Service to community: Evan Wade honored for his efforts
October 15, 2018
With six years under his belt in Stockton, 188bet备用网址 Professor听Evan听Wade听is still听relatively new.
But he's already earning听praise for his听efforts to make the community a better place.
Wade, who teaches African American history, was given the "Man 188bet备用网址 Town" award recently by the African American Chamber of Commerce of听San Joaquin County. It鈥檚 a reflection of his听desire to help high school students in lower-performing schools, and his participation in statewide conversations on racial equality and inclusion, among many other activities.
"I wasn't expecting this award," he said. "It's humbling."
Born in Richmond,听Wade听benefited as a youth from mentors at his church and at an after-school program known as There he received the support that would ensure he succeeded in college.
Now he's paying it forward.听Wade's award is based in part on courses he has offered -- on his own time -- to help parents in disadvantaged areas become better advocates for their children. The classes, funded by an NAACP grant, began last year.
Wade听has also assisted with efforts to raise thousands of dollars in NAACP scholarship money for students headed to 188bet备用网址 or directly to four-year universities.听
There鈥檚 more. He has written an African American history textbook, he has put on presentations and workshops at universities around the state, and he even partnered with the Smithsonian to start an exhibit on African-American fraternities.
As if all that weren't enough, he is a church deacon at the Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church.
Isn't he busy enough with his teaching job at 188bet备用网址?
"I enjoy my community work,"听Wade听said. "My mentors growing up were always engaged in their communities, and I benefited from that."听
Wade听sees positive things happening in Stockton. Consider the sheer number of high-ranking officials who are African American: the mayor, the city manager, the fire chief, two members of the school board, and the editor and publisher of the city's largest newspaper.
On top of that, initiatives like and 188bet备用网址 College's recent agreement with Stanislaus State to听provide听 are helping to "establish a college culture" for African Americans and others.
"I think we're in a better position now than when I first came,"听Wade听said.
And he instills his students with a hope for more change, change that they themselves can help to bring about. "The folks who stood up during the Civil Rights era were just everyday folks,"听Wade听said. "If our country is not what we want it to be听today, we have the same ability to make change just as we did then."
In awarding听Wade听for his work, the chamber cited the words of scholar who said that education must prepare students not only for work but for life.
As the chamber put it: "Professor听Wade听has dedicated his career to speaking, teaching and helping young people so that they too may have the gift of life."