One of the greatest things about the work that we do at Job Point is the relationships we have the opportunity to build with our students. Often, it is the reason why they feel empowered to keep pushing forward, why they send their friends our way and why they often return to Job Point when they stumble and need help getting back up again.
These people and the relationships we build mean everything to our team. We celebrate with them through triumphs and mourn deeply through the losses.
Earlier this year, we experienced one of the hardest things about the work we do, we lost someone.
His name was Sedrick L. Lewis.
Sedrick was honored in March as a Job Point 2023 Award of Excellence Recipient.
You might recognize him. He was one of our Award of Excellence Winners at our Awards Banquet in March. He graduated from YouthBuild and later returned to earn his certificate in Highway Maintenance and Repair. After graduation, he attained a job he loved with Emery Sapp and Sons, Inc. and after more than a year of great work, Sedrick was about to get promoted. Things were looking bright. Dreams were big. Hopes were high.
And in a moment, they were snuffed out.
The lives of his family have been changed forever. But in the wake of grief, his mother, Jennifer Lewis, reached out to Job Point with a desire to create something positive.
And so, the Sedrick L. Lewis Memorial Fund was established to help provide funding for mental health services for young people served at Job Point, ages 16-24.
Sedrick was always quick to offer advice and support his friends and through this fund, that spirit of helping others find hope, even on their darkest days, lives on.
It may not be mental health month, but we know that as we go into the holiday season, times can be hard for our young people; and they can struggle with their mental health.
As we mourn the loss of this kind-hearted young man, we invite you to join us in celebrating the life that he lived, the students he helped and the many people that we will help together through this fund.
Consider making a gift in Sedrick’s honor this holiday season to help ensure our young people have access to the support they need to build resilience and improve their mental health.
