By D’Yahna Jackson

Maryland native, David Kagedale has been working at George Washington hospital as a radiologist for 3 years. (Cardiologist is a person who looks at x-rays). His profession stands out to me because I’m interested in being a doctor myself, and you don’t often hear people wanting to be a radiologist.

David is one of many “being the change” because he’s helping and saving lives everyday. It wasn’t always easy for David to get where he is now. Having worked his way through college without a scholarship, and having to do his residence two hours away from where he lived. But he did not let that stop him, from being what he is today.

Having gone to GW and now working here he felt as though it was his calling. Being on campus and experiencing what it would be like if worked here, also made him feel at home. Now that he’s at GW he says the funniest thing about being here is now he even sees his old preofessors on or around the campus.

But in all David Kagedale is a very interesting person who is still chasing his drearm. He has most interest to me because the kind of work he does, and how he is striving to get there. David is still chasing his dream because in the next 5 years he hopes to be head of his division and possibly going back to school.

What is change? Drew Anderson by Betlihem Ayalew

“You want it to be one way” Marlo Stanfild.

Drew Anderson started off as biology major at Howard University in Washington DC. After graduating as the class of 1999, he began teaching a biology class of undergrad students at Howard. As his love for teaching grew Drew Anderson knew what he wanted to do with his life- teach. Along with his love for biology and life, Mr. Drew is also and writer as well as an artist.

Inspired by Michael Eric Dyson a professor at Georgetown University, Mr. Drew began to share his love of science with young people. With his wide knowledge of teaching he began to teach at the Washington Math/science/technology Public charter High School. When asked “why”, Mr. Drew responded by saying many students dislike science because they think that it is very boring, and by making it more fun they might understand the concept of life. He also believes some of the most important things that you learn from teachers are not from the text books, but from the heart.

“Teaching is the most important job in the world” says Drew Anderson. Mr. Drews aptitude for teaching has no measures, he impacts young people everyday. He wishes his continuing legacy to be through his kids and art by inspiring others to do the same. Mr. Drew Anderson lives by the quote “you want it to be one way” Marlo Standfild- The Wire. Young people now have such myopic view about life today, but if they open their mind they could understand the meaning of life. “The world is to complex to be a one way street” Drew Anderson.

Be The Change by Monet Tucker

Felix Dominguez is being the change by helping teens in the DC area. He grew up in Miami and also went to college at the University of Miami. He had decided to go to this college because they gave him a full ride (paid for everything), left twenty thousand dollars in his pocket, and he went there to be a Marin biologist and still wants to become one in the near future. Why do you think you’re the change in your community I ask? “Because of his job” he states. He likes to deal with issues that are gang related or single parenting to help them. He loves his job and loves to help out teens to get a bigger and brighter future. When I asked him what made him interested in youth he said “He had a suckish teenage life and adults treated him like dirt and with working with teens they could have a voice to be heard. The Upward Bound program has changed him because he likes to challenge us teens with realistic exposure. He tries to show us the real world and help us be opened minded. To me he is a great person with a great attitude. He actually didn’t know about LAYC. He heard of this program thru a friend and heard that they had a position for academic advisor. He wanted to communicate with his community. Teens are being help today by Felix because he informs the teens and help them know that they have the potential to be the change. He makes sure that they don’t listen to the negativity that is spread on the streets, media and possibly in their own home. Who is your role model and how did he/she influenced you to do what you are doing today? He responds “His father was his role model. His father had a 4th grade level education. His father self taught himself and was a good people’s person. Felix depended on him and gotten inspired that he could be the change.

Raquel Brown By Mahder Etuma

As a singer, a teacher and a mother, Ms.Brown have touched a lot of young kids heart from their personal problems to school problems. She has been with the Upward Bound program for 3 years as an English teacher. With a strong base, she has grown to come and educate others from the mistakes that she have learned over the years. The talented, open minded and outgoing Ms. Brown believes she is making a change everyday for High School students by helping them express their feelings through writing.

“I feel like people don’t fundamentally change, but they grow” was the passion she had during the question; what do you think when you hear “be the change”. With her strong opinion, she sends the message that everyone has different prospective on different things, which means they should stand in the things they believe in no matter what. The expression “change” to her means accomplishment “Change to me means not easy to change and it take a lot of time. You also have to look at yourself”. As Obama said “change we can believe in” Ms. Brown believes in the same thing. Inspired by her daughter to make change, she has mentioned some problems she has been facing with her daughter and herself. She feels that people resist changing and are not willing to work hard and has no determination or courage. She is willing to stay with Upward Bound, film projects and art programs to show her commitment of become the change. She believes that she is not sure to what being the change will do because she feels like she is not attached to the outcome. When asked the question; what do you think the theme “be the change” in Upward bound mean? She responded by saying “I think that it is just a phrase and that in order for change to happen it all depend on that person’s actions.”

Ms. Brown is a person who is determined to make change and do the right thing. She will take opportunities to change others people’s life and make them realize that change can happen for those who don’t accept change into their lives. As a walking example she will be doing the same thing she is doing now but better because she is a teacher helping students and there is always room for improvements. I sure wouldn’t mind doing the same thing she is doing considering the fact that I also like helping and making the change.

Sam Greenspan by Yemisirach Debela

Sam Greenspan, a 23 year old man working at Upward Bound as a part time academic adviser. He lives in Mt. Pleasant, Washington, DC. He went to college in Florida and that’s where he was raised. The college He attended to was New College of Florida. He thought that he was going to major in literature, but he ended up majoring in Anthropology (the study of different cultures).

What Sam is doing to be the change in his community is that he rides his bike and tries not to use his car because he wants to save energy, spend money locally and not spend it wastefully, and he plays a role in lives of young people in Upward Bound. He draws his inspiration from his Grandparents because they raised his very good and understood what he want in life to succeed. His grandfather told him that “if he doesn’t like how things are you can change it”. These words from his grandfather helped him over come the different obstacles that life threw at him.

The different obstacles that he faced to prepare for him goal are that to accept that there is no straight path though life there will always be turns. What he meant by there is no straight path in Life us that life is not easy and you can’t go through different changes and tunnels to get to your destination. Being the change to him means that responsible for contributing some kind of change.

What Sam is doing to inspire young people is helping them realize what is in them selves, and helping them make the right chooses in life. The different things that Sam is doing to make sure that his student are successful is having creative ways to solve problems , thinking out side the box , and conquering the obstacles that life throws at you. Sam to day is still being the change in his community and continuing with his goal in Washington, DC as an Academic Advisor

Keith Leftwich

To whom this may concern, I attend Cesar Chavez Public Charter School. I am also currently attending LAYC upward bound. We have recently been working on our interview for capitol letters on someone who is making a change in their neighborhood. I chose someone who has affected me in a positive way without even knowing. I interviewed my neighborhood homeless man, “BOO.” He has affected me in a good way because when I see him I see the opposite of what I want to be like.

One question I asked him is, “What mistake would you take back, if you could take it back?” He answered, “I would’ve went to school and at least finished high school.” When he said this he inspired me to stay in school in order to be unlike “BOO.” This is a very distinct example of how BOO inspires me. He also inspires other kids because I also hear my peers saying that they would never be like him in their lifetime. This shows me that he is not only inspiring me, but also others.

Welcome to Be The Change DC!

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