By Priscilla Rodriguez
“What’s Your Next Stop? Success!” This was the theme that April Lee Hernandez (Freedom Writers) and Ivan Sanchez presented at Omega Phi Beta Sorority’s event on Thursday, April 17.
Both from the Bronx, the two have been touring and promoting their “What’s Your Next Stop?” campaign to motivate young teens living in poverty stricken areas.
The event was part of a week-long series of events presented by Omega Phi Beta known as “Week of Illumination.” Every organization that is part of the African-Latino Fraternal Sororal Alliance holds a week of educational events including social events to celebrate their organization, philanthropies and achievements in order to educate others.
“Our week is called ‘Week of Illumination,’ illuminating others on educational, business, cultural and social issues,” said Marcella Duque, a member of Omega Phi Beta.
The driving force behind the “What’s Your Next Stop?” campaign is the fact that situations can always change and there is hope. Whether you’re living in poverty or surrounded by such negative things as drugs, making it out, going to college and becoming a success is possible.
“I was surrounded by negativity,” Ivan Sanchez said. “My toughest obstacle was my environment.” Sanchez, who dropped out of school at 15, says he is proof that anyone can go above and beyond that idea that they are meant to be a failure.
“My organization [Omega Phi Beta] felt it was important to educate others on the struggles of Latinos and other minorities in ‘ghetto’ communities,” said Duque. “We wanted to show how people such as Ivan Sanchez and April Lee Hernandez are motivating these communities through children, teens and young adults and are trying to make a difference.”
Sanchez and Hernandez wanted to demonstrate to college students what they are doing to try and make a difference in these children’s lives and what college students can do to make a difference. Duque says that it is important for college students to reach out and show these teens that there are a substantial amount of options available to them.
Ivan Sanchez and April Lee Hernandez’s next project is to bring “What’s Your Next to Stop?” to television while continuing to educate college students on this campaign and motivating inner-city children to locate their road to success.