I Found My Voice
"I always wanted to give people a voice that didn't have a voice…I felt like my voice was taken." Rontavius "Tay" Green is a survivor of sexual assault. Many people did not believe him when he spoke up about what happened. Soon after, he left his college and hometown, hoping for a new start. Tay found his voice again through service.
"AmeriCorps allowed me the room and the opportunity to grow and believe in myself," Tay said. Tay has been an AmeriCorps member for three years now.
Tay in one of his SEL classes at the International Community School.
His first year with AmeriCorps was during the national pandemic. "We were all on Zoom. Every time we did get back into school [in person], we'd go back on Zoom." That was different from the service experience that Tay had hoped for. Still, he persevered.
He moved to Atlanta to try again, believing that he could have a more complete AmeriCorps experience. Atlanta provided its own set of hardships. "I had never experienced homophobia and racism until I moved there. It was challenging, and I was miserable." Tay had stopped attending church, exploring, and doing things he loved. Still, he persevered.
For Tay, "the third time was a charm!" He said, "When I met the staff at NDMVA, it was a very positive experience. Since I joined the team, my confidence has skyrocketed." Tay serves at the International Community School in Decatur, GA, where most of the student population comprises immigrants and refugees from across the world.
Tay admitted that some of the populations he serves are people he may have judged before due to a need for more understanding of their cultures. "My students are so different from me, but we find ways to connect. For example, one of my coworkers has a thick accent, and I also have a thick accent, but we've found ways to connect." Tay explained with a smile.
Since Tay started serving with NDMVA, his experience living in Atlanta has improved. "I started traveling and exploring the city by myself. At first, I wouldn't, based on my past experiences…I would just go to work and go home. I was suffering from depression. Now I'm going out and enjoying life. I am happy now!" Tay said.
Tay is saying 'yes' to service this summer for the fourth time. "I want to see the seeds I've planted this year grow. I want to see how the students will grow and handle challenges."
This year, he has already started to see some of his students growing and changing due to his SEL classes. "One of the students who used to struggle with emotions now knows how to calm himself down. Another student learning about self-control can now sit and read and talk it out when he feels things…Those moments make me happy. I love to see the students grow into the people they're meant to be. After suffering through my mental health, I want everyone to be happy."
Tay believes the best decision he has made so far is to invest himself in serving others. Through bi-weekly meetings, service projects, and the MidYear conference, he's built relationships and found community with his NDMV teammates. "I found my tribe. I found a group of people who invest not only in themselves but also in their communities…Hearing their stories, I learned that many had rocky beginnings, but they still chose to serve others, and that empowered me."
This year with AmeriCorps has been a turning point in Tay's life. "I'm going back to school and back to church. The things I was running from, I'm running back to them. Once I was able to talk, I felt chains coming off me and felt free."
Still, he perseveres.
Written by Cora Davis, NDMV Communications Director
