#makebetterhappen

When Boswell-Johnson first met Devin, the student was disengaged in the classroom and struggled with his English language arts coursework. As Le’otis began to build a connection with Devin, the student’s grades improved and his confidence grew.

When asked about his relationship with Boswell-Johnson, Devin said proudly, "He changed my life." Le’otis says that he always believed Devin could be successful—the student just needed to realize it for himself.

A Commitment to Student Success

Boswell-Johnson’s impact on Devin is just one example of how City Year AmeriCorps members are committed to student success. In recognition of Le’otis’ service to his school, students, and community, he earned the 2018 Eli. J. Segal Bridge Builder Award, which honors one outstanding City Year AmeriCorps member every year for their commitment to building healthy communities through service and embodying the program’s values.

Boswell-Johnson’s manager Lindsay Rose said that Le'otis is "a model AmeriCorps member whose influence on his team is profound."

In her letter of nomination for the Bridge Builder Award, Rose wrote that she and those who have had the privilege to work with Le'otis "believe that he will continue to inspire people of all ages, working with everlasting energy towards social change” and “truly embodying City Year's value: service to a cause greater than self."

Passion for Creating Change

Le'otis joined City Year Jacksonville with a passion for creating change, giving voice to the voiceless, and dismantling barriers for social justice. The Florida State University graduate will start his pursuit of a law degree this fall at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University to change policies that continue to affect all people of color, especially men.

"From the juvenile system policy reform to deconstructing the school-to-prison pipeline, I want to make a change,” said Boswell-Johnson. “I want to change the statistic that now states that there's a one-third chance for black men to be in jail in their lifetime."

Le'otis' commitment to dismantling oppression led him to help establish a non-profit in 2016 called Sons of Sophistication (SOS). The organization recruits mentors in Tallahassee and connects them to young black men, particularly those who have experienced trauma and need mental-health support, to help them find community and a space to work through healing.

“When I work with my students, through SOS or City Year, I am very transparent with them,” Le’otis said. “I’ve come from their communities. I’ve been through some of things they've been through. I let them know that I’m there to help prepare them to move forward. I give them the attention they need and I’m ‘real’ with them. When kids are open, they can tell us the truth but they also expect the truth from us."

When asked what motivates him to serve, Boswell-Johnson talks about his students.

"My kids motivate me to be my best self,” said Le’otis. “When they don't have anyone else, they have us—sometimes kids just need to reflect and debrief their day. I don’t take credit for their greatness, but I'm glad to be there."