I AM Academy

Henry and Lindsay Cherry, Founders, I AM Academy

 

You can’t be what you can’t see.

That’s the guiding principle for one of the community’s new nonprofit organizations, I AM Academy, which empowers Black youth by providing representation, mentorship, and opportunities to expand their lived experiences and career options. I AM Academy also works to make the Holland/Zeeland community a more equitable and inclusive place by creating space for people to address their biases and challenge their assumptions about Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

The founders of I AM Academy, Henry and Lindsay Cherry, grew up in the Holland/Zeeland area. Henry was friends with Lindsay’s brother, although he and Lindsay didn’t begin dating until they were both adults. “We reconnected at her brother’s wedding,” said Henry. “We realized we had a shared passion for family, faith, and a dream of lifting up and centering Black voices in the community.”

The idea for I AM Academy was developed during a visit with close friends. As they reflected on their childhoods – Lindsay is one of six biracial children adopted by white parents, and Henry’s parents are Black – they felt representation was the most important thing to provide to other BIPOC youth in West Michigan. “I didn’t see a person of color in my school until high school,” said Lindsay. “And that individual was the school security guard. It was incumbent on me to seek out Black leadership and Black role models, which I did by joining the choir at Maple Avenue Ministries. I needed people who could understand, name, and explain the things I was experiencing as a Person of Color.”

Early mentorship models were piloted in the Holland and West Ottawa School districts through Henry’s position in outreach to underserved youth at Christ Memorial Church and Lindsay’s position as a teacher in West Ottawa. Key elements that informed I AM Academy’s approach were representation, access to opportunity, and a sense of community.

A grant of $20,000 from CFHZ helped Henry and Lindsay launch I AM Academy as an official nonprofit. “We wouldn’t be in the position we are now without CFHZ. The Foundation gave us a boost in visibility and lent us some credibility as we solicited donors and made connections,” said Lindsay.

Connections the Cherrys had made prior to launching I AM Academy helped them hit the ground running with 40 youth in grades 7-12 being invited to participate in the program. Seven college students serve as paid directors, mentoring participants and sharing about their experiences on different career paths to illuminate the opportunities for Black youth. Partnerships with the Holland Area Arts Council, Renew Therapeutic Riding Center, and CultureWorks gave I AM Academy students opportunities to experience new activities and establish relationships in traditionally White spaces.

“Bridging the gaps between spaces, that’s a crucial part of our mission,” said Henry. “We’re building up our marginalized youth and showing them the opportunity that exists in this community. At the same time, we’re reaching out to non-BIPOC people and asking them to learn alongside us and realize the value of diversity and equity.”

Originally featured in the Community Foundation’s 2020 Annual Report.