Student Highlights

Student Highlight MYA PIERRE

Mya Pierre, a sophomore at Phoenix Christian, had a unique opportunity this summer to partner with Neighborhood Ministry. She secured a highly coveted summer internship position. Her internship focused on increasing voter participation among underserved populations. She made “cold calls” encouraging and educating individuals on the voting process and emphasizing the importance of exercising our civic duties. At times it was a little discouraging; many she talked to seemed apathetic and some were too busy to care. Mya reflected that her unique perspective stems from her mom and dad’s involvement in urban ministry. Her father, Vermon, is the Lead Pastor at Roosevelt Community Church and authored Gospel Shaped Living. Dennae, Mya’s mom and PC Alumnus ‘02, is the Executive Director for a network of churches in Arizona called the Surge Network and one of the co-directors for City to City North America. Dennae recently published her first book, Invitation, Repentance and Laments, and Healing Journeys. “My parents fight for social justice, and I want to do that too.” Mya hopes to work hard for change, believing that by doing nothing, you are not making a difference.

Senior Capstone Project AINSLEY EBERT

I guess you could say that I have been researching this topic for the past 10 years. Ever since I was little, my family has been a part of Heart for the City. Heart for the City is a non-profit organization that works with kids in the inner city and provides them with all the tools and guidance they need to go to college and create a future for themselves. They help youth break the cycle of poverty in their families by graduating from high school, pursuing a college education or trade, and then going back to their community to impact the younger generation. Throughout this opportunity, I have learned that the best way to impact a child’s life for the better is through education and sports.

Ainsley will graduate with Honors as the Valedictorian of her class. She received the Presidential Scholarship at Arizona Christian University, where she plans to attend this fall.

Excerpt from Ainsley’s Capstone Research Paper:

One obstacle put in the way of at-risk kids succeeding is a loss of hope. In particular, innercity youth are told that because of the zip code they live in, they are labeled as “hood kids” which is perceived to the public to be bad and untrustworthy. They are robbed of opportunity because of their skin color. When a kid is told repeatedly that they will never be anything, that they will never be more than a kid from the hood, they start believing it. Many people in society today look at the inner cities as disgusting and full of hopeless people. We like to assume that God is only present in the beauty of things. We picture Him standing on a beautiful mountain top, absent from the city. But if you really want to see God, go help His starving kids in the city. Give them back a piece of hope and see how God can turn their whole life around.