Former fruit picker produces program for at-risk youth

WINTER GARDEN — As the eldest of 10 children in a single-parent home, Tiajuana James-Dozier learned firsthand that the American Dream is not easily accessible for all.

But because of the help and encouragement of many, such as her high-school guidance counselor, fifth-grade teacher and godmother, James-Dozier was motivated to will herself to earn straight A’s, go to college, provide for her siblings and inspire them to be better.

“Even though I had the mindset to get it done, had it not been for those people in my life stepping in and making it happen, I wouldn’t have reached that,” she said. “I feel very blessed and want to share my blessings with others.”

Now James-Dozier wants to help and motivate the next generation of at-risk children to a better life.

With CAMERON Resources Inc. and help from many like-minded people, James-Dozier has arranged the first West Orange Youth Summit for Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Jessie Brock Center in Winter Garden.

“We’re looking to host about 100 students from the West Orange County area … just anybody that wants the tools and resources they need to establish a better way of life,” she said. “We have a great program lined up with speakers who are going to speak on different topics.”

Four speaker-led workshops will be on test-taking skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy — led by Winter Garden Commissioner Bobby Olszewski — and college readiness — featuring representatives from University of Central Florida and Valencia College. Other speakers include a representative from the United Negro College Fund and Marilyn Dole, chief of administration for Lake County Public Schools.

James-Dozier said now was the right time because her schedule became more open, her financial position has become sensible for it and she felt it was necessary. Planning and the vision for this event have involved many, with the inspiration coming from God speaking to her, she said.

She wants to make this event annual — growing each year to accommodate more children — and bus students to several colleges for tours in the spring.

“It’s not only important to talk about college and resources to get to college, but most kids have never been to a college, so for students to see kids and actively engage on campus is motivating them to get to that point,” James-Dozier said. “It’s one of our goals. So that they can see that college is achievable and they can see people that look like them at college campuses for school and actively work toward them having a good future.”

STRIVING FOR A BETTER LIFE

James-Dozier’s family is from Central Florida, where her father and grandfather picked fruit — mainly oranges — for years, she said.

But once orange-picking season would end, her family would need to migrate north, to states such as West Virginia and New York, to pick apples, peaches and other fruits in their seasons, she said.

“Certainly my mom worked, so I would have to take care of my siblings, and that would include cleaning and cooking for them and helping with their schoolwork and just looking after and protecting them, as an older sibling should do,” she said. “I’ve always had straight A’s; I’ve always done my work, but struggling with 10 kids and one parent to just make it. We weren’t middle-class, but we survived with strong moral standards and were taught good things — like to always go to class and do well in school.”

Children with financial challenges and inadequate assistance have thus become the target for James-Dozier’s mission.

“While I had the drive and determination to succeed, my parents have never been to college; I didn’t know what a college campus looked like,” she said. “We’re reaching out to kids who like me didn’t have that support, financial backing or just that knowledge of how to move forward in life through a college education. I know most of the people I grew up with, we weren’t born with a silver spoon in our mouth. Winter Garden has grown up a lot, but a lot of us when we grew up were picking fruit, and that kept us oppressed, from making a better life.”

Even in this area of Orange County — the fastest-growing area in the country with arguably more opportunities than anywhere — there remain disadvantaged children who need someone to show them the way.

“If we don’t help kids to their destiny, who else is going to do it?” she asked rhetorically. “I don’t think, like me, that they’re looking for a handout. They’re just looking for a hand up.”

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GET INVOLVED

For more information, contact Tiajuana James-Dozier at (678) 357-8255 or [email protected]. Donations to CAMERON Resources are accepted by mail at 3179 Savannah Walk Lane, Suwanee, Georgia, 30024.

“If people would like to drop off donations or bookbags or anything like that — pens, pencils, markers, folders, even bedding for the college student — whatever you can think of to get kids off to college,” James-Dozier said. “We’re looking for a lot of support.”

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Contact Zak Kerr at [email protected].