Jaron McNeil, ’21, says attending Community College of Philadelphia was one of the best decisions he’s made.

“CCP was not only affordable, but it gave me a great start,” Jaron says. “I’ve gained some amazing mentors who have provided a lot of support since I arrived at the College.”

He says that in addition to the support from his academic advisors, career counselors and professors, much of his success comes from his mentors at the College’s Center for Male Enagement (CME). Geared towards African-American males, CME provides its members with targeted academic and non-academic supports designed to enhance their skill sets, cultivate a sense of belonging and build resolve as they pursue a degree at the College and beyond. 

“CME has always been there any time I’ve needed help,” Jaron says. “From applying for financial aid to workshops on time management, CME has provided much needed support along the way. Derrick Perkins, Patrick Robinson and the rest of the team are practically family.”

Jaron will be graduating this year with an associate degree in business. While he has always known that he one day wants to be an entrepreneur and give back to his community, he could have never imagined that he would become an author at the age of 20.

Titled Alex the Persevering Outcast to Alpha Male, Jaron says his book details his journey from depression and suicidal thoughts to manifesting his own happiness in life.

“Writing my first book was definitely a labor of love,” Jaron says. “In the book, I open up about overcoming bullying, depression and negative self-talk. This was an opportunity for me to be a mentor to the youth just as I was mentored.”

Jaron says that while it was at times a tedious process, he gained a lot of discipline. He says he started off by jotting down his ideas. He eventually was able to turn his notes into a manuscript. From there he saved up money by working two jobs to get his book published on Google and, later, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

After graduation, Jaron plans to attend Neumann University in the fall to obtain a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in finance. One day, he wants to launch his own accounting firm and later create his own library and recreation center.

“My ultimate goal in life is to be able to keep on giving,” Jaron says. “I want to be able to donate to causes that I care about and to mentor high school and college students to follow their dreams and to never give up. I want to specifically mentor CCP students because it’s where I got started.”

While at Neumann University, Jaron plans to not only stay connected to the mentors and friends he’s gained while at the College, but build upon those relationships.

When asked what advice he would give to anyone who’s thinking about giving up, he says, “If you believe it, you can achieve it and if you keep going you can get it done.”

With some trepidation, Jameelah Hairston enrolled at the College in 2017, unsure she would be successful in higher education. This week, she will graduate with her Nursing degree from Community College of Philadelphia.

“I stopped and started at the College after high school. For the past 20 years, I’ve worked in health care. I’ve been a psychiatric technician, EMT and Certified Nurse Assistant,” Jameelah said.

Jameelah’s knowledge impressed the nurses and doctors she worked with, and they recognized her potential.

“I had learned more than I realized, and they told me I needed to go back to school,” said Jameelah.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, she briefly relocated to Maryland, where she was working two jobs at times. She began taking classes there, but still the uncertainly lingered.

“I wasn’t sure I was going to go follow through with it,” she said.

While still in Maryland, she transferred to the College and began taking online classes, returning to Philadelphia in 2017 to care for her ill mother. Knowing entry into the Nursing program was difficult, she applied anyway.

“I didn’t think I was going to get in,” she said.

As part of their training, Nursing students take their skills to the community under faculty supervision. Jameelah and her classmates have assisted with COVID-19 screening, testing and education with the Hub of Hope, Broad Street Ministry and Philadelphia FIGHT, helping homeless and other vulnerable populations in the city. Jameelah was also one of 12 Dr. Andrea Mengel interns, an initiative funded by the Independence Foundation, that provided funding for 12 past and present CCP Nursing students to serve on the frontlines of the pandemic.

“People were so grateful to be treated well and heard—I learned the importance of community nursing and outreach,” she said.

After taking her RN exam, Jameelah plans to seek a position in a fast-paced environment, such as the emergency room or intensive care unit. She may also pursue a bachelor’s in Nursing.

“It’s hard to go to school. It’s even harder to go back to school after 10 or 15 years. Nursing makes you connect with people. I have friends my daughter’s age. One of my best friends is from Russia—we wouldn’t have met another way. The diversity at CCP is amazing,” she said.

Jameelah was joined on this endeavor by her daughter, Sumiaya Adbur-Rasheed, who is graduating with a Theater degree. She took advantage of the College’s Dual Admissions partnership with Temple and will be pursuing her bachelor’s degree this fall.

“Participating in Dual Admissions made the whole process a lot easier, and I received a scholarship,” Sumiaya said.

Like her mother, Sumiaya was working toward a Nursing degree at another school, taking what she thought would be a more practical approach to career possibilities. After arriving at the College, she decided to pursue her lifelong interest.

“Theater has always been something I’ve been involved in. I love the faculty and the friends I’ve made in the Theater department,” she said.

She took multiple classes with Kirsten Quinn, an associate professor of English and a theater instructor. Students saw plays as part of their courses and had the opportunity to see Professor Quinn onstage.

“It was so inspiring to see an instructor perform. This isn’t just a dream. I can do this,” she said.

Sumiaya is now looking to branch out and work behind the camera.

“I’m starting my own production company, and I want to produce short films and plays. I’ve started writing, and I’m shifting my thinking to behind the scenes,” she said.

Through her coursework and as a member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, she was also impacted by the diversity found at the College.

“There are individuals of diverse ages, sexualities and backgrounds. I made so many different types of connections. It opened my eyes to the world I live in,” she said.

Jameelah and Sumiaya even started their own podcast while at the College.

“My Inner MOMologue is a conversation between a daughter and her mother about culture, art, the state of the world, relationships and how their experiences connect to it all,” said Jameelah.

“Our relationship is growing. I’m learning about the mother/daughter relationship now that I’m an adult. The journey through CCP has helped with that,” said Sumiaya.

A day in the life of a CCP dual enrollment student

Daisy McDonagh is not your typical 18-year-old. This month, she will be graduating with a 4.0 GPA  at the College and a 4.4 GPA at MaST Community Charter School in Northeast Philadelphia with both her high school and associate degrees. Daisy is one of ten students graduating this May from MaST’s dual enrollment program in partnership with Community College of Philadelphia.

Daisy says she learned about the opportunity to graduate high school with an associate degree while in middle school from a MaST student enrolled in the dual enrollment program at the time. Once she entered the ninth grade, she took the placement exam and tested into the college-level English 101 and Math 161 classes. The rest is history.

“I’ve always searched for new ways to challenge myself academically and the dual enrollment program at CCP helped me do just that,” Daisy said. “Throughout the program, we take up to four college classes per semester in addition to our high school classes. While at times challenging, it’s very fulfilling and a great accomplishment.”

She says the key to her success is working collaboratively with her peers in the program to foster a strong support system. They often review assignments together and hold each other accountable to do the assigned readings for each class.

“Some of our professors don’t know that we are high school students and we like to keep it that way,” said Daisy. “We want to be treated equally and as adults so that our accomplishments matter.”

While she already committed to pursuing her associate of arts in Health Care Studies, it was not until she took a college-level anatomy and physiology class that she fell in love with the field. In 2020, Daisy was also one of eight students out of 35 applicants at the College selected to travel to Cambodia for the study abroad program -- that is, until the pandemic forced the program to a halt.

“As a Health Care Studies major, I’m not able to take as many history classes as I would like,” said Daisy. “I was very interested in expanding my knowledge of the Cambodian genocide as well as the impact it had on family strucutres. The prison camps and medical experiments not only split up families, but destroyed them. With nearly half of the population at the time being under 15, this left many Cambodian children orphaned.”

Daisy plans to expand her knowledge of issues at the intersection of health care and human rights while pursuing her bachelor’s degree. She has received a full scholarship to attend Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska in the fall, where she will major in International Rescue and Relief with an emphasis on Pre-Physician Assistant Studies.

The program at Union College is not only an accelerated physician assistant program, but also the only known college-level program of its kind in the United States. The degree combines rescue and survival skills, humanitarian relief, emergency medical care, public health, disaster management and multicultural service training.

“The International Rescue and Relief program at Union College is a perfect fit because it will allow me to get hands-on experience in the field in addition to what I’ll be learning in the classroom,” said Daisy. “By this time next year I’ll be an EMT and have received training on wilderness survival and disaster preparation. I’ll even be able to work with FEMA and do clinicals overseas in countries like Malawi, Africa.”

Daisy’s dream is to become a physician assistant with a focus on reproductive health. She ultimately wants to travel the world and help people by bringing a more holistic understanding and compassionate approach to reproductive health.

“I would love to start my career as a physician assistant in South Africa,” Daisy said. “South Africa has some of the highest rates of sexual assaults, STDs and fetal alcohol poisoning syndrome. I want to be able to learn as much as I can and help as many people as possible.”

When she isn’t acing her classes, Daisy finds time to participate in clubs at her school. She is the vice president of her school’s National Honor Society, the student representative for MaST’s Board of Trustees where she speaks on behalf of the student body, a Gold Award Girl Scout, a member of the politics club and the gay straight alliance, co-president of the MaST Asian American Student Team, and a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at the College.

When asked if she would recommend the dual enrollment program to her peers, she says absolutely.

“You have to learn how to properly manage your time and make the necessary sacrifices to make it through the program,” Daisy said. “But if you enjoy learning and like being independent, then the program is for you.”

From John B. Kelly Elementary to the big stage

Russell Shelton, ’20, thinks back to when he finally embraced his passion for theater and the performing arts at the age of 14. He vividly remembers his first acting role while at the John B. Kelly Elementary School. He played the role of the leader of the cards in an adaption of Alice in Wonderland.

His interest in theater continued into middle school, where he earned a role in a stage adaption of the 2007 film Hairspray. It was through this experience that Russell decided to pursue a professional career in acting.

“While I was able to score two small roles in Hairspray while in middle school, the overall experience had a huge impact on the trajectory of my life,” Russell said. “I had the opportunity to meet and connect with people in the industry and was able to see myself in the field. I really enjoyed learning more about how plays are created and the overall creative process. But more importantly, I loved seeing how we were able to create a unique experience for the audience.”

Russell graduated from the College in December with an associate of arts in theater. He is now enrolled at Bloomsburg University pursuing his bachelor’s of arts in theater with a performance emphasis. Although he’s studying at Bloomsburg, he gives a lot of credit to his CCP professors.

“Dr. Ardencie Hall-Karambe and Professor Kirsten Quinn were two of my most influential professors during my time at CCP,” Russell said. “They both provided a lot of support and constructive feedback to help me learn how to become an effective professional actor. Without their guidance, I would not be at Bloomsburg today.”

Russell says that the College’s Center for Male Engagement (CME) also played a pivotal role in his overall success. Led by Derrick Perkins, CME provides its members with targeted academic and non-academic supports designed to enhance their skill sets, cultivate a sense of belonging and build resolve.

“The Center for Male Engagement definitely helped out a lot and they are like family,” Russell said. “I would go to the Center to finish up school work or to just hang out. Derrick Perkins, Ms. Hope Thomas and Patrick Robinson provided a lot of social support and kept me motivated while at the College. Through CME, I learned about the power of positive self-talk and how to pick myself up after having a bad day.”

Russell has been able to apply the many skills he’s learned from CCP during his first semester at Bloomsburg.

“While at CCP, I learned how to be flexible and have developed a love of learning,” says Russell. “At Bloomsburg so far, I’ve taken classes on becoming a better actor, but also classes on directing, dance and set design. From these classes, I’ve gained a different perspective of the field. I finally see the bigger picture.”

When asked if he has any role models in the industry, Russell named quite a few: Chadwick Boseman, Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Michael B. Jordan, Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino.

“Outside of their iconic roles, I’ve read a lot about the challenges they each have faced and their journeys to acting,” Russell said. “I’m always reminded that I may not be in the easiest position, but if I work hard enough, I’ll be able to achieve my dreams. If they can do it, so can I.”

One student’s destined journey to a career in early childhood development

Yael Johnson, ’21, says her calling has never been clearer: she wants to be an advocate and champion for the exceptional young children who will shape our future. Working in early childhood education, she found her passion in helping children with special needs and their families navigate the challenges they face, both in and outside the classroom.

“Life tends to take us on surprising journeys,” said Yael. “Sometimes we are led to places we never knew we were supposed to be. My life journey brought me to a preschool just when the time was right.”

With a 10-year long career in restaurant and office management and a finance background, Yael never could have imagined developing a passion for early childhood development, but that all changed after the birth of her godson, Ben, in 2011. That year, she would take on a new position at a Montessori school, and a few years later, her godson would be diagnosed with autism and ADHD at the age of four.

“After learning that my godson was diagnosed with autism and ADHD, I wanted to learn as much as possible to help him succeed,” said Yael. “I began to research. I read every book recommended, participated in parent education classes, joined support groups, and took professional development courses on special needs and development. I learned about resources that were available to us and accommodations that could help Ben across environments. I found that the more I learned, the easier it was for me to connect with him and other children who needed just a little more support.”

Yael eventually became somewhat of a self-taught expert at supporting children with exceptionalities. She would provide support to her godson’s teachers and would often offer information to assist in meetings with other parents, but never in an official capacity.

Her co-workers recognized her ability to connect with children, provide support and implement successful strategies. While they urged her to pursue a path to officially work with children with special needs, she never entertained the idea of going back to school. It wasn’t until she realized all of the knowledge she gained on her own and the level of support she could offer other parents. That’s when she took a shot at the College’s Early Childhood Education program.

“I enrolled at [the College] in the fall of 2019, and my time here has been absolutely amazing,” said Yael. “Dr. Amy Saia and the incredible educators in the ECE program are experts in their field. They do not simply teach us how to teach. They model what investment in student success looks like. I cannot overstate the magnitude of the support I received, the consistent confirmation of confidence in my ability, and their impact. My professors were all exemplary examples of how to teach with their students’ success as the priority.”

Overall, Yael says the Early Childhood Education program was a rigorous, challenging and enriching experience.

She also had the opportunity to participate in the College’s Early Childhood Education Teachers Apprenticeship program. Funded by the District 1199C Training and Upgrading Fund, the apprenticeship program places students in the classroom at one of several approved local child care centers. During this two-year program, Yael earned on-the-job academic credit hours in exchange for credits at the College for her degree program.

For her apprentice project, she chose to focus on self-regulation and mindfulness. She was able to implement a mindfulness program at the extended care program in which she worked.

“The children were very receptive to the mindfulness program,” said Yael. “We began each day with a Mindful Moment and introduced new concepts on Mindful Mondays. Activities focused on the weekly theme and would be available for children to practice in the Calm Corner. I created a cozy nook under our loft where students could read books, listen to one-minute meditations, practice breathing techniques and other mindful works. These simple exercises helped the students improve their social-emotional regulation skills, which are critical for healthy development, social and academic achievement, and overall success in life.”

Yael expanded her reach as a significant contributor in the successful school-wide effort to incorporate daily mindfulness in all classrooms.

In fall 2020, she was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, and she will be graduating in May 2021 with a 4.0 GPA after receiving a full scholarship. She plans to pursue both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in early childhood development, specializing in children with special needs – specifically autism and other exceptionalities.

Her advice to anyone who wants to pursue a similar career: Be flexible.

“It’s best to be a rubber band and not a string,” Johnson says. “As early childhood professionals, it is our responsibility to cultivate inclusion and help our students feel safe, encouraged, supported and capable. This will require some flexibility and adjusting. The amazing reward will be accomplished, independent learners who are confident in their ability to succeed.”

Johnson credits her overall success to the College professors and instructors who guided her along the way: Dr. Amy Saia, Kristina Lohre, Kendra Thomas, and professors Allison Constable, Sandra Spicer-Sharp, Kathleen Murphey and Katie Bucher.

Amidst the acclimation to online learning, teaching her children at home and returning to campus for limited lab instruction, Lauren Ferri and fellow Dental Hygiene students are moving closer to their goal.

“We have had a long delay and many changes, but everyone has started to find their groove. I’m happy with the way it’s going, and I am thankful to be treating patients,” said Lauren.

At the College’s Dental Clinic, where hands-on training is integral to career success, Lauren joins seven other students or less, according to safety guidelines, as they work on their skills. Before returning to campus, all students were informed by faculty about upgraded building air filters and COVID-19 safety procedures put into place to make health and safety the top priority.

“I feel totally comfortable. Even before COVID-19 we followed strict safety guidelines and were wearing appropriate PPE. The College has done a great job of adapting to the new requirements and has made safety a priority,” she said.

Even before the pandemic, Lauren was finding it difficult to balance the program with being a parent. Then came the shutdown. Feeling overwhelmed, she reached out to her instructor, program director and associate professor Theresa Grady, and withdrew. But with help from her family and faculty support, Lauren decided to continue with her education, a goal she has wanted to accomplish for some time.

“It’s an intense program, but extremely rewarding. You have to work hard and be dedicated. Sometimes it feels impossible, but having the support of classmates and faculty has made all the difference. I am proud of all we have accomplished,” said Lauren.

Learning virtually presented certain challenges at first, but she was able to find benefits as well.

“You have to have self-motivation and good organization skills. But I like the flexibility of recorded lectures. As a busy parent, that’s kind of ideal. The faculty are there to support us, and I don’t feel like I’m on my own,” said Lauren.   

With support from the Women’s Outreach and Advocacy Center, Kasara was able to obtain her degree despite additional hurdles she encountered during the COVD-19 pandemic.

The way Kasara Pompey was introduced to the Women’s Outreach and Advocacy Center (Women’s Center) was truly a matter of being in the right place at the right time, and trying one’s luck.

Today, Kasara, a Health Care Studies student, is on track to completing her final year at the College and looking forward to graduation in May. But even a year ago, her vision of graduation didn’t look so clear.

In January 2020, Kasara was drawn to a flyer on campus that read, “Do you need help with child care?” She knew she did, but wondered if it was legitimate. At the time, Kasara was juggling school and work, and would soon struggle to keep up with child care during the COVID-19 pandemic. So, she took a chance and reached out to the contact on the flyer. She couldn’t believe the great attentiveness and assistance she received from Dr. Claudia Curry, the director of the Women’s Center, and its supporting staff.

“The Women’s Outreach and Advocacy Center offers a safe space and a focal point where diverse students can convene as a community for advocacy, collaboration and education,” Dr. Curry says. “The Center complements the mission of the College by creating an environment that promotes caring and provides students the resources and support needed to achieve their goals.

The Women’s Center was able to assist Kasara in receiving funds through Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS), the College’s child care grant program that helps low-income student-parents pay for child care. And when Kasara was notified of the loss of her financial aid for spring 2021, Dr. Curry and the Women’s Center assisted in helping her find and apply to receive scholarship funds that helped Kasara pay for the remainder of the courses she needed to graduate.

“I was worried, financially, because I do not have a lot of support, especially when it comes to my son. Mentally, it was a lot of stress to deal with,” she said. “As women, it’s important to have a supportive village to help you. Dr. Curry was that support for me, and what they did for me, I would have never expected.”

Kasara was introduced to many of the College’s other student support services through her experience with the Women’s Center. She would receive regular emails with links and readings for various resources that led to her getting help with books and groceries through the CARES Act and borrowing a laptop through the College’s Student Device Loaner Program. But Kasara says she believes many students don’t take advantage of what the College has to offer, and it’s unfortunate.

“As a mom without the resources and support others have access to, I think the College has excellent resources, and I am so happy I found them,” Kasara said.

Kasara credits the Women’s Center and Dr. Curry for helping her get to graduation and hopes other students will take the time to utilize the resources available to them.

Juggling school and personal life in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic was a tough hit for many. Unprecedented. It flipped the lives of many students upside down with no notice, including Tiasia Howard, a Criminal Justice major at the College.

She had just begun her studies when, in March 2020, the College’s transition to online learning meant Tiasia needed to manage her personal and academic responsibilities while taking classes at home.

"I guess it's my love for learning and furthering my education to provide the best future I can for my kids that keeps me going and earning A’s," Tiasia said. “It was more difficult for my son, because he’s so active.”

When classes first transitioned online, Tiasia knew she needed to make some changes for herself in order to get her work done and still have time for her family. At times, she found herself getting up at 4 a.m. to complete school work before her children woke up for the day. However, she began reaching out to faculty to get ahead of her work, and made a plan early on. Since her classes and assignments were all online and accessible at any time, scheduling time at the beginning of the week allowed her to complete assignments. By midweek, she was able to focus on the required class discussions.

Eventually, Tiasia and her family adjusted to being home together full time. To help her son, who was five years old and starting kindergarten virtually in fall 2020, Tiasia would sit next to him so they could both do their work on their computers together.

Tiasia said there’s no doubt that a difference exists between in-person and online learning. While her course load hasn’t changed much, participation, she said, feels different, and more independent.

"Online learning isn't hard. You just have to motivate yourself and want to do [well] in order to obtain success,” she said.

Tiasia said ultimately, she likes online learning because she can get her work done on her own time and move on to the other things she has going on. She added that not having to travel to school and instead being able to wake up and just get on the computer has made the transition even easier and that much better.

Though it hasn’t all been smooth sailing, Tiasia said she’s proud of how much she’s accomplished over the past year. “I don’t even know how I am doing it.”

Tiasia maintains a 3.5 GPA and is on the path to graduate in May 2021. She plans to return to the College for additional courses before pursuing her career as a detective.

In January 2021, Community College of Philadelphia’s Nursing program was recognized with the Innovations in Social Mobility: Workforce Development award powered by the Social Innovations Journal for its work to provide health care in the community. Laureen Tavolaro-Ryley, associate professor of Nursing and the Independence Foundation chair in Community Nursing at the College, accepted the award.

Days after COVID-19 shut down Philadelphia in March 2020, many higher education nursing programs and medical institutions sent students home and transitioned to virtual learning, but Tavolaro-Ryley went another route. She began advocating to get funding for a summer internship for students that would provide care to the homeless, food insecure and other susceptible groups making up some of the most vulnerable communities in Philadelphia.

“We knew how to engage in the community and a had a trusting funder [in the Independence Foundation],” Tavolaro-Ryley said. “It’s all about relationships and credibility in the community. Our students are from the community and they go back into those communities to work. They are good ambassadors.”

Tavolaro-Ryley was able to secure funding and supplies, and the Independence Foundation funded 12 nursing interns, including past and current CCP students. They moved to the front lines during a critical time of need for the city. Through the program, the interns worked to educate, screen and test more than 5,000 people in Philadelphia for COVID-19. The group also partnered with Philly FIGHT, Project Home, Broad Street Ministry and the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, and additional funding allows this work to continue.

Though they were making a difference each day, Tavolaro-Ryley said she and the interns did not realize the extent of their impact until they looked back on the year. “I was honored the internship was recognized and was among the [award] winners considering how difficult the summer was for everyone,” said Tavolaro-Ryley. “It was a labor of love.”

While unfortunately Nursing students were not able to complete their clinicals in-person due to COVID-19 (instead they were completed virtually), Tavolaro-Ryley feels the internship provided students an important opportunity to serve the needs of their own neighborhoods. Later, when in-person learning resumes, students will be able to apply the learned skills to clinical experiences.

She also believes the namesake of the internship, Dr. Andrea Mengel, would be proud of the interns’ work.

“Dr. Mengel would have loved it! She loved helping vulnerable populations. I think she would have been very happy,” Tavolaro-Ryley said

Hello, everyone. We just got back from spring break and we are at mid-semester. I really enjoyed the time off and was excited to be taking my first mid-term test! Yay! I met with my success coach just before break and I really liked how structured she was with our meeting. I was able to address the most important topics that I needed to discuss. It is so nice having someone there who is resourceful and knows where to direct you to obtain extra support. I also joined a conference this month about stress management. That was very beneficial to me. I was able to remember some tools that I have used in the past and learn about apps to help with meditation.

I was so grateful that the Catto Scholarship will be covering all my book expenses as well! This allows me to get more money back from the school to help with my living expenses. The monthly stipend has already been helpful with my bills and for food. I LOVE that the Catto Scholarship helps support me so that I can spend more time focusing on my studies instead of worrying about how much is in my bank account! I really want to again thank Mayor Jim Kenney and Community College of Philadelphia for this amazing scholarship. I can only imagine how hard they have worked for us to be able to have this opportunity. I hope that everyone knows how much this scholarship is helping us students.

Now that I have finished half a semester, I was thinking that I only have a little less than two months left until the summer begins. After that I should only a year and a half left! I know that I can do it and I know that the Catto team is always there to encourage me during the times I need it.

Thank you everyone for reading! Enjoy the rest of the semester!