Tower Magazine - Summer/Fall 2024 - 22

/// IN THE COMMUNITY
ROOM TO GROW:
A Place to Call Her Own
The kitchen is a gathering place. A
spot for food, fellowship, laughter,
even tears. From her spot on the
couch, Brooklyn Smith-Jones can
see into that room, and that line
of visibility is one of the things
she loves most about the house.
Its openness, its welcomeness.
The open floorplan was designed and
built by Thaddeus Stevens College
of Technology students; everything
in the two-story house was, in fact.
Brooklyn is the newest resident
of a Stevens-built house-and the
second in her family to call one
home. She sees a bright future
in this duplex, one located in a
neighborhood full of personal history.
BUILDING BLOCKS, JUST
BLOCKS AWAY
Two generations ago, Brooklyn's
grandparents moved to the southeast
section of Lancaster City. Her mother,
aunts, and uncles were raised in the
7th Ward and attended J.P. McCaskey
High School. She spent much of her
childhood at her grandparents' place.
A grassy field separated Brooklyn's
childhood stomping grounds from
the Thaddeus Stevens College
campus; the steady presence of
a college and constant bustle of
students served as a lifetime of
inspiration. As she watched young
people find their way in the world
from across that open space, she
thought, " Education is my way out. "
Brooklyn Smith-Jones
Block by block, step by step, she
got there. Brooklyn earned a dual
bachelor's degree in sociology
and Africana studies and then
pursued a graduate degree in
teaching. After holding teaching
positions, she's now director of
education at Milagro House. Outside
of her full-time job, she's also
an academic coach and mentor
to School District of Lancaster
Students in the Horizons Program
at Lancaster Country Day School.
21 : Tower Magazine
Tower Magazine - Summer/Fall 2024

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