Community, colleagues, family, support CSD graduate's back to school event

CAMBRIDGE — Jade Ward, a 2020 “pandemic” year graduate of Cambridge South Dorchester High School, is about to enter her junior year in Bowie State University’s Sociology program.

A few weeks ago, Ward had a revelation spurring her to action, helping kids from her local community get ready for school success.

Reaffirming her initial impulse, those she reached out to responded with overwhelming support.

“Everyone I spoke to—friends, neighbors, college colleagues, and my church community--rallied to contribute school supplies,” Ward said.

With little in the way of advance preparation time, members of her impromptu support group helped get the word out. On Aug. 10, many came out  at neighborhood hub, “Foxwell’s Field” on the corner of Greenwood Avenue and Washington Street.

Throughout the three-hour event, “we served well over 100 people and gave away about 200 items,” Ward said.

Nine of Ward’s fellow Sociology students at Bowie traveled from their Montgomery and Prince George’s homes to help with the event, offering free refreshments to community kids and families.

Youngsters selected items from the veritable buffet of brand-new school readiness materials, including kid-friendly designed notebooks, paper, folders, pencils, pens, and highlighters, and markers, and more.

Those on hand to help the smooth distribution of materials included Cynthia Woolford, Mia Jackson, Tameka Waples from Ward’s home church, Living ByTruth Ministries, family friend Lorie Forrester, and Ward’s aunt, Thornita Thomas, representing New Life Christian Church Ministries.

Living By Truth Ministries member DJ Syeed provided music.

CSD Lady Vikings Coach Shamya Johnson Stover expressed pride and excitement to help support her former student athlete Ward in her mission to help future students in her home community.

Ward’s mother, Monique Ward Giddens, a Dorchester County Public Schools staff member affiliated with education professionally for 30 years,  participated as well, wearing a Bowie State shirt and a nonstop smile.

On social media, Jackson shared Ward’s accomplishments throughout her college journey. These included: vice president, freshman, sophomore class; president-elect, junior class; Thurgood Marshall Yard Ambassador, two-time Student Services Advisory Board President, Sociology Club Vice President, campus tour guide, Chief NSO leader, three times on Dean’s List, with 50 plus community service hours.

Ward credits Bowie State professor Anthony Jackson’s love and passion for Sociology for “sparking something in me that has always been there; I want to not only understand but also to HELP,” she said.

In addition to “just give back in any way I can” Ward’s career goal is to become a motivational speaker at different predominantly Black high schools and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) throughout the country.