Community Activist Jerry Young Honored at Millville MLK Street Renaming
Photo courtesy of Jerry Young Facebook.
By Clyde Hughes | AC JosepH Media
MILLVILLE — During the Martin Luther King Jr. street renaming Monday at City Park, the youth nonprofit Positive Vibes honored respected community activist and youth nonprofit leader Jerry Young with the Trailblazer Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Young, who has trained and modeled local youth boxers in the area for years with his partner Terry Gould, started Tri City HOPE (Helping Other People Everyday) in 2010 as a nonprofit to reach even more kids they couldn’t reach with boxing. He also hosts one of the largest and most well-attended Juneteenth celebrations annually in Bridgeton.
READ DANIEL WINNER’S STORY ON MLK STREET RENAMING IN MILLVILLE
“It was cold out, but it was a worthwhile occasion,” Young said on Facebook about the event. “I thank JT Burks, Rasha Woods and the rest of the Positive Vibes Community Group board of directors for deeming me worthy of receiving their Trailblazer Award for a lifetime of service to Cumberland County.
“I am honored and humbled that my work in the community is noticed by an organization that knows the ups and downs of servant leader work. I don’t do what I do for accolades, but it’s nice to know that others that do the same type of work deem your work worthwhile of their appreciation.”
Young, who has continued to dedicate his time to mentoring, encouraging and uplifting youth in the community, thanked his family members and those from St. Phillip’s Missionary Baptist Church to overcoming the chilly temperatures to see the award ceremony.
“Due to an MLK Day of Service event at the church, most couldn’t stay the whole time, but they did come,” Young said. “Ashley Nicole, I apologize for not being able to make it back to church, but please know that I appreciate you and what you do.
“It’s even more gratifying that I received this award on MLK, Jr.’s actual 95th birthday, and on the day that the former City Park Drive in Millville was rechristened ‘Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.’ Thank you, Cadija Kareema, for sticking around until it was time for me to receive my award.”
Young added, “Judge Demetrica Todd-Ruiz, thank you for taking time out to acknowledge me and staying until the day’s activities were over. Angela Thomas, simply put, you’re an awesome human being whom I appreciate so much. Because I already know your response, to God be the glory, don’t worry about responding. To my wife, Wanda, thank you for supporting me during my soon-to-be 36 years of being a servant leader in Cumberland County.”
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