The mission statement of Eastern Washington University is to \u201cexpand opportunities for personal transformation.\u201d No one exemplifies that transformation more than graduate student Cedric Bradley. Cedric\u2019s Eastern journey began when he met Dr. Scott Finnie, senior faculty member and former director of Africana Studies. At the time, Cedric was a single, homeless, father of four children, who was determined to pursue an education and a better life for his family. Finnie\u2019s passion for student growth inspired Cedric to develop a personalized course of Interdisciplinary Study in Africana Studies and Communications.<\/p>\n
Professionally, Cedric translated a passion for making an impact into peer support work, helping men of color and the previously incarcerated. He also served as the criminal justice chair for the Spokane NAACP. As his accomplishments grew, so did his sense of fulfillment as a husband and father \u2013 who moved his wife and children first into a one-bedroom apartment and then into a larger home.<\/p>\n
Cedric established his own nonprofit enterprise, Family Community Services, to assist unsheltered people in securing housing, and created The Hope Club to provide services for people living at Camp Hope, the state of Washington\u2019s largest unsheltered community. He has worked with other community programs, WISE and Rising Strong, before accepting his current position of Director of Housing at Passages Family Support.<\/p>\n
While completing his graduate degree, Cedric also mentors low-income students beginning their own journeys at EWU. In addition, he is now a father of five children \u2013 ages 7 to 15 \u2013 who have a parent and role model to guide toward their own achievements. Cedric says his goal throughout his personal challenges has been \u201ctrying to figure out how to help others and connect with people.\u201d At one time, he recalls, it was hard to trust others. At Eastern, he says he \u201cfelt connected to positive people he could trust.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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