ABC House Celebrates Dreams And Successes

The house — low-slung, red-brick, nondescript — is easy to miss. It’s at the corner of North Avenue and Cross Highway; most drivers just want to get through the crowded 4-way intersection without getting hit.

But “Glendarcy House” is one of the most special places in Westport.

ABC’s Glendarcy House on North Avenue.

For 14 years, it’s been home to A Better Chance. Over 2 dozen young men of color have benefited from the chance to study at Staples High School, participate in extracurricular and town activities, and develop their natural gifts and talents in a way that might not have been possible in their economically disadvantaged hometowns.

Along the way, they have given back to Westport at least as much as they’ve gotten. They contribute their time, energy and outsize personalities to countless classes, projects, organizations and causes. They enrich the lives of their classmates, teachers and host families, in immeasurable ways.

Hundreds of Westporters have helped make ABC the success it is. They’ve volunteered in areas like fundraising, academic support, transportation and home renovation.

It’s a wonderful relationship — one that goes both ways, and radiates in many directions. On Saturday, March 29 (7 p.m., Unitarian Church), ABC honors its scholars, volunteers and itself with the annual “Dream Event.” There are lots of townwide celebrations, for tons of worthy causes, but this is one of the best.

A Better Chance alumni enjoying last year’s Dream Event. Seated (from left): Jahari Dodd, Charles Winslow, Wesley Lemon, Shamir Clayton. Standing: Jonathan Choi, Savion Agard, Khalif Rivers, Stephan Patterson.

Most of the scholar alumni will be there. Among them: Anthony Soto, the 1st to get his master’s degree (it’s in business administration, from Assumption College).

Also in the spotlight: Jahari Dodd. Well known to Staples Players fans, he will graduate this year from Tufts — the 16th ABC/Staples alum to earn a college diploma.

Taking center stage are Khaliq Sanda and Ruben Guardado, 2 young men who will graduate from Staples in June.

This year’s ABC scholars.

Khaliq works after school at Internal Medicine Associates. He also tutors; has been involved with Key Club, Peer Advisors, Student Assembly and Student Ambassadors; is an active member of Saugatuck Congregational Church, and served on 3 mission trips across the US. Khaliq was accepted at Vanderbilt and wait-listed by Stanford. He hopes to study neuroscience, with the goal of becoming a psychiatrist.

“I am truly grateful for all this community has done for me,” Khaliq says. “I look forward to finding ways to give back in the future.”

Ruben created ABC’s new website, and as a member of Service League of Boys (SLOBs) helps maintain their website too. He tutors elementary age students in Bridgeport through Caroline House; is a Student Ambassador at Staples, rock climbs in Fairfield, and plays rec soccer. He plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.

“I want to thank the long list of members of the ABC community who have done so much for me,” Ruben says. “It has been a great learning experience, and I am glad I decided to attend Staples.”

The Dream Event is very cool. There’s a silent auction, great entertainment and food, and much more. It’s all fun, and very special.

But the real reason to go: speeches from Ruben, Khaliq, Jahari and Anthony, this year’s high school and college graduates. All 4 will bring tears to your eyes — and a smile to your face.