On November 4, 2017 two of our young men at Geary House, Gentry Reed and Desmond McElory, were granted the opportunity to be a part of the Men’s Brunch Society’s Annual Bruch held at the Waterfront Restaurant in Oakland’s Jack London Square.
The Men’s Brunch Society, a group dedicated to mentoring, job placements, and assisting with educational opportunities, was started in 2009 with Randy Rowden, Theo Foreman and several gentlemen who aspire to prepare young men for the world of education and employment with mentoring being at the forefront.
The group also holds an annual job fair in Oakland, CA, which includes a number of vendors from the local area plus programs for apprenticeship opportunities in electrical, plumbing, carpentry and cement masonry. Our young men from Geary House had the opportunity to be interviewed after the event.
We would like to thank KBLX “The Quiet Storm” radio station host Armand Carr for hosting the event. Thank you to Charleston Pierce for speaking and Theo Foreman for introducing the audience to the Larkin Street mission to create a continuum of services that inspire youth to move beyond the streets.
We would also like to extend our gratitude to Drexel University’s Dr. Miles Goodloe, the event’s keynote speaker. Dr. Goodloe, who had his bouts of homelessness in the past, inspired the young men to keep moving forward and never give up.
Finally, thank you to Oxford Way Tailor Shop, owned and operated by Randy Rowden, for providing our young men with fantastic suits.
It was an inspirational night, with our young men having an amazing time and learning that there are opportunities out there, even through the state of homelessness. Gentry and Desmond left the event inspired and full of hope for their future. Click on any photo to enlarge and view the gallery!
