Happy Father’s Day – The Standup Men of CHM

With Father’s Day just around the corner, we at Covenant House Michigan are thanking the great men on our campus and community service centers who become role models for our kids. The residents see how hard these individuals work, and look up to them for guidance as they attempt to turn their lives around. These men stand in as dads for our kids who never knew the support and encouragement of a father. We say thank you for all the lives you have touched. Here’s some of their stories:

Danny
As a role model, Danny tries to bring three things with him to work every day: trust, loyalty, and respect. His advice to the kids is to go to work, take care of their families, and take care of themselves. He stresses that, “Regardless of your problems, and regardless of what other people may think about you, as long as you get the job done, nobody can question you, or take that away from you.” Danny also makes sure to tell the kids, “Don’t make yourselves too comfortable here, because you need to want more than the life you have here at Covenant House. CHM is a stepping stone, not a final destination. Realizing this is the key to succeeding here, and it is the reason why CHM exists.”

“Danny is an excellent role model,” Mrs. Johnson, who works at the Crisis Center said. “Even outside of his duties at Covenant House he takes time to reach out to kids. Danny has spent time with my nephew because he doesn’t have a father figure in his life. Danny takes him to ball games, helps with other things like tying a tie and he even helped him get into a good high school [Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts]. I can call on Danny for anything and he will be there.”

Danny has been a member of the CHM Outreach Team for 9 ½ years. As a part of the outreach team, he is the voice of CHM; he goes out onto the streets, telling homeless kids that they can find safety and love at Covenant House. He helps with everything from transporting kids to hospitals and shelters to taking them on field trips and making presentations at schools.

James and Turonn (T)
James, a property-maintenance worker, sees himself as a role model to the residents because he tries to offer advice and discipline to the youth when he feels they need it. “I give advice to some of the kids who may be going down the wrong path. I try to be a father figure to those who seem like they need it.”

Turonn who also works in the property-maintenance department, assists in maintaining the three community centers, through lawn work, roofing, painting, and remodeling. Turonn likes helping and giving advice to the kids because he knows the environment they grew up in. “I went to school with some of these kids, and I know that I could’ve been in the same situation and gone down the same path. Therefore, I try to be positive around them.”

Mr. Ayorinde
Mr. Ayorinde, manager of the Crisis Center, is responsible for making sure everyone stays on task. It is important that the staff workers at Crisis know where every resident is at all times. At the same time it is important to make a real connection with the youth. He stresses that in this field you have to learn how to master your frustrations, have empathy, be patient, and have a sense of humor. Mr. Ayorinde enjoys working with youth at Covenant House because he feels that he is good at helping to mold, train, and connect with them. He knows that this is not the kind of work one does to make a lot of money; but, it’s the kind of work you do to make a difference. “You will not become rich by working in this industry. You get your richness from helping to transform other people.”

John
As the self proclaimed “BBQ King,” John takes the task of barbequing for most of our outdoor events very seriously. There are many things John likes about working for Covenant House, but what he enjoys the most is seeing kids do well. He enjoys witnessing the success of those who have moved on and encouraging the kids who are still here to be successful. “I try to encourage them to think positively. I tell them they can do anything they put their minds to.” John has been working at Covenant House for five years and is responsible for maintenance and is also a cook in the cafeteria.

Mr. Hassell
Having been a part of the Covenant House family for nine years, Mr. Hassell finds it most rewarding to see young people blossom and overcome obstacles. He is a role model because he shows young men and women that African American men can behave in more than one way. “I tell young men that they don’t have to be like everyone else. There is more to life than hip-hop, sports and hanging out. I also give them alternate ways to handle conflict and how to speak.” Mr. Hassell is the case worker for Covenant House’s East Side Community Service Center. His main duties include counseling young people and coming up with new initiatives for programs and activities. Mr. Hassell also takes time to do community outreach. He goes out into the community and tells young children in the neighborhood about the services Covenant House provides for youth.

Bob
If you are having a computer maintenance and technology problem on our campus, Bob is the man to call. He also tries to get all of the kids using computers. He knows that the future lies with technology, and that the kids need to have basic computer skills. He likes helping them use the computers, and he knows that his job makes him a role model. “It’s nice to have a cause associated with what I do; it gives my job worth.”

Mr. Johnson
Mr. Johnson’s door is always open because he believes that when working with troubled youth you have to be available; you are their way out. “The best part of what I do in this field is touching hearts. Covenant House forces the opportunity to touch hearts and speak to souls. That’s amazing.” Mr. Johnson is responsible for the administrative work at ROP, which includes evaluating the performance of the ROP program and its employees. Aside from his primary duties, Mr. Johnson has taken on other tasks such as assisting with the Career Advancement Program Services (CAPS) and the GED Program. Though Mr. Johnson is an administrator, he also finds himself stepping into the role of a social worker. When kids reach out to him about problems they are having or things they need, he doesn’t hesitate to provide them with the help they need. He will either help them or find someone who can. He feels it is important, no matter what position you have or the title you hold, that you are accessible.

Manny
Interacting with the kids is Manny's favorite part of the job. He says that, “I grew up on the streets, and I messed around a little bit earlier in my life like they did. However, I buckled down and finished school. I tell the kids they can do it too.” Manny is a residential advisor for ROP. He acts as both a social worker and a supervisor. He ensures that the facility is safe, and he supervises the kids. He is their mentor, and plays a key role in helping them turn their lives around. He has been at Covenant House Michigan for two and a half years.

Mr. Williams
Our kids often need a ride to a job interview or a doctor's appointment, and Mr. Williams is the man to talk to. As the transportation driver for Covenant House Michigan, Mr. William's key responsibilities are meeting the basic transportation needs of the residents. Mr. Williams stays true to the Covenant House mission statement because he feels it is important to adhere to and follow through with the promises and commitments it outlines. “It’s fulfilling being a part of an organization that is dedicated to uplifting youth.” He has been with Covenant House for a little over a year and enjoys assisting in the success of the youth. (Please refer to the “Who we Are” link to read the Covenant House mission statement)

Mr. Wilson
Mr. Wilson loves working with our kids because he can relate to them very well. He has worked with kids since 1992, and he feels that he has a father-to-son or father-to-daughter relationship with most of the kids that he spends time with. He gives them advice, and keeps them on point. He says that, “As long as you meet certain requirements, and get yourself together, you can still be a fun-loving individual who enjoys life.”

Mr. Wilson is a caseworker at the Southwest community service center. He is in charge of social skills programming for Life Skills students. He has held events on gang prevention (Death of a Gangster) and proper parenting, and he has helped organize art shows, a Career Day, a Valentine’s Day party, an international festival, and Covenant Idol. As a part of his Real Talk program, he held a Gs to Gents session, where he talked to the young men on how to carry themselves for success. Last week, he helped organize events for the graduating seniors, like a pinning ceremony, a movie marathon, and a cookout.

Mike
Mike has always been motivated to help people in need. Here at CHM, he gets to work for a cause while utilizing his talents in construction and management at the same time. He feels that “This is where God wants me to be,” and he knows that he sets a good example to the kids by the work that he does. His advice is that it is always possible to find good out of the bad, and that “when one door closes, another always opens.” Mike is in charge of several departments, including the purchasing department, the food program, the security company, the maintenance department, and the housekeeping company. On a day-to-day basis, he does everything from overseeing the school lunch program, to shopping at Home Depot and negotiating deals from different vendors. He also helps set up for events, like the alumni barbecue a few weeks ago.

Mr. Sam Joseph
Sam Joseph, the founding father of CHM, has dedicated his life to ensuring homeless and at-risk youth are safe and protected from the perils of the street. He is determined to make sure homeless kids have the support of a family and access to much needed services. He has advocated for thousands of youth who would otherwise go unnoticed. He is especially devoted to providing young people with education, mental health services and stable housing.

Covenant House Michigan salutes these men this Father’s Day and thanks them for their commitment to our youth and for taking on the role of a father figure to many who are without.

written by Carly Wilson and Marissa Silapaswan