Mentors 3: Asst. Police Chief David Zannelli, Fire Capt. Troy Frost, Fire Lt. Derrick Meade at WNHH FM.
“I grew up in the projects. My grandmother took care of ten of us. I knew what it’s like to sleep on the floor and eat mayonnaise sandwiches.”
Troy Frost told that story the other day to students at Riverside Academy, many of whom have been struggling with challenges growing up.
He built up to this point: “We can make it.”
Frost made it to the fire department, where he’s now a captain.
He went to the Hallock Avenue school with Assistant Police Chief David Zannelli. They were on a mission: To recruit young people for a first-ever summer mentorship program led by city cops and firefighters.
Called the Career Exploratory Program, it will last six weeks. The program is offering 15 scholarships for up to 15 people between 16 and 21 years old, who will then meet both as a group and then one on one with assigned mentors from fields they may wish to pursue, ranging from public safety first responders to real estate and construction.
Frost and Zannelli spoke about the program along with Fire Lt. Derrick Meade, who was instrumental in organizing it, during an episode of WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven.” Meade spoke of how firefighters formed a new nonprofit called the Greater Purpose to help young people they saw leading increasingly stressed lives since the onset of the pandemic. Then they united with a firefighters’ group called the Elm City League, in which Frost is active, to put together this summer program.
Frost brought in Zannelli, with whom he’s friendly. Zannelli said he has already recruited two officers, Gabrielle Curtis and Tyler Evans, to volunteer as mentors for the program. He said this kind of work brings officers closer tot he community. It also helps the city by offering young people, including those who might not be college-bound, paths to solid careers.
See the pictured notice at right and scan the QR code to apply for the scholarship or learn more. to apply for a scholarship or sign up for mentorship, first log into your Google account in order to click the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc2iEGqOUxpTFUgQ9gLi-6T3dWuoUZjFiZRMMDw9mzWNSlTcg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0 .
Click on the video to watch the full conversation on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven” with fire Lt. Derrick Meade and Capt. Troy Frost and Asst. Chief David Zannelli, in which they also discussed their own paths to public safety careers. Click here to subscribe or here to listen to other episodes of“Dateline.”