Community Prep Celebrates 15 Years on Somerset Street and Honors 5 Alumni Trustees

Well over 100 people attended Community Preparatory School's Celebration on April 9, 2007 to honor its five alumni trustees and celebrate 15 years in the school's home on Somerset Street. The five honorees, Mark Carty '97, Julian Dash '92, Stephanie Ogidan Preston '93, Chithy Saing '89, and Ronnie Young '95, were presented the Alumni Distinction Award by a current Community Prep student.  Each of these Community Prep graduates is making a difference in the community through their jobs, board memberships and volunteer work.

Participants included Senator Juan Pichardo, who emceed the event, and Representative Joseph Almeida, Senator Harold Metts, and Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts, who all shared words of praise for the commitment of the alumni to their community and school.  The honorees spoke about how Community Prep gave them the skills they needed to succeed, the confidence to work toward their goals, and the inspiration to serve their community.

Among the more than 100 guests at the event were neighborhood residents, partners from local non-profits, and Community Prep students, parents and alumni.  The 5th grade performed a Cha-cha dance and 7th grader Valdair Lopes read his "I Believe" essay about how he is working towards his dreams.

Alumni Distinction Awardees 2007:

Mark Carty is a 1997 graduate of Community Prep.  He first enrolled in Community Prep’s 5th grade, but he already knew the school very well because he had been coming here with his Dad, who was the school’s sign language interpreter, since he was a little boy.  After Community Prep, Mark went to LaSalle Academy and then on to Temple University.  Mark is now in his second year teaching Social Studies at LaSalle Academy.  Mark has always been involved in service and social change projects.  This year, he spent his spring break taking a group of LaSalle students to New Orleans to work on Hurricane Katrina rebuilding projects.  Mark says that his commitment to service is due in a large part to Community Prep’s influence.  Mark is now in his second year on Community Prep’s Board of Trustees and is very active on the Alumni Relations Committee.  For his service to the school and for his work with the next generation who will serve their community, we award Mark Carty the Alumni Distinction Award.

Julian Dash grew up in this neighborhood.  He graduated from Community Prep in 1992 and then went to Hope Essential High School and Morgan State University.  He earned an MBA from Babson College in 2003.  Julian has big dreams for Providence.  He works as Director of Real Estate at PUENTE, a community development organization in Olneyville.  Julian is overseeing a project to convert the 60 Valley Street Mill into affordable space for housing, artists and businesses.  He is also planning to build affordable solar-powered houses in South Providence.  Julian is the president of the Rhode Island Black Political Action Committee, Diversity Chair of the Rhode Island Young Democrats, and was named a “Local Hero” by the Providence Phoenix for his commitment to affordable housing.  For Julian’s work to improve his neighbors’ housing and strengthen their political voice, we award Julian Dash the Alumni Distinction Award.

Stephanie Ogidan Preston tells people that Community Prep was the thing that enabled her to be successful where other kids in her neighborhood ended up in jail or dead-end jobs.  She graduated from CP in 1993 and went to Moses Brown.  She graduated from Duke University with a B.S. in Economics, a B.A. in Spanish, and a certificate in Markets and Management.  Stephanie has traveled all over the world and was the youngest Branch Manager in Bank Rhode Island’s history.  Stephanie is married and has a daughter, and is earning an M.B.A. at M.I.T’s Sloan School of Management.  She owns several investment properties in South Providence and serves on 11 Boards!  She chairs Community Prep’s Admissions Committee and already plans to send her daughter to CP, even though she is still in pre-school.  For her tireless service to her community, school, and family, we award Stephanie Ogidan Preston the Alumni Distinction Award.

My name is Natasha Saing.  I am an 8th grader at Community Prep and my mom Chithy Saing, is being honored tonight.  She graduated from Community Prep in 1989 and from Mount Pleasant High School in 1993.  She has been working hard as long as I can remember, taking classes at CCRI and working at her job.  Now she works at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island as a Bookkeeper Specialist.  My brother Antonio also goes to Community Prep, and we are proud of our mom for how active she is in the school.  She helps out with all the alumni events, helps raise money for the school and volunteered at the fundraising auction.  Next school year, she will be the chair of the Board’s Alumni Relations Committee.  For her work to help Community Prep (and for being such a great mom), I am pleased to present Chithy Saing the Alumni Distinction Award.

Ronnie Young has been involved with the neighborhood and Community Prep for a long time.  He graduated from Community Prep in 1995 and went to Classical High School.  He stayed close to home and earned a B.S. from Roger Williams University.  He first joined Community Prep’s Board of Trustees while he was still in college, took a break while he finished school and just rejoined in 2006.  Ronnie is the only Community Prep alum to ever serve on the Providence School Board.  He works at Greater Elmwood Neighborhood Services as the Director of Community Building, where he spends every day bringing people in the neighborhood together to improve their homes and lives.  Ronnie is also the treasurer of the Rhode Island Black Political Action Committee and is Vice President of the Black Craftsmen of Rhode Island. He was just accepted to Roger Williams University’s Masters of Public Administration Program.  For his commitment to Community Prep and his City, we award Ronnie Young the Alumni Distinction Award.