-------
Jeff first volunteered for One Voice in 1985, when his daughters began volunteering with us, as students at Crossroads School. He particularly loved playing Santa for the One Voice Holiday Program. When his wife Sherry envisioned our Scholars program in 1992, he was right by her side, supporting us and the Scholars as One Voice transformed the idea into reality.
Jeff took photos of the Scholars on their graduation day, he offered the Banks home for meetings, he was a regular at the holiday food giveaway and chronicled many One Voice events as a de facto photographer. He believed deeply in our mission and in the community of care that our organization espouses. He and his wife Sherry were especially proud when their beloved niece, Sharmon Goodman, was named Scholars Program Director. For more than twenty years in her position, Sharmon has smoothed the transitions for One Voice Scholars from high school to college to career.
Jeff’s passion was working with young people. He felt a particular connection to young folks who, like him, had faced adversity at a young age. “They are flowers that have grown out of cement, and they teach me as well,” he said.
Jeff taught college students for over 56 years across Los Angeles. He was both a teacher and friend to his students. He taught at Pasadena City College, L.A. City College, and CSU Northridge, until a former student recruited him to Pepperdine, where he worked for 35 years. He won every teaching award that Pepperdine University could bestow. His students loved him for his heart and humanity. As an immigrant who had a difficult childhood, Jeff understood that mentors can have a powerful impact in helping young people transform their lives. As a professor of psychology, organizational behavior, social action and justice, he believed that part of his work was to guide students to define a vision of themselves and the life they wanted to lead. He always attributed to One Voice Founder, Dr. Sue Silbert, his understanding of how to give to others with love, support selflessness, and the preservation of dignity.
This fund will support low-income Scholars with flights, books, tuition, health care, and winter clothing, helping them to attend the best colleges in the country. One Voice and its Scholars take pride in the fact that 100% of the One Voice Scholars gain admission to college and an impressive 92% of them have graduated.
To learn more about One Voice and the Scholars Program, click here: https://www.onevoice-la.org/