As part of our Agency’s commitment to residents of all ages, the MDHA Resident Services Department launched a new development program for pre-teen and teenage boys living in MDHA housing. Abraham’s Window taught an inaugural cohort of 11 young men the value of merit, responsibility and community service. The youth performed community service, received educational and mentoring support and adhered to a promise of personal, family and community responsibility.
Their lessons ended with a graduation ceremony in October, where each young man was escorted by an important woman in his life and was honored for his dedication to the program with a certificate and medal.
The gentlemen also nominated a President to represent the cohort. They chose their peer, Michael, a resident of Historic Preston Taylor Apartments.
The ceremony also included a moving moment when all the adult men in the audience formed a circle around the Abraham’s Window graduates and pledged their commitment to helping the boys continue their journeys of personal growth.
“There is an African Proverb that reads, ‘A child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth,’ so the MDHA Resident Services Department is bringing warmth to our youth through innovative programming,” said Michael Green, MDHA Resident Services Manager and Abraham’s Window founder.
“Truly, it is an honor to work with our partners to facilitate this new all-male youth program. Abraham’s Window is a place where boys can be boys as they capture the vision of manhood.”
This program was also supported by the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, Nashville Public Health Department and Meharry Medical College School of Global Health. MDHA appreciates each organization and individual who stepped up to mentor and invest in the lives of young MDHA residents.
