Welcoming Our New Staff Arrivals
Following extensive searches, we recently welcomed three new staff members:
Derris Hawkins-Smith, who made the long drive from Iowa on August 28
Roslyn Jones, who hails from West Baltimore and is thrilled to give back to a community that means the world to her
Yvette McCleod, a longstanding UMB professional who has worked with us in various capacities since our team had a nimble yet tiny staff.
From left: Roslyn Jones (Early Childhood Assistant, Eutaw-Marshburn Elementary)
Derris Hawkins-Smith (College & Career Coordinator, Renaissance Academy High School)
Yvette McCleod (Promise Heights Program Management Specialist)
Derris Hawkins-Smith, College & Career Coordinator, Renaissance Academy High School
“For me, my motivation is the students, first and foremost…I've lived a life, to say the least, and I’ve dealt with a lot with things in my life. So, I think it’s on me—and most people, especially Black folks—we can’t just close the door behind us! We have to keep it open and help the next person.”
From the high energy he maintained throughout a recent conversation on a Friday at 4:45pm, some 35 hours after he drove from Iowa to Baltimore, you’d never imagine that Derris Hawkins-Smith might be exhausted. In fact, his cross-country trip began at 3 am the previous day. He arrived in Baltimore at 8 pm that same day. Yet when we spoke on Friday at 4:45 pm, he instantly apologized for not being in touch earlier, though he hit the ground running: picking up his Promise Heights laptop, phone, and other essential items for his new role as Promise Heights College and Career Coordinator at Renaissance Academy High School.
Much like the trio of new colleagues, Derris is clear about his choice to provide service to students during a crucial moment in their lives. “I've lived a life, to say the least, and I’ve dealt with a lot with things in my life. So, I think it’s on me—and most people, especially Black folks—we can’t just close the door behind us! We have to keep it open and help the next person.”
Derris laughs at the irony of what he’s preparing to say: “It’s not like I’m from Chicago and I’m going to save everyone, and then they’ll eventually make a movie about me. That’s not where I’m coming from! But if just one of those students can change their mind, and if I can help change their trajectory in life—that’s all it takes, because that person—they’re going to turn around and then do the same when they get in that position. They’ll go get their education, and then they’ll come back to Baltimore, and they’ll do well for this community. That’s what it’s about—just having that short-term goal of trying to reach one person, you know, that one student.”
Derris recounted his own past experiences with feeling unseen and undervalued, “Those people would never speak to me! They’d never do it intentionally, but I think they were so used to their little cliques. I know what it’s like, being a Black man—when you’re in a room and people have already decided who you are. I eventually became their Diversity Chair, and I went out of my way every time we had a meeting. I would make sure I’d speak with each and every person, no matter what.”
“That’s my thing—I don’t want to let anybody to feel left out. And then at the same time, this attitude is important for the high school level: students have to start in the 9th grade with that focus and mindset to get into college, because a lot of times for our students of color, that doesn’t happen until the junior year…and by then…it’s usually too late.”
“By then they only give themselves one option—it may be a trade school or a community college—but for a four-year college, [if you wait too long] your GPA is usually not where you want it to be. I was one of those students! That’s why I’m the perfect person to talk to these students, because all I have to tell them is, ‘Don’t do what Derris did!’ All I want to do is to give these young men and women—for them to give themselves options, you know?”
Derris values his previous job as a college admissions counselor at The University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, as a great foundation for his new position with Promise Heights, where he’ll help students at Renaissance Academy High School learn about admission requirements for two-year and four-year colleges and universities, and career pathways. He knows how much it means for students to have at least one person who deeply believes in their potential. “I’ve seen those people who are invested in students, and also those who aren’t. And those are invested are so important. Without people who believe in them, students just give up. I’ve seen the positive results. Simply put, I want to be part of that change.”
Roslyn Jones, Early Childhood Assistant, Eutaw-Marshburn Elementary
“I know the importance of giving back to this community…..and a lot of people in the community don't know about the resources that are available to them. Being that I grew up [here], I can really help reach out to them, because I can relate to them. I also was a child growing up in this community, and my family didn't know about resources that were available to us. As I got older and became more knowledgeable, [I realized that] I want to give back to my community so they can be aware of these resources and how they can help their families.”
Roslyn Jones knows the value she brings to her new job with the Early Childhood team, working with Pre-K and Kindergarten kids at Eutaw-Marshburn Elementary School. She also knows the sense of self-confidence she can instill and build in her young students. In fact, one of her most vivid memories happened during a parent/teacher conference that she attended in middle school, and this moment may be key to her ambitions to hand the “joy of learning” relay baton to Eutaw-Marshburn students.
That moment happened in a meeting with her mom and her French teacher, as she recently explained, “my teacher mentioned to my mom [right in front of me}, ‘She’s very intelligent. She’s very smart! I feel like she’ll excel in college. She has very great potential!’
And I thought, ‘Oh wow, someone other than my parents says that she believes that I can do it!’ It was amazing. I realized that someone I know—other than my parents—really believes that I could do it! It was the first time that I ever felt like I could move forward in my life and actually go to college.”
Today, Roslyn is confident she’ll bring a similar feeling to kids who are significantly younger. She aims to instill a sense of self-confidence while giving them an even greater chance to excel in their education and lives. These young children are at the beginning of their lives as students and can carry that passion for learning throughout their years in elementary, middle, and high school (and hopefully to college and beyond).
Roslyn offers her community the ultimate treasure by maintaining a lifetime commitment to her childhood neighborhood. “I was born and raised in Baltimore and I grew up in the inner city, in Murphy Homes. We moved to McCulloh Homes when I was a student at Booker T. Washington Middle School for the Arts. I just always wanted to give back to my community, and I still do know quite a few people that live around here.”
Clearly, education is an essential part of Roslyn’s life’s trajectory even though she hadn’t considered attending college until her middle school years. “I’ve been in Baltimore the whole time. I went to Community College first: Baltimore City Community College, and from there went to Coppin State [University] and from Coppin I went to the University of Baltimore. I was in a collaborative program with the University of Baltimore and Coppin—that's where I received my Masters in Human Service Administration.”
And yes, at this point she focuses on one essential goal. “I know the importance of giving back to this community. Sometimes I feel there’s a lot that goes on in a community that a lot of people don't know about. And many people in the community don't know about the resources that are available to them. I grew up in this community. I can help reach out to them, because I can relate to them. I also was a child growing up here, and back then, my family didn't know about resources that were available. As I got older and became more knowledgeable. I want to give back to my community so they can be aware of the resources and how they can help their families.”
“I'm looking forward to doing family engagement activities and workshops with families, and also meeting the kids! Hopefully I'll soon get to see some of them face to face.”
We agree. And while ”face-to-face” time is so important—especially for young kids—we have a feeling that Roslyn will quickly offer the same sense of validation to Eutaw-Marshburn students that one particular French teacher also gave her during a crucial moment in her young life.
Yvette McCleod, Program Management Specialist, Promise Heights
"I was only gone for two years and when it was time for me to come back full time, I looked at the roster one day and saw that over 55 people are now part of the Promise Heights team!"
Yvette McCleod, the experienced UMB pro who is now our newest full-time Program Manager
Yvette McCleod is proud of so many aspects of her life, especially her 16-year old son and her husband, who knows her so well that he recently stashed her celebratory birthday balloons in his car since he knew she’d suss them out if they were anywhere in their house before August 20 when her big day arrived. And, there’s one specific thing that she proudly shares with everyone—something that some people might hold as a secret—since (in her words) “it was a big deal, and I let everyone know!” (Hint: this explains her deep passion for anything sporting the color pink.)
We should mention that Yvette isn’t in the slightest way “new,” having worked with Promise Heights on a part-time basis over the years, and even longer for UMB. “October 31st, 2020 will make 15 years I’ve worked with UMB. Wow! Only since, at this point, it’s not yet Halloween, let’s just say 14 years.” [Yes, Yvette is exceptionally humble and also remains accurate about math.]
As she recently explained about her years with UMB, “I worked in HR, and Continuing Professional Education, and at some point, got used to being an administrative assistant. Basically, I love keeping everyone happy. Then last year, I met with my supervisor and said, ‘let’s do something different, more financial,’ so this new job with Promise Heights is a big change for me. I’m so detailed-oriented yet have to learn new procedures to manage our invoices. And I’ll still be handling HR just like I was before.”
“I think the biggest change is that I was used to working as an administrative assistant. The goal of that job is to always keep everybody happy, so now that I'm back with Promise Heights and we’re working remotely from home, I’m looking for new ways to keep us united…so here I am!” Yvette has wonderful plans to launch now to make sure our morale stays high!
Yet back to that topic that she proudly shares. “Life is so short. We always look at life as if we’ll be here forever, until something really happens. For me, that ’something’ was cancer, and I’m proud to say that I’m a survivor warrior! This is the seventh year I’ve been a breast cancer survivor. I faced chemo, surgery, and all the decisions we have to make. Now, everyone calls me “Pinky.”
Aha! That explains Yvette’s favorite color! Nearly everything she wears or owns is pink, and since we’ve regularly seen her home office during remote Zoom meetings, we can verify that even the walls and curtains are a luscious shade of pink.
Yvette’s passion for that symbolic color doesn’t stop there: “I want to open ‘the Pink House,’ a place where women can go once they finish chemo and cancer treatments. When you have cancer, it’s essential to have a whole support system, I want to be exactly that for women in need. I still have my chemo backpack and send out cards with inspirational thoughts—everyone looks forward to receiving those cards! And you know, I was only gone from my job for nine months when I had cancer, and when it was time for me to come back I looked at the roster one day and saw that over 55 people are now part of the Promise Heights team!"
We’re thrilled to have Yvette join our staff full-time and adore how she illuminates any room that she enters. During this tough time, that’s like a ray of sunshine brightening the darkest night, and how fitting that someone working in Promise Heights, in her spare time, has found an important way to assist others in need.
#####