Edgewood Man Accepts Dignity and Respect Honor

The Dignity and Respect Champion is normally an individual. However, this month’s recipient is not just an individual, but a whole organization – the KEYS Service Corps.

“A lot of our members are college students who come from outside of the area to give back and dedicate a year to youth they aren’t familiar with and who have many different backgrounds and experiences,” said Aaron Gray, assistant director of the KEYS Service Corps, who is accepting the award on the organization’s behalf. 

The KEYS (Knowledge to Empower Youth to Success) Service Corps is an education-based AmeriCorps program that provides at-risk youth safe places with structured activities, assisting with homework and class work, implementing community service/service-learning projects, and involving community volunteers in service.

Gray and the KEYS Service Corps were nominated by Jamie Scarano and have been chosen as the April Dignity and Respect Champion their work in implementing and supporting tutoring programs, community service, and learning opportunities and operations for at-risk youth.

“This group of young individuals is a representation of how coming together for one cause can make an impact on a community,” Scarano says.

Gray moved to Pittsburgh to join AmeriCorps and currently resides in Edgewood. After 15 years of service, he enjoys working with the members and seeing everything they can accomplish.

“It takes a lot of leadership and humility for the members to tell the youth ‘I’m here to help you do this for yourself and your future’.”

Gray was excited to accept the award on behalf of KEYS Service Corps, and he strongly feels that treating others with dignity and respect would change a community and surrounding areas.

“I’m flattered, impressed, and proud of the AmeriCorps members especially. We treat people with dignity and respect because that is how we want people to treat us. In general, our community issues that we face with the program, the city, and even the county would be downsized and hopefully eliminated if everyone practiced dignity and respect,” he said.

The Dignity & Respect Campaign is an awareness campaign designed to join individuals, community leaders, community organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and corporations under the common notion that everyone deserves dignity and respect.

Full Disclosure: Local Editor Stephanie Rex previously worked with the public relations firm associated with the Dignity and Respect Campaign.