| Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, Inc. “The Greater Norwalk Area’s Community Action Agency” Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, Inc. (NEON a private non-profit organization, is the community action agency serving the greater Norwalk Area including New Canaan, Westport, Weston, Wilton and Darien. |
| NEON Board Member: Berdella White |
| NEON, Inc. 98 South Main Street Norwalk, CT 06854 Phone: (203) 899-2483 Central Admin: 203.899.2420 Fax: 203.899.2430 Email: admin@neon-norwalk.org |
"Activist makes voice heard on tenants' behalf "
The Hour, January 21, 2007
Editor's note: This is the first in a series that looks at community leaders,
the people who influenced them and what they would like to do to make
Norwalk a better place.
By JAMES WALKER, Hour Staff Writer
NORWALK — There is something special about a grandmother whose
memory will never fade and whose voice of wisdom can still be heard
when the loved ones she left behind still need advice, comfort and
reassurance nearly 13 years after her death.
Bernice Campbell use to joke that she didn't think her granddaughter
listened to anything she had to say. But as Berdella White talked about her
journey from being a Brien McMahon High School senior pregnant with her
first child, to moving into Colonial Village, to finding the determination to
lead its tenants while obtaining a secondary education, it's clear that
Campbell's voice still whispers in White's ear.
"I know she didn't think I was listening, but she was my world," White said.
"She told me, 'you have two hands; you can accomplish something with
your life or fail. It's your choice.'"
It took some time, but if Campbell was still alive she would know her
granddaughter never forgot her words or the daily Bible quotes she wrote
on construction paper and left for White to read.
Last year, White finally achieved her dream of a post secondary education
when she received a Bachelors Degree in Health and Management.
Known as a straight-forward, no nonsense person, White has been the
president of the tenants association at Colonial Village and the voice for its
tenants for 14 years.
Curtis Law, executive director of the Norwalk Housing Authority, chuckles
when the name of White is brought up.
"She certainly speaks her mind," he said. "We don't always agree, but that
isn't necessarily a bad thing."
Law said White has been able to bring the concerns of tenants to his
attention and sometime shed light on a different way to help them.
But White believed as a leader in her community, she couldn't just talk the
talk but had to walk the walk.
After attending community functions, making her presence known at
Common Council meetings, hosting and taking part in events designed to
improve the lives of tenants at Colonial Village, White would go home
where she took online courses from American Intercontinental University to
earn her degree.
"I wanted to better myself," she said.
She credits childhood friend, Cynthia Sanders, and good friend Darlene
Young, Norwalk's assistant city clerk, with holding her up when she felt the
struggle to get an education was keeping her spirits down.
"I was frustrated but they wouldn't let me give up," she said. "They kept
encouraging me and that kept me going."
But unknown to many, White has also compiled a list of awards and
achievements in recognition of her community work with the housing
authority and various city agencies, including certificates from the Norwalk
Police Department and the Norwalk Housing Authority, among many others.
And now at the age of 48, she is ready to overcome another tough
challenge — moving out of public housing.
"I was fortunate enough to get into public housing but never in my wildest
dreams did I think I would still be here," she said. "Now, it's time to move
on and give an opportunity to another family that needs housing. But it's not
easy to get out."
White said "the perception of people living in public housing is that they
aren't educated and that they live off public tax dollars."
"It's another misconception of people living in public housing," she said. "I
can't wait to get out. I'm sure there are a lot of people that don't want to stay."
White has started the process by seeking a better job. She has passed the
test for a position with the City of Norwalk and is waiting to find out if she
will hired.
For White, it's not where she's been – it's where she's going.
But she hasn't forgotten what it has taken to get into a position to move
forward.
Born in Manning, S.C., she moved to Norwalk when she was three years
old. Pregnant at 17, she had her first child, Jermaine Mungo, when she
was barely 18.
But it was as Jermaine was running around the house one day that White
took a look at her little boy and asked God to help her change her life.
She wouldn't be specific about what was going on in her life at that time,
but said motherhood changed her and she wanted to be a positive role
model as her son matured.
"I literately stood in front of the mirror and realized my life had to change,"
she said. "From that day on my life began to change. I just began to look at
life differently. God made me strong enough to do what I had to do."
She moved into Colonial Village in 1984 after being burned out of an
apartment on South Main Street. And as her son was ready to graduate
high school, along came her daughter, Natasha Mungo, 14.
"It was like starting over," White laughed. "But I really wanted a little girl. I
honestly live for my children."
White said before she leaves Colonial Village she would like to see the
housing authority do something for the mothers and fathers who live there.
She said while she's grateful for programs that help kids, adults have
problems too and housing "has to look at the whole family."
White said like many people, there have been some tough times, but she's
always had the memories of Campbell and the lessons she taught to fall
back on.
She said her mother, Betty Mungo, never knew it, but her grandmother let
her play hooky from school one day and took her to see the sites in New
York before rushing her back home where they stared innocently at White's
mother.
It is just one of the many memories that stay with White and helps ease the
pain of the passing of the woman who "died in my arms" and has been the
greatest influence in her life.
"She was my idol," she said. "I really had to put things into perspective and
figure out what I wanted in life. There were times that were very difficult for
me, but she was always there."
Staff writer James S. Walker can be reached at (203) 354-1004 or
jswalker@thehour.com
The Hour, January 21, 2007
Editor's note: This is the first in a series that looks at community leaders,
the people who influenced them and what they would like to do to make
Norwalk a better place.
By JAMES WALKER, Hour Staff Writer
NORWALK — There is something special about a grandmother whose
memory will never fade and whose voice of wisdom can still be heard
when the loved ones she left behind still need advice, comfort and
reassurance nearly 13 years after her death.
Bernice Campbell use to joke that she didn't think her granddaughter
listened to anything she had to say. But as Berdella White talked about her
journey from being a Brien McMahon High School senior pregnant with her
first child, to moving into Colonial Village, to finding the determination to
lead its tenants while obtaining a secondary education, it's clear that
Campbell's voice still whispers in White's ear.
"I know she didn't think I was listening, but she was my world," White said.
"She told me, 'you have two hands; you can accomplish something with
your life or fail. It's your choice.'"
It took some time, but if Campbell was still alive she would know her
granddaughter never forgot her words or the daily Bible quotes she wrote
on construction paper and left for White to read.
Last year, White finally achieved her dream of a post secondary education
when she received a Bachelors Degree in Health and Management.
Known as a straight-forward, no nonsense person, White has been the
president of the tenants association at Colonial Village and the voice for its
tenants for 14 years.
Curtis Law, executive director of the Norwalk Housing Authority, chuckles
when the name of White is brought up.
"She certainly speaks her mind," he said. "We don't always agree, but that
isn't necessarily a bad thing."
Law said White has been able to bring the concerns of tenants to his
attention and sometime shed light on a different way to help them.
But White believed as a leader in her community, she couldn't just talk the
talk but had to walk the walk.
After attending community functions, making her presence known at
Common Council meetings, hosting and taking part in events designed to
improve the lives of tenants at Colonial Village, White would go home
where she took online courses from American Intercontinental University to
earn her degree.
"I wanted to better myself," she said.
She credits childhood friend, Cynthia Sanders, and good friend Darlene
Young, Norwalk's assistant city clerk, with holding her up when she felt the
struggle to get an education was keeping her spirits down.
"I was frustrated but they wouldn't let me give up," she said. "They kept
encouraging me and that kept me going."
But unknown to many, White has also compiled a list of awards and
achievements in recognition of her community work with the housing
authority and various city agencies, including certificates from the Norwalk
Police Department and the Norwalk Housing Authority, among many others.
And now at the age of 48, she is ready to overcome another tough
challenge — moving out of public housing.
"I was fortunate enough to get into public housing but never in my wildest
dreams did I think I would still be here," she said. "Now, it's time to move
on and give an opportunity to another family that needs housing. But it's not
easy to get out."
White said "the perception of people living in public housing is that they
aren't educated and that they live off public tax dollars."
"It's another misconception of people living in public housing," she said. "I
can't wait to get out. I'm sure there are a lot of people that don't want to stay."
White has started the process by seeking a better job. She has passed the
test for a position with the City of Norwalk and is waiting to find out if she
will hired.
For White, it's not where she's been – it's where she's going.
But she hasn't forgotten what it has taken to get into a position to move
forward.
Born in Manning, S.C., she moved to Norwalk when she was three years
old. Pregnant at 17, she had her first child, Jermaine Mungo, when she
was barely 18.
But it was as Jermaine was running around the house one day that White
took a look at her little boy and asked God to help her change her life.
She wouldn't be specific about what was going on in her life at that time,
but said motherhood changed her and she wanted to be a positive role
model as her son matured.
"I literately stood in front of the mirror and realized my life had to change,"
she said. "From that day on my life began to change. I just began to look at
life differently. God made me strong enough to do what I had to do."
She moved into Colonial Village in 1984 after being burned out of an
apartment on South Main Street. And as her son was ready to graduate
high school, along came her daughter, Natasha Mungo, 14.
"It was like starting over," White laughed. "But I really wanted a little girl. I
honestly live for my children."
White said before she leaves Colonial Village she would like to see the
housing authority do something for the mothers and fathers who live there.
She said while she's grateful for programs that help kids, adults have
problems too and housing "has to look at the whole family."
White said like many people, there have been some tough times, but she's
always had the memories of Campbell and the lessons she taught to fall
back on.
She said her mother, Betty Mungo, never knew it, but her grandmother let
her play hooky from school one day and took her to see the sites in New
York before rushing her back home where they stared innocently at White's
mother.
It is just one of the many memories that stay with White and helps ease the
pain of the passing of the woman who "died in my arms" and has been the
greatest influence in her life.
"She was my idol," she said. "I really had to put things into perspective and
figure out what I wanted in life. There were times that were very difficult for
me, but she was always there."
Staff writer James S. Walker can be reached at (203) 354-1004 or
jswalker@thehour.com
