How We Met and Became Friends

The Story of Brendan and Evelyn

Two People from Very Different Backgrounds

And a Friendship

Forged Through Service

And Born in Braddock

How Brendan and Evelyn Met and Became Friends(Through KEYS & BYP)

Evelyn

Hi, my name is Evelyn Greene Im 20 years old and im from the Pittsburgh area currently living in the Braddock Community, serving my 2nd term at the Braddock Youth Project through Keys. 6 years ago I moved to Braddock not knowing that it wouldnt be anything temporary, but the place I would be finding my career, long lasting relationships, or the place I would be calling home to my family. Moving to the Braddock community I found the father to my 3 girls, who introduced me to BYP and Americorps. He and I grew up through BYP as Youth and Interns to both later become Garden coordinators through Americorps. I have served 2 terms as BYPS garden coordinator. This experience has been an unique experience for me being able to be once guided by Americorps members as a youth, and becoming and working alongside other fellow americorps members. I have grown from this experience in so many ways and can guarantee that I would not be who I am today without Americorps or BYP!

Brendan

My name is Brendan Renne and I am currently 32 years old. Ive lived in Pittsburgh my whole life, save for the time I spent at college. While there, I majored in religious studies; as you might imagine, I havent had many opportunities to use my major with regards to gainful employment. Prior to joining BYP, I spent several years running an Ebay store where I sold various antiques and music instruments. While profitable, I ultimately found it to be lonely work. Its also very hard to keep shipping supplies neat and orderly, and this lead to a great deal of clutter that eventually took something of a toll on my psyche.

Evelyn joins BYP

I started at BYP back in summer 2011 starting out as a youth, my position being a garden team member. I spent most of my summer at BYP gardening, and even after work hours were over to participate in some of the club activities BYP team leaders had to offer. This was the first time I had ever come in contact with a group of Keys members. My team leader David Bush and Team coordinator Harvin groft made a huge impact on me as my team leader and coordinator showing what it really meant to be a hard worker and mentor.

I stayed on with BYP through the winter school program taking on another position as an intern as media team member, and met more amazing inspiring Americorps members throughout my time. Somewhere at the moment I decided this was something I wanted to be and do with others. I spent all the way up to 2013 with BYP before I took another path to be an Americops member. Until this day I am still in contact with each and every one of my Keys mentors, I still talk to them and even hang out sometimes when near or in town. Being a BYP Alum has certainly shaped me to become who I am today! My youth experience was amazing, and very life changing for me every moment that I had ever experienced here.

Evelyn Joins KEYS

In Fall, of 2014 I began my first term as a Keys member and BYPs new garden coordinator. I never thought about being a keys member until my supervisor Jessica Gumbert called me one day and asked how I would like to work for BYP again, but as the garden coordinator. The same day I instantly applied to Americorps so I could fulfill this opportunity! When I started at BYP through Keys I partnered with my garden co-coordinator Tayler Hutton who is now one of my best friends today. I started with a team of 5 youth on our team for 8 months, they were very hard working youth and very driven for greatness. We did various garden projects with them, such as mentoring 5th graders up at an elementary school teaching them garden skills and having each of my youth facilitate a garden curriculum or project of there choice. I developed so many skills here and so many best friends I dont know what to do with.

Brendan Joins KEYS

I joined KEYS after my family became friends with the Fettermans (the mayor of Braddock and his wife). One day, Gisele Fetterman suggested that I join KEYS and work in Braddock. Having had enough of spending my days hunched over in front of a computer with no human interaction save for the frequent trips to the post office, I decided to follow Giseles suggestion. I started at BYP as the Media Team Coordinator, and I have remained the Media Team Coordinator for about seventeen months now.

The Growth of the Friendship

Evelyn was the person who gave me a tour of BYP when I did my first interview. Because I started in January, we got to know each other during long cold days spent huddled together in one of the few small offices, trying to share body heat. I was very impressed by the maturity she exhibited at such a young age, as well as the fact that she was managing to raise multiple kids on an Americorps stipend.

The Growth of the Friendship

I have the pleasure of giving Brendan a tour of Byp and and Braddock handing off all of my knowledge. Me and Brendan really clicked over the winter and locked friendship going into the summer. Brendan is one of my favorite people in the world. He's taught me so much about friendship and has really helped me out in so many ways! I appreciate and value our friendship.

In ConclusionWe have shared many emotional states: stress, happiness, anxiety, stress, bliss, baseball, and camping. Evelyn is in Brendans wedding party.