"I could not unhear what the young people shared with me."
From Harriet Tubman to John Lewis to Barack Obama, Black History Month is a reminder for our community to reflect on the positive contributions and the rich and valuable history of generations of people who are Black, and to celebrate those making history today like Stacey Abrams and Amanda Gorman.
Covenant House is proud to stand with the Black and African American leaders who have left their mark in history, especially those who have fought for justice, equality and policy change fueled by the belief that no young person should ever be homeless.
During Black History Month, we’ll use our platform to honor the devotion and spirit of Black leaders working and volunteering in the Covenant House community, and we’ll feature stories of creative and resilient young people whose voices will shape the future. Volunteers like Angela Grovey, the Broadway Inspirational Voices Outreach Director who expanded our partnership from one site to 12 sites this year.
In 2014, Angela Grovey, an actor and singer, stepped into the Covenant House community as a Sleep Out participant in New York City. That night changed her life. In her words, “I could not unhear what the young people shared with me.” At the morning reflection, Angela told the group that she felt that now she had a responsibility to do something. This was just before she was to head out on a national tour with “Newsies The Musical,” and she began making plans right away to visit other Covenant House sites while she was on the road.
That year, Angela and other members of the cast visited eight Covenant House sites and met staff and residents. Today, Angela has visited or volunteered at 13 Covenant House sites through her work with Broadway Inspirational Voices. She says that despite geographic differences, all of our Houses evoke a similar feeling when you walk through the door — you feel safe, loved, and respected. She believes the reason our staff are so successful when working with our youth is because they listen, make eye contact, cheer them on, and create a supportive space that makes room for vulnerability.
When we asked Angela, who is a Black hero who has inspired her, she did not hesitate to point to Capathia Jenkins, an actor and singer who serves on the Covenant House International board of directors and has also visited our young people and staff at many Covenant House sites, including in Latin America. Capathia has been a mentor to Angela, who says she admires “how [Capathia] stands in the world,” adding that she “shows vulnerability and openness, and invites it from others.” Angela said she modeled her mentoring style with Covenant House youth after Capathia, who makes people feel safe and has taught her the power of apologizing. Most significantly, Angela believes Capathia to be a leader in understanding and appreciating Black excellence. There is no such thing as perfection, but you can work to be excellent, Angela said.
And that is something Angela is doing this month in celebration of Black History Month. She is walking in her own Black excellence. She is recognizing those whose shoulders she stands on, including her parents and grandparents, who made it a priority for her to learn about Black history and engage in civic activities in her hometown in Texas.
Angela is a mentor to several artists making their way in this world. One in particular is a former Covenant House resident. Angela has encouraged this young woman to discover her own Black excellence and believe in it, but she also shares with her some harsh realities that come with being a Black performer — “you must arrive early, work hard, and know that even when it is earned, respect is not a given.”
Covenant House is centered in community. Volunteers like Angela Grovey instill in Covenant House youth that they are loved and can be excellent.
