY’s gymnasium, swimming in the pool, and playing with other kids in the community. The after-school program and summer day camp gave Azaira access to Responsibility Classes, Girls Achieve Pure Potential (GAPP), and 4-H club. Instead of sitting around the house with nothing to do, Azaira used these opportunities to learn how to use her hands and mind constructively.
Attending these kinds of activities boosted Azaira’s self-esteem and helped her grow up into the confident adult that she is today.
She didn’t realize it at the time, but CAY would become a major influence on the person she would become, and enrich her life in ways Azaira never would have expected.
“The people at Crispus Attucks York really believe in you, and are proud of you. They pour themselves into you,” reflected Azaira.
While remembering her time at CAY, Azaira noted how the organization always revolved around the needs of the community and made sure community members felt heard when expressing their concerns.
Azaira prides herself in bringing this experience to her current job as the Food Service Director for a local charter school. She hopes to inspire them to positively impact the community the same way CAY impacted her life.