Profile: Reginald P.

This week begins a series of profiles on the volunteers of the RBMF. It's an introduction to the men and women who contribute time and energy to ensuring that the legacy of Rashawn Brazell lives on.

I began volunteering in 2005 after a meeting with Larry Lyons and
Mervyn Mercano about the fund and its purpose. I chose to volunteer
because I was looking for a way to contribute to a greater good in
society and I was attracted to the idea of honoring a young man who
had attributes I value in myself - care for one's neighbor, ability to
connect with others.. At the beginning, I worked on the upkeep of the
website and building a database of organizations associated with the
fund. At present, I function as the Scholar Selections Coordinator -
working to put the scholarship in the hands of applicants, aiding in
the choosing of awardees and invitees to the Mentorship Program.

The murder of Rashawn Brazell, like the murders and violence committed
against anyone is a testament to the need of knowledge where there is
now ignorance. What touches me specifically about Rashawn's case is
that his profile is like mine: young, gay, black, male. It is easy to
put myself in his place and that is something frightening to conjure.
It's because of that I'm urged to live my life fully - to complete the
life that was cut short because of ignorance. To that effect, my
life's goal is to be an advocate for peace, knowledge, and service.
The desire to help people is paramount in Rashawn's legacy. An
organized community striving to do just that - through initiatives
like those of the RBMF - is wholly worthwhile.

Reginald can be reached at regip7@gmail.com