Zachary Groz photo
Keontrai Floyd, with his mom Ronnica Floyd, at Wednesday's ceremony.
Just before Christmas last year, 19-year-old Keontrai Floyd was visiting his mom and younger brother at the New Reach supportive housing community in Fair Haven, when he came up with a big idea.
He had already been brainstorming what gifts to buy for his parents and brother and nieces and nephews. When he got to New Reach, he looked around and saw a lot of other younger kids playing outside.
“They reminded me of myself when I was younger,” said Keontrai, who had been homeless for some time earlier in his teenage years, “and I didn’t have the best things, just all year-round, not just Christmas.”
So Keontrai hatched a plan to buy the kids at New Reach toys for Christmas, eventually gathering $2,000 worth of presents to donate to the community’s Gift-a-Family program for homeless and low-income children and parents.
On Wednesday, Keontrai received an official citation from all 30 members of the Board of Alders, recognizing his efforts. “You are an inspiration for so many in our city, including us,” reads the citation, which Hill Alder Carmen Rodriguez read aloud at a ceremony held at New Reach, standing beside Alders Caroline Tanbee Smith and Frank Redente, Jr.
“We deeply admire your perseverance through your own experiences of adversity that did not hold you back, as well as your ability to motivate and support others through those challenges,” the citation continues. “You are known for the love you share with people and your dedication to giving back to those in need, especially your commitment to supporting the youth in our city, who are going through their own experiences and challenges in this tremendous moment.”
In addition to the citation from the Board of Alders, Keontrai received a Certificate of Special Recognition signed by U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, which was presented to him by his mentor, Daniel Hunt, who serves as the community liaison at the New Haven-based economic development outfit Connecticut Community Outreach Revitalization Program (ConnCORP).
After their son received the official papers acknowledging his work giving back to the community and his bright future ahead, Keontrai’s parents, Ronnica Floyd and Tyrese Brown, both spoke at Wednesday’s celebration. “I made a prayer a long time ago that if I had one more chance in life to correct my wrongs, this is it right here, this is him,” said his father, Tyrese.
Now Keontrai, who graduated last year from Eli Whitney Technical High School, is working at Sikorsky, where he got started through the company’s Career Pathways Program, which trains technical students in a variety of aviation-related trades. In his free time he’s dreaming up plans for the creation of not one but two community nonprofits to mentor youth in the city.
“This is just the beginning for you,” said Alder Smith. “We’re honoring you in a moment where now we get to watch you, cheer you on in just the start of your long, long journey in public service.”
Celebrating Keontrai's achievement at New Reach.