Learning the Hard Way
Life Lessons Inspire Celebrate New Britain! Award Recipient
(May 30, 2007) Life was never easy for James Jones and his family. Growing up one of five children in a single-parent household in New Britain in the 1980s, James has vivid recollections of living day-to-day in neighborhoods rife with poverty and conflict.
“I remember my mom’s struggles, being on state assistance, doing whatever she had to do to do right by us,” says Jones. “I would see and hear all the drama going on around us in the neighborhood. “It made me realize that every kid in this community needs to have a connection with someone, someone who can just help keep them on track.”
Jones, 31, learned the lessons of his early life well, and has translated them into a passion for helping others, particularly children. This passion has earned him the distinction of being named recipient of the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain’s 2007 Celebrate New Britain! community service award.
Jones will be honored this Thursday, May 31, at the New Britain Chamber of Commerce’s Ninth Annual Volunteerism Luncheon at Zabbara’s Restaurant.
“James is committed to changing lives and improving community conditions in New Britain,” says Mike Gorzoch, president of the United Way of New Britain and Berlin, who nominated Jones. “James is determined to help our community in any way he can.”
Jones, the dean of students at Slade Middle School, appreciates the impact that role models can have on a child’s life. While living on Arch Street as an 8th grader at Slade in the late 1980s, Jones’ entire family was displaced by fire. While continuing to go to school in the midst of family upheaval, he and his siblings, including brother Tebucky, were the beneficiaries of emotional support provided by Gerri Brown-Springer, then a guidance counselor at the school.
“One day Ms. Springer came up to me and said, ‘James, you are acting like nothing has happened and you need to let it out,’” he says. “She took us shopping, she bought us sneakers, she took us to dinner; she basically forced us to go with her. She was there for us, and I made a connection with her. She, along with Barbara Parsons of HRA, provided the balance in my life. They were the strong influences for me.”
Springer, who would go on to become principal at Slade and is now retired, treasures her on-going relationship with Jones and is proud of whatever influence she might have had. “James is such a warm, compassionate person; I love him today as a son. We need many, many more people like James in our community. He has a commitment, and it is genuine.”
As dean of students, Jones serves as a liaison between students and teachers, offering guidance and encouragement, resolving conflict, keeping children on the straight and narrow. But while the work Jones does in his day job is, in and of itself, worthy of high praise, it is his additional volunteer work that has earned him this year’s award.
Each year, Jones chooses to mentor – on his own time – about eight of his Slade students. He takes these children under his wing and tries to provide guidance and life experiences they might not otherwise receive.
“We’ll go miniature golfing, I might take them to a Patriots practice in the summer; anything to get them out of the neighborhood and off the streets,” says Jones. “I make it a point to drive through the better neighborhoods and have them make the connection that anything in life is possible.”
James was instrumental in procuring a “well-managed classroom” grant for Slade from the United Way and now serves as a local United Way board member. He has also worked with HRA (the Human Resources Agency of New Britain) to raise awareness of and secure United Way funding for free-of-charge tax preparation assistance to low-income families. The program saved New Britain families some $600,000 last year alone through the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Jones also volunteers as a basketball coach with the Boys & Girls Club of New Britain; helps to administer a free dental clinic operated by Dr. Bruce Fletcher of New Britain; is a board member of the YMCA of New Britain-Berlin; and works with the Opportunities Industrialization Center.
Jones lives in New Britain with his wife, Sarah Wild-Jones, and son James, Jr., 2. He and Sarah also care for James’ niece and nephew, Dahnique, 10, and Ahriyan, 8.
As award recipient, James earns the right to designate a $2,500 Community Foundation grant to the community program or agency of his choosing. The grant award will be announced at this week’s luncheon.
The Celebrate New Britain! award is part of the Foundation’s four-town Celebrate Our Communities! community service awards program in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. The awards honor a single outstanding volunteer in each community each year. The Foundation has designated $10,000 in total grants to support the program.
Established in 1941, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain connects donors who care with causes that matter in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. For more information on the Foundation, please call (860) 229-6018 or visit www.cfgnb.org.
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