On September 28, we welcomed nearly 100 of Maryland New Directions’ closest supporters and friends to Mt. Washington Tavern for our third annual MVP Pep Rally.
This event celebrates the achievements of our hard-working team – including our staff, board, volunteers, and especially our clients – by honoring a few individuals who have shown exceptional dedication and determination to succeed over the past year. After holding our event virtually in 2020, we were thrilled to be back together in person this year – and wow, did we have a lot to celebrate!
Of the hundreds of clients MND worked with this year, we selected two individuals who truly exemplify how with motivation and hard work our programs can lead to life-changing career opportunities.
Patrice Wilson came to Maryland New Directions as an unemployed single mother who refused to quit. Even when local support services failed her, Patrice remained determined to succeed and to set a positive example for her eight-year-old daughter. She began MND’s Maritime, Transportation, Distribution and Logistics (MTDL) program in February 2021 and did not miss a single training session on her way to earning her forklift certification, even while holding down a part-time job and caring for her daughter. Today, she has a full-time job with Sysco, and has earned a promotion and a raise in her first four months with the company! She now earns more in two weeks than she used to earn in an entire month.
“I have always been assertive when it comes to growth in my life. But finding the right resources and opportunities isn’t always easy,” said Patrice. “My focus now is to continue to work hard, advance in my company, and be a high achiever so that my daughter and others can aspire to make it, too. I feel like I have achieved a very big goal, set a great example, and have found a home for my long-term career.”
When Abraham Wilkes found MND, he was determined to rewrite the story of his life. After spending 35 years in prison, he was released in January 2021 and given just $50. He pursued every available resource he could find to help with his reentry into society but was let down at every turn. But then a family friend who he calls his “guardian angel” told Abraham about MND. From his first meeting with job coach Rick Vallence, Abraham found his path forward. Without a computer of his own, he took advantage of MND’s computer lab to complete his online MTDL training sessions, and today he is gainfully employed by Blind Industries and Services of Maryland.
“At a time when I was totally frustrated, disconnected, and rejected by society, Maryland New Directions was the only one to embrace me,” Abraham says. “This program gave me skills to look forward to, a connection with people to share opinions and ideas with, and acceptance that I needed more than I realized.”
In addition to Patrice and Abraham, we also honored two of our most deserving volunteers who have gone above and beyond to support MND’s mission and be powerful forces for change in our clients’ lives. Ken Buck is a veteran of the local trucking and logistics industry, who volunteers as a member of MND’s marketing and development committee. He also generously guides our staff on industry trends, has made numerous valuable introductions to new partners, and has worked with our clients in mock interviews and participated in our Connections Friday programs. Darrell Hines is an active member of our outreach huddle, who donates his time, talent, and enthusiasm to help us get the word out about our organization and does a lot of one-on-one work with our clients as well. MND couldn’t do any of our work without our wonderful volunteers, and Ken and Darrell are two of our most passionate supporters.
We were also honored to welcome legendary attorney, author, advocate, and sports agent Ron Shapiro to our celebration. While he wasn’t able to join us in person, Mr. Shapiro spoke virtually with our Outreach and Operations Director Barbara Reed-DiGia and shared insights from his own unexpected career journey from cleaning toilets at Fenway Park while a law student, to civil rights attorney, to becoming the sports agent representing more Hall-of-Fame clients than any other. He emphasized that throughout his career a secret to his success has been building meaningful relationships that have opened doors to new opportunities.
“Today, things may look like great challenges. But if you are connected to Maryland New Directions, you are connected with an organization that is all about helping you shape those challenges into opportunities,” he said. “Take on that challenge of making your livings, but think about how you can give as well, because that will bring you the ultimate satisfaction.”
Thank you to everyone who helped to make our third annual MVP Pep Rally a success! We look forward to another year of helping people on their journeys to more fulfilling employment, higher pay, and better lives!
