Tecumseh Shackelford, Altadena Town Councilman and President of Mentoring and Partnership for Youth Development (MPYD) at John Muir High School, has been selected to receive the Archdiocesan Youth Employment Exemplary Outstanding Mentor Award from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.The “Outstanding Mentor Award” is awarded to worksite supervisors who go beyond what is expected and take a personal interest to become involved in a young person’s life. Tecumseh Shackelford, “Shack” as he is fondly called, is a pillar in the Altadena/Pasadena communities. His work with young men has earned him several awards, most notably “Altadena Citizen of the Year” and even though he’s retired, you can find him most days working with the students at John Muir High School. Several years ago, he co-founded MPYD which today has become a signature program for mentorship in the city of Pasadena.
As if his work with MPYD was not enough, over four years ago, Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich asks the Archdiocesan Youth Employment Services (AYE) to help MPYD provide summer jobs for the youth in Altadena. To date, the program has provided over 500 jobs to the youth in Altadena. As a result many of the youth workers have gone on to actually get regular and part-time jobs in the work force. The success of the program has been because of a direct correlation of Shack’s commitment to the youth.
“A special part of this is a work readiness class that the Archdiocesan program provides for the youth and that helps them build skills to get and keep more suitable jobs,” Shack remarked. “I enjoy helping the youth find their true passion and become successful,” he added.
MPYD coordinates a lunch time Speakers’ Series at John Muir High School where professional men and women from the community give the young men advice on obtaining the tools to become successful. They (MPYD) also host an annual camping trip.
Also receiving the same award as Shackelford are Climmie Jones, Foshay Learning Centers and Elizabeth Stanford, Bank of America.
The 17th Annual Alumni and Employer Recognition Awards Dinner will be held on Thurs., Sept. 29 at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel, located at 251 South Olive Street, Los Angeles. For ticket information, contact Mona Miller or Isabel Estrada at (213) 736-5654.
The 17th Annual Alumni and Employer Recognition Awards Dinner will be held on Thurs., Sept. 29 at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel, located at 251 South Olive Street, Los Angeles. For ticket information, contact Mona Miller or Isabel Estrada at (213) 736-5654.
