The Impact of a Caring Adult with Juan and Mr. Jolly
Published Tuesday, May 23, 2023 Y.O.U. first met DJ Lily Jade when she DJ’ed for the Y.O.U. summer jobs kickoff event with Mayor Bibb in 2022. When the eight-year-old first showed up to her gig, she wasn’t aware her father had a personal tie to the program. She exclaimed, “I just learned today my dad was in the same program, the same Y.O.U. program to get a summer job… a long time ago because my dad's old!”
Juan Goodwin started in the summers jobs program in 1997 when he was a seventh grader. He provided administrative support to the school he attended. His mentor that summer was Donald Jolly. Mr. Jolly made Juan feel seen and became a northern star to the young student. “I would ride to different worksites with Mr. Jolly. He had a nice car and nice things. I didn’t know I even wanted that kind of success until I met him,” says Juan.
When Mr. Jolly saw Juan playing basketball outside of the school and realized how talented the student was, he took him aside and advocated he try out for the basketball team by taking him to the coach. Mr. Jolly reminisces, “Juan was clearly one of the best players in the school. His genius was found. The coach recognized it, and then all his peers did.”
This set Juan on a path to success. While he had a newfound purpose through sport, he knew he couldn’t play basketball forever. After getting a scholarship to play in college, Juan began to seek out ways to more directly support his community. He soon was running after school programs at multiple community centers in his area.
Juan says, “I just always wanted to reciprocate what was done for me by Mr. Jolly. So now transitioning to fatherhood, my daughter being a DJ having a radio show. A lot of people said it’s talent, but my wife and I, we look at as these as transferable skills. [Lily Jade] will never be afraid to speak in front people, issues [Juan] had with confidence [when he was young]. She's an eight-year-old girl spinning turntables; not many people are doing this. ”
Juan and DJ Lily Jade at the Summer Jobs Kickoff Event (2022)
Lily Jade has worked with the Cavs and DJ’ed for the NFL Draft All Star Weekend. She also performed at her end-of-year school picnic. She’s written a few songs and published a book in addition to hosting a weekly radio show.
Mr. Jolly says, “In [Juan’s] experience, he has a child who’s far ahead any child his daughter’s age. That's because of his experiences. To see him being successful and others like him being successful, that is the fuel to my work. Generationally it just continues to compound and change. I think Y.O.U. provides people with opportunity. Once you give a child opportunity and access, the world is unlimited to them.”
These three generations prove the impact of a caring adult in a young person’s life is exponential. Mr. Jolly is currently the superintendent for Warrensville City Schools. Juan is helping Lily Jade prepare to host the first DJ Lily Jade and Friends Youth Bash later this summer. They are partnering with the Cleveland Public Library, Cleveland Reads, and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.