Nina Peckman Staff Attorney | Advocates for Children of New Jersey
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New Jersey Review | May 20, 2024

Relationships shape youth development in challenging environments

Anfry's journey highlights the importance of relationships in youth development. His story, part of the Y.E.S. (Youth Expert Stakeholders) video series, underscores how caring adult role models and faith-based programs can be crucial for a child's social-emotional character development.

Anfry arrived in America from the Dominican Republic at a young age, facing challenges adapting to a new environment. He described his experience: “It wasn't expected for me to move out of a different country and come into a new environment where I would have to obviously adapt to a different form of government structure and language barrier."

The bilingual courses offered at Anfry’s middle school provided him with the foundation he needed. "The school that I went to provided the opportunity of bilingual courses," Anfry explained, which helped him transition into taking classes with fluent English speakers by eighth grade.

Supportive teachers played a significant role in Anfry's life. He spoke fondly of Mr. Reese: "Mr Reese was real lenient with me through the process... He was not just doing just a job for money but also doing it out of care and respect."

Despite academic support, Anfry struggled initially but found inspiration from his peers. Reflecting on this period, he said: "Freshman year started off rocky... My girlfriend was far more academically disciplined than me... it actually inspired me to want to do better for myself."

As he matured, Anfry leaned on his faith and UrbanPromise Trenton for stability during tough times. "Moving on to college... encountering my faith in college really empowered me," he noted.

UrbanPromise Trenton played an instrumental role in Anfry's growth as well. The organization's focus on leadership and financial literacy resonated with him: "UrbanPromise Trenton focused on helping us grow and mature as leaders... teaching us basic things of financial literacy, and spirituality as well."

A key figure at UrbanPromise Trenton was Ms. Elise, who influenced Anfry positively: "Her name is Ms. Elise... she's developing that friendship, personal relationship with the youth." Her guidance helped him become a youth leader within the organization.

Anfry’s story emphasizes that supportive relationships are vital for personal development in youth.

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