"What I like about our community is the camaraderie we share, and when we all come together to make it better."
We’re thrilled to introduce the newest member of DSAL’s Board of Directors, Jeanell Ingram. Jeanell is deeply involved in the Ashland community that she’s called home for 25 years. Jeanell has a military background, and when she completed her service, she joined the corporate world and also became deeply engaged in local activities. Currently, she is the president of the Ashland Community Association (ACA) and a founding member of My Eden Voice, an organization born in 2018 to build community power and unite grassroots organizations in the Eden Area.
“I joined DSAL’s board, because I want to make a difference in my community. I want to make it better, not just for my family, but my neighbors as well.”
Her connection to DSAL reaches back to the days when DSAL’s cofounder, Hilary Bass, was the Resident Services Coordinator at Eden House Apartments where Jeanell and her family lived.
“Hilary and I were constantly helping each other and doing programs together, and when ACA was created, I joined it right away. As a matter of fact, I worked in the community for so long that when they built the REACH youth center, I was one of the people who signed a pillar inside the building.”
More recently, Jeanell spearheaded ACA’s first National Night Out event. She said, “it turned out beautiful. I'm very proud of myself and my entire board. We did that.”
Jeanell became interested in joining DSAL after conversations with Patrick Eiser, DSAL’s Executive Director, who was recruiting her for the position. She was particularly interested in the activities DSAL provides for children and young people.
“Oftentimes the kids fall through the cracks. We focus on the parents and the grownups, but we forget about the children, especially the teens between 15 and 20. There aren’t enough programs for them, and they get left behind. DSAL cultivates programs for every demographic, every age group, and every ethnic group, and they haven’t forgotten about the kids.”
We asked Jeanell what she hopes to accomplish on DSAL’s board of directors, and she said she hopes to add value by serving as a liaison to connect DSAL to community members and the organizations that represent the diverse community in Ashland and the surrounding neighborhoods. She said, “the biggest thing you have to do is simply get the people out to participate.”
We also asked Jeanelle about her long-term vision for the community. She said,
“I just want a better, cleaner community for everyone who lives here, and a more inclusive community where everybody feels safe and welcome – where everybody has the same opportunities.”
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Muévete Participant Antonio Pérez is DSAL's Athlete of the Month
Antonio has always been active at our community events and attends all of our community performances. We have seen him develop and grow his leadership skills in our class over the past year-and-a-half that he has been staying fit with us. He is very respectful and a good friend with all his peers in the classroom.
“I am more social now because the program has opened my mind to new goals. I have also gotten my family involved in this community. I enjoy that I have the opportunity to learn how to teach and lead a group. It has given me more confidence in myself and built my leadership skills.
“I am passionate about dancing and love the motivation that the instructor gives us in the program. Participating has also helped me learn how to manage and deal with stress.
“It is important that programs like this keep youth in our community active and away from violence and bad habits. It gives them the opportunity to develop new healthy habits in their lives and they see the positive results in the long run.”
Passionate about fitness and positive change? Join our team of Fitness Coaches for young justice-involved individuals at the Juvenile Justice Center and change your community for the better!
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