Friends,

Being a council member is more than being at City Hall or going to community events. To make true impact, I devote personal time to putting effort into the youth of District J in hopes of shaping their lives for the better.

This past week, my nonprofit, Suits for Success, held its annual etiquette training class for our boys at Braeburn Country Club in District J. This is the culmination of our semester-long life skills course at Wisdom High School in District J. The boys were able to wear their newly tailored suits that we bought them, and learn the art of how to navigate a fine dining setting.

The boys enjoyed a fabulous five course meal and learned how to maneuver the table. Thank you to Lisa Carruth and the entire club for hosting and for the wonderful experience. Since HCU is down the street from Wisdom HS in District J, I asked their Athletic Director, Steve Moniaci, to be our keynote speaker. Many of our boys are student athletes and want to play collegiately, but I believe it is important for them to hear about what it takes for athletes to be successful in college beyond the field.

Although these boys come from challenging circumstances, they have the talent and potential to do whatever they aspire to; we just need to provide the guidance and exposure. And at Suits for Success, we know that “the first step to being successful is looking the part.” I am very proud of these young men and look forward to them doing great things.

Together we will!

Edward Pollard