SL_People of the Year_1224FINAL.qxp_Profile ( Dept . ) 1 / 7 / 25 2 : 38 PM Page 5 WRITE PEOPLE of the A Light on MAKES Year the Main seemed natural to go into education . My MIGHT thinkingwas that if kids have education , they won’t need a lawyer . ” Mary Aiken helps underserved children Line While Mighty Writers works primarily believe in possibilities rather than limits . with children , it also aims to uplift families Muneera Walker spreads kindness ary Aiken professes a lifelong love and communities through workshops and and builds a sense of community ofthe written word and a deep ap - other programming . She admits that “ ex - Mpreciation for the power of story . pandingthe circle ” can be a challenge , given among neighbors . She recalls writing stories as early as first working parents . theheavy demands on uneeraWalker’s commitment to a grade and her teacher responding , “ You “ Iwas raised by a single mom , so I com - better future — for everyone — shouldpublish this . ” pletely understand , ” she says . “ That’s why Mshould serve as a beacon of light Aiken’sjourney to her current position — we try to do as many things as possible after for others to follow . Walker , executive di - senior director of literacy for the North and workand on Saturdays . My mom didn’t go rectorof Neighbors Helping Neighbors on WestPhiladelphia locations of the nonprofit to a lot of things when I was growing up , the Main Line ( NHN ) , founded her orga - organizationMighty Writers — seems almost because she was working , but she made nizationon the philosophy that all people preordained.Mighty Writers serves commu - sure I was there . ” within a community are integral to the nitiesin and around Philadelphia , across the Aiken has no specific goals for the im - wellbeing of that place . river in Camden , Newark , and Atlantic City , mediatefuture , other than continuing to help Walkercomes from a “ family of dedi - and as far away as El Paso , Texas . Mighty the next generation of Philadelphians — be cated community helpers . ” She formed Writers’primary objective : to teach children it her own four children or those served by NHN at the onset of the pandemic , how to think clearly and write with clarity MightyWriters — find their place in the world . sparkedby a message from a local school so they can achieve success . That said , the One of her daughters , Kaia , a recent gradu - districtsuggesting that breakfast and lunch organizationdoes much more than that . ate of Savannah College of Art and Design , services for students could be inter - “ Webasically want to give kids as many is currently working as a part - time literacy rupted.She thought families could benefit opportunities as possible , ” says Aiken , a manager and artist in residence for Mighty from food for dinners and on weekends , originally from North Wynnewoodresident Writers . too . Carolina . and “ All I know is that I’m in this space “ That’show it started , ” she says . “ Our Prior to her post with Mighty Writers , I’mgoing to enjoy it , ” Aiken says . “ I’m con - nonprofit just formed organically . ” Aikenworked as an educator , teaching stu - stantly reminded that maybe my work will on a role as a community Walkertook dents in the gifted program at Cheltenham never be finished , but I’m certainly willing liaison about 15 years ago , when a group School District . She enjoyed the work , but it to do it . ” — Bill of local families approached her for help wasn’twhat she set out to do when she be - Donahue with their children’s school district . This gan her career in education . work gave her a deep understanding of “ Oneof the things I know from teaching what local families need and primed her ina suburban district and being in the city is to launch her nonprofit in 2020 . that there’s not an achievement gap but an “ I’m from this community , born and opportunity gap ; they just need those op - raised , ” Walker shares . “ When people portunities , ” she says . “ At both sites — West think of this area , one of the first things Phillyand North Philly — it’s important to me theythink of is affluence . I choose to focus that kids get those opportunities . If we’re on the wealth of talents we have on the goingto see a play , maybe it’s BalletX , which Main Line . is not done in a traditional way , so they can “ My belief is that every person adds makethe connection that their path doesn’t a key component to what could be our haveto be traditional . We’re constantly push - successes or downfalls , ” she continues . ing them to go deeper and help them un - “ Embracing the Main Line as one solid derstand that there is no limit . ” community gives us the opportunity to Education was not Aiken’s first career be a forerunner in what a truly success - choice.She studied political science at Tem - hy could not ful society looks like . NHN p pleUniversity , with every intention of ragoing havedone anything it did without oghaving to law school . ot all of its many , many contributors from h “ Myinterestwas in civil rights law , P the Main Line . ” en not making hundreds of llthousands Programs look to uplift through Avar - of dollars , but doing isecommunity ious modalities , notably education em - n service on some level , ” she esays . powerment and food security . Her Dvi - y “ I’d always worked with kids — b sion : that “ one day , every person will to camp , daycare — and always con - o have fair and even access to the Phre - nected with kids . In hindsight , it SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM VOLUME 16 ISSUE 3 52 |