--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YDPN
SPOTLIGHT l
2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YDPN Power recognizes Spotlights our Youth Worker.
Youth Worker Spotlight - Marquez Gray
This quarter, we have the pleasure of introducing you
to Marquez Gray, Senior Outreach Coordinator for CHALK.
1. How long have you been a youth worker? 2 years
2. Why and how did you become a youth worker? To help
youth that are and have been in situations similar to
mine and let them know they can do anything they want
to do � the resources are out here
they just have to go get them. How? When I was 16 CHALK
hired me as an At-Risk youth, and when I was 18 they promoted
me to Adult staff as Youthline's Outreach Coordinator
last year I was promoted to CHALK's Senior Outreach Coordinator.
3. What is your passion for continuing the work? My passion
is to reach the youth that everyone overlooks. I feel
like GOD has helped me with a lot of issues that plague
our community and has given me the gift to talk to and
encourage young people to let them know they don�t
need to smoke, drink and hustle to survive. I was one
of those youth, and now I'm a successful young man with
goals, so if I can do it I know anyone else can.
4. What other passions and interests do you have outside
of your job? I'm a Christian & Deacon at my church
and my deepest passion is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
who has revealed many mysteries to me, and I would love
to fulfill my purpose in life.
5. What do you want other youth workers to know about
you? This is not a 9 to 5 thing these young people need
support 24-7 and if you are not ready to make that commitment
then this is not the field for you.
6. Why have you gotten involved with the YDPN or how has
the YDPN supported you as a youth worker? YDPN has given
lots of resources and networking opportunities that have
been beneficial to me supporting and giving resources
to the young people I work with.
The YDPN thanks Marquez Gray for his contribution to YDPN
Power!, and for his commitment to the YDPN by recently
joining the Steering Committee. If you would like to learn
more about CHALK or the Youthline, you can visit them
at www.chalk.org or www.youthline.org.
To get in touch with Marquez, email him at gray@chalk.org.
|
