Anti-poverty activist Wes Moore to tell his inspirational story at Neighborhood Academy in September
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Raised by a single mother in poverty after his father’s death, Wes Moore went on to become a Rhodes scholar, U.S. Army officer in Afghanistan, a nationally known anti-poverty activist and a New York Times best-selling author. The Neighborhood Academy, the Pittsburgh faith-based private school dedicated to breaking cycles of generational poverty, is hosting Moore for a speech in September.
Moore’s 2010 book “The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates” contrasts his life with another man named Wes Moore, who was raised in similar circumstances in Baltimore but ended up in prison.
“With our students in particular, I think that [story] resonated deeply with them, based upon the opportunities that were provided, and also adversities that were encountered by the author and ways in which he was able to overcome them,” said Anthony Williams, The Neighborhood Academy’s head of school. “While at the same time, another man which resided just a few blocks away from [Moore’s] home, with similar circumstances, but different outcomes, and how their lives parallel but also had distinct differences as well.”
Moore recently stepped down as CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, a New York City anti-poverty organization. In June, he announced his campaign for governor of Maryland, seeking the Democratic nomination in the 2022 election.
At the September event, Moore will speak about how his past experiences have translated into his position today, Williams said. “I think that a lot of different intersections in life experiences have led to that point within his vision and future for himself.”
In anticipation of the event, The Neighborhood Academy has started a schoolwide read of Wes Moore’s books. Nicole Mann’s 15-year-old son, Brent, has attended Neighborhood Academy since sixth grade. They are both highly anticipating the speech, as “this will be another tool in his toolbox towards success.”
“I’m looking forward to hearing about the lessons that he’s learned and how he’s applied them to be successful. You know, I think that’s really the key, for children and adults alike,” said Mann. “We hear stories about people who have conquered things, but we very rarely get the strategy, the step-by-step guide of how to do that.
“How did you go to school? Did you have a mentor? Did you save money? Did you work three jobs? How did you get it done? So I think it’ll be great to have him in person to further elaborate how he got to where he is today.”
The Neighborhood Academy, founded in 2001, is a college preparatory school serving students throughout the Pittsburgh area who demonstrate financial need. The school, located in Stanton Heights, serves grades 6-12. According to Williams, TNA has had 100% of its students to date admitted to college; within five years, roughly 77% of its alumni will have graduated from college.
“In building not only the academic skill sets but also the character of our students, we want to ensure that they’re successful within their post-secondary endeavors,” Williams said.
Graduates of the class of 2021 include the academy’s first acceptances to an Ivy League institution, with students headed to Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Moore’s appearance is part of the biennial Nancy and Paul O’Neill Speaker Series, launched in 2013. Past speakers include Isabel Wilkerson, author of “The Warmth of Other Suns”; Margot Lee Shetterly, author of “Hidden Figures”; and Mark Whitaker, author of “Smoketown,” a history of Pittsburgh’s Hill District from the 1920s through the 1950s.
The event, a fundraiser for the school, will be held the evening of Sept. 29 at The Neighborhood Academy’s campus, and also broadcast over Zoom. Admission prices start at $100, with discounts available for students and veterans; details are at theneighborhoodacademy.org.
Williams cited an observation that one Neighborhood Academy student made to him about the book: “She said, ‘Your past doesn’t define what your future may hold for you,’ ” he recalled. “And that through various opportunities, hard work and dedication that not only can you chase your dreams, but the sky could be the limit.”