FleetBoston Funders Lunch

May 1, 2003 - FleetBoston Financial hosted a funders luncheon on behalf of YouthBuild Boston. The purpose of this get-together was to allow representatives of YBB to tell their stories to potential funding partners. Attending from YBB were Ken Smith and a few staff and board members. Also attending were second-year student Damika Neal, current student Samel Matos and Ceasar Rodriguez, a parent of After School Program participants.

Below is a copy of a speech Damika made:

Hello and Good Afternoon, Everyone.

My name is Damika Neal and I am a second-year student at YBB. When I first came to YouthBuild Boston I was one of those youths that thought the streets were and had everything. That was all I knew. I was into all kinds of trouble, in and out of jail, always fighting. A friend came to me and told me about the program. I signed up for many programs at the time but YouthBuild was the only one that didn't turn its back on me. Even after they heard about all of my issues, they still saw something in me that no one else did — not even me. They saw the potential to be a better person and a better mother.

They stayed with me until they got the good to come out. Today I am no longer that person that people tell their children to stay away from and not to end up like. I am that person they come to now and say, "Talk to them and let them know that they can do it too." Everything I am today, I owe it all to the staff, or rather the YouthBuild Boston family.

I would like to once again say thank you for everything. I pray you all will be around for a very long time because there are still a lot of youth out there who are like I was. YouthBuild Boston will let them know they have the potential to be leaders and positive role models in their community.