Covenant House Newsroom

Across Covenant House sites, alumni have been involved in various aspects of our work for decades, from storytelling to volunteering. But on October 1, 2021 we launched a formalized Covenant House Alumni Community, a space created  to share ideas and build a stronger community of supporters for young people facing homelessness. 

Covenant House alumni, defined as any individual who received services at a Covenant House location since 1972, remain connected in many ways. Some have even gone on to work at Covenant House sites.  

Led by Jamel Thigpen, site development manager at Covenant House International, members of this growing group meet online quarterly to network and to find out ways to stay involved across the federation. Many members of the community dedicate their time to participating in fundraising events like Night of Covenant House Stars and Sleep Out, and can be seen as speakers , sharing details of their journey and their subsequent successes. 

“I just want to help,” said Molly Bates, who was a resident at Covenant House Pennsylvania in 2008. I just want to serve. I want to be what current youth need me to be to show them how to come out of this.” 

Secoya Hines, former resident at Covenant House Georgia, shares a similar goal. She says that she is mostly excited about “being able to meet youth in Covenant House to learn about their experiences and how homelessness has impacted them so I can tell them my story and be a motivation for them.” 

Secoya recalled the first time she heard about the Alumni Community. She received an email from staff at Covenant House Georgia, connecting her with Jamel. 

“I thought, ‘OK, so we’re all just doing like a reunion or something,” Secoya said. “But no, it’s an actual community. We get to give back using our experiences to help others, to help them be able to understand they aren’t alone. If we were able to push through, they can do it too. We’re all one big family.” 

Dominick Gervasi, who stayed at Covenant House New York in 1986, has been giving back to the site since the 90s, decades before the alumni community became official.   

“Usually when something happens so long ago, people don’t cherish it or don’t want to remember it, especially when it reminds them of a tough time,” Dominick said. “But I cherish history, and my time at Covenant House is an important part of my history. So I started driving to Covenant House to bring clothing, my old computers and other household goods. For years I would come over and show in my own way that I appreciate what they did for me. I would have yard sales and give the money to Covenant House.” 

That’s how Dominick’s relationship with Covenant House as an alumnus started. Years later, he participated in his first Sleep Out at Yankee stadium. Now, he says, anytime someone at Covenant House asks him to participate in anything, he’s happy to do it. 

Dominick’s stay at CHNY lasted only a short time. Nevertheless, he said, “It was so meaningful to me. Covenant House was what I needed.” 

He went on to say that after experiencing homelessness, he reunited with his family, but “things are never perfect.” So many years later, his continued involvement in the Alumni Community is very important to him. 

“I am very proud to still be associated with Covenant House. It feels great to see this community grow,” he said. “It’s still a form of aftercare for me and it’s important for me to stay connected.” 

Jamel says that he never imagined the alumni community would be where it is today, and he’s looking forward to its continued growth. 

“When I first learned about what is now the alumni community, I was so excited about its possibilities. But I did not imagine we would be able to accomplish so much in our first year!” he said. “This isn't a therapy group where alumni discuss a sad moment in their lives. We laugh way more than anything else. We are a community.” 

Jamel went on to add that although he does not share a similar lived experience, what he does bring is compassion and empathy, “and always the fun! We all love the fun,” he said. “And my hope is that every alumnus that interacts with me feels my compassion and empathy.”

When asked what being part of the alumni community means to her, Molly said, “Being an alum is amazing to me. That’s an achievement. That word ‘alum.’ I’m an alum. That means I made it out.” 

Here are a few of the ways the Covenant House Alumni Community continues to engage: 

• Participate in Covenant House’s impactful storytelling efforts – across its social media channels, in email newsletters, during key efforts, and so much more.You can find some of our alumni stories on our Youtube channel here. 
• Offer insights from their lived experience that help craft future Covenant House communications and programming that directly impact current residents.
• Connect with current residents at sites and empower them through lived experiences.
• Develop skills and relationships that will shape personal development as a leader and storyteller.

The alumni community page on our website includes profiles of alumni from six different Covenant House sites: California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Please read our stories and share this link with any alumni in your community who may be interested in reconnecting with Covenant House.