The Stewards Staff

The River City recently received another ray of light to grace its beautiful skyline. In mid 2007, Metro Louisville welcomed a new nonprofit organization focused on the interpersonal development of youth and young adults through implementing intimate mentoring programs, based on transparent relationships and a unique youth leadership organization, The ETHICS Society. It empowers youth through processes of democracy, respect for self and others, civic responsibility, critical thinking, social awareness and organizing as a team. JCPS refers to this as “civic education.”

The Steward’s Staff held its first board meeting on May 19, 2007 in the home of its Executive Director, John Mark Eberhardt, with ten board members in attendance. The organization currently serves approximately one hundred forty-five youth throughout Metro Louisville and approximately nine displaced male residents at the Chestnut YMCA. The new nonprofit organization facilitates after-school programs at Manual, Central and Western High Schools focused on leadership development, community engagement and positive reinforcement of self-esteem.

Recently, The Steward’s Staff received a boost of support from esteemed community member and educator, Dr. Beverly Keepers. “The organization supports the ethical behavior of high school students…I am so extremely supportive of this organization at Manual that I would like to recommend it to other schools,” she expressed in a letter of support addressed to Deputy-to-Superintendent, Marty Bell. Dr. Keepers, the principal at Manual, concluded her recommendation stating, “I hope you will assist JCPS students in such a supportive and educational community group,” speaking of The Steward’s Staffs’ program, The ETHICS Society.

When asked, “What makes The Steward’s Staff different from other organizations focused on our youth?” Eberhardt responds, “Our youth programs begin and end with our youth. Before we try to offer them something, we first take into consideration their feedback; we ask them what it is they need, and then we respond with the appropriate resources. Too often, when we’re trying to help others, regardless of the target audience, we try to help them the way we want to help them. At the end of the day, most times, we’ve wasted time, resources and motivation.” Additional unique facts about The Steward’s Staff include their leadership. Ninety percent of their board members are no older than thirty-six years of age. “The youth of our board members helps us to better relate to the audience in which we serve,” says board member MJ Smyzer. “We offer them real life experiences behind our, ‘don’t do this’ or ‘don’t do that.’ They trust that we have their best interest at heart because we are sharing our life failures with them—sparing no details.”

On Monday, January 21, 2008, The Steward’s Staff hosted the Inaugural Unity Breakfast. David McArthur from WAVE 3 said, “Community leaders from all backgrounds came together for the city’s first Unity Breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Galt House. Its goal: to foster greater cross-cultural bonds and make plans to realize Dr. King’s dream of a colorblind society. The event attracted about 400 people.” You can view the pictures of the event online.

The Steward’s Staff is currently considering new board members. If you are interested, or if you know someone interested, please call (502) 742-6927 or email info@stewardstaff.org. Particular areas of interest include fund development, strategic partnerships and event programming. If you are interested in donating to The Steward’s Staff, you may do so online at www.stewardstaff.org, then go to the Donation’s Page, or you may mail a donation to PO Box 197871, Louisville, KY 40259-7871.