Turning survival into growth and growth into service – Clyde’s Story
Clyde, guest speaker at Beacon’s Light the Way Home event
I want to thank you for supporting a cause that has not only changed my life but has changed the lives of countless young people in our community. My name is Clyde and I’ve been a resident at Nicollet Square going on three years now.
Before coming to Nicollet Square, my life felt like a constant battle. My first twenty-two years were a mix of adversity and good memories, but more often the former. I grew up carrying the weight of complex post-traumatic stress disorder from a young age, and over time, that weight drove me into addiction. My days were filled with pain, sadness, grief, despair, and fury. I lived in extremes—hedonistic at times, nihilistic at others—searching for meaning but often feeling like there was none. I was getting in trouble at school and getting in trouble at home.
A bright spot for me and my life is when I began working for the Northside Safety NET. Through this work, I saw glimpses of my own purpose and discovered a path to meaning as a way out of adversity. Beacon’s Nicollet Square, a supportive housing community, serving young adults like me in Minneapolis became a pivotal part of that journey.
Nicollet Square gave me the foundation
I’ve always been a pretty independent person. I didn’t need someone to walk me step by step through my journey, but what I did need was stability. Nicollet Square gave me that foundation. It offered me a secure place to build my life upon. In very tangible ways, Nicollet Square has supported me – not only with rent that I could afford on a limited income, but supportive staff who helped reimburse me for $1,000 worth of psychology services, helped me pay off $400 worth of tickets, contributed to my tuition, and even bought me a computer so I could engage in my Political Affairs Ambassador internship. These are not small things, they are the cornerstones that allowed me to keep moving forward and to keep building.
Beyond the financial support, Nicollet Square gave me something deeper: the grounding I needed to turn survival into growth, and growth into service.
That brings me to why I spend my energy on activities that benefit the larger community. The truth is, I’ve been fortunate. Fortunate enough to have opportunities that allowed me to rise above adversity, fortunate enough to have mentors, support systems, and now, platforms like this one. And because of that, I feel a responsibility not just to myself, but to others. I don’t want anyone to have to feel the pain, despair, and isolation that I once knew.
I believe we are stewards of life and of the earth, and that stewardship extends beyond ourselves. To me, altruism in the 21st century is not just charity, it’s a principle of life and virtue required of every human being. Altruism is the recognition that our existence is tied to one another, and that to serve others is not optional but essential to living a full, meaningful life.
This is why I dedicate myself to service. As Chair of the Voices of Youth Advisory Council, as a Minneapolis Youth Congress coordinator, and as a Minnesota’s Afterschool Ambassador, my work is not just about programs and policies, it is about building a culture of care, a culture where service is the highest calling, where we raise up the voices of those who are too often silenced.
Fueling transformation and hope
So today, I say to you: it is not only that we should be drawn to donating to Beacon’s supportive housing – it is that we should be drawn to the noble cause of living in the service of others. By supporting Beacon, you are not just funding housing. You are funding futures like mine. You are affirming dignity. You are choosing to be stewards of humanity and of the earth.
As for me, my journey is still unfolding. Up ahead, I see a lifelong dedication to the pursuit of wisdom and lifelong development. I am currently studying political science, and once I receive my bachelor’s degree, I plan to work in international relations and diplomacy. Alongside that, I aspire to publish philosophical writings to give voice to the questions and truths that shape our humanity. And through it all, I will continue the work of the soul, striving always to live in service of the divine.
In closing, I want to thank you for your generosity. It fuels the kind of transformation that turns pain into purpose, despair into dignity, and instability into a foundation for hope. Supporting Beacon’s work means supporting lives like mine and many others yet to come.
Will you help Beacon create more affordable homes so that young people can build a foundation of hope? Consider making a gift today.
About Clyde.
Clyde is a dedicated community professional who has devoted the last five years to serving and uplifting his community through leadership, advocacy, and youth empowerment. He is currently pursuing a degree in Political Science and holds several influential roles, including Chair of YouthLink’s Voices of Youth Advisory Council, Environmental Committee Coordinator for the Minneapolis Youth Congress, and Minnesota Afterschool Ambassador Fellow. Clyde’s passions extend deeply into philosophy, psychology, mythology, ontology, comparative religion, and art—disciplines that shape and guide the way he approaches his work and service. He integrates these perspectives to inspire transformative community engagement, foster youth leadership, and promote holistic approaches to justice and empowerment. Above all, Clyde prides himself on being a steward of mankind, humanity, and the earth, committed to cultivating a future where communities thrive through collective action, understanding, and purpose.
