YMCA Celebrates Youth Achievers

Dajah Jackson is a 15-year-old with big dreams. A Hartford resident who attends Plainville High School, she aspires to be an entertainer. Tekle Tsegai who goes to East Hartford High School has big dreams too. The 15-year-old wants to be an engineer.

And they have found help reaching those goals through the YMCA Youth Achievers program.

The two, along with dozens of others who give up weekends and down time to work toward their goals, were honored at a dinner Wednesday at the Bond Ballroom. The students, as well as their adult mentors, were recognized for their efforts and for some, the night marked the time to move on.

“I started the program when I was in fifth grade,” explained Wes Tsegai, who will graduate in a few weeks and go on to Manchester Community College. “I was so shy then and now, I am so different, so much because of the program and what I learned,” she said. “It was worth all the work”

The program, spearheaded by local businesswoman JoAnn Price, includes a volunteer faculty of adult achievers and active participating parent achievers who work with students from fifth to 12^th grades. The goal is to inspire the young people and introduce them to the educational and career opportunities available to them.

“If we had more JoAnn Prices we could have more of these programs,” said Metro Harford board chair Gary Wolff, about the program now offered at only the Wilson-Gray branch. “She is the driving force.”

“It’s not just me, it’s a lot of people working together that bring this kind of success,” said Price about the nine-year-old program. “Everybody makes this an excellent program.”

When it came to networking, there were some heavy-duty opportunities. Keynote speaker was Lloyd Trotter, former president and CEO of General Electric’s industrial division and now managing partner at GenNx30.

“In my mind there is nothing better than exposing kids to the opportunities that are out there,” he said.  “My advice to them is to dream big, because that’s what it’s all about.”