CJM Rampelt Family Legacy Scholarship

My name is Tamar Gamble, and I attend Parkway Center City Middle College, where I will soon receive my associate's degree and high school diploma. I am the product of a very small family where my mother was the only child. I had experienced the loss of my only active grandmother at age seven, and witnessing her being ill and dying from breast cancer. I grew up with my twin brother, mother, and my grandmother before she passed away. Seeing my mother battle anxiety and depression and my grandma battle paranoia and depression exposed me to mental illness at a young age. Given this adversity I gained independence and awareness of some important issues early in age. I witnessed my mother work endlessly with limited help. Given this, I joined an organization called Youth United for Change during my freshman year and remained a member until the end of my junior year. This group transformed my life. Within it, I explored civic engagement and advocacy alongside my peers. Together, we tackled community issues like littering, gun violence, and public education. I canvassed in disadvantaged communities helping people register to vote, cleaning parks, and much more. I attended events empowering youth , emphasizing unity to fight against racial injustice, violence, and prejudice. Furthermore, during my three-year tenure in this program, I wrote about the impact of gun violence on individuals in Philadelphia, which was successfully published on the Kensington Voice blog see attached (https://www.kensingtonvoice.com/en/youth-united-for-change-gun-violence-parkway-center-city-middle-college-change/). “Everyday life shouldn’t include gun violence. We must fight for our community.” My motivation to serve and advocate for individuals ignited when one of my former classmates from my middle school was brutally shot and killed at the age of 15. My concern for the overall well-being of others and making a difference in the community, particularly the lower and working-class communities makes me committed to the efforts and advocacy of being involved in social issues, civic engagement, and community service. Given this adversity, I became committed to spreading awareness about gun violence in North Philadelphia and surrounding areas. In my 18 years, I have noticed government funding and resources are distributed more favorably to suburban communities, and the police are more invested in these neighborhoods than the disadvantaged ones surrounding them. Not all of the neighborhoods are valued equally by the government, as seen through the investment or divestment of different areas. The community will continue to suffer from problems like gun violence, inadequate funding for education, and dangerous and unsanitary conditions if resources or attention are not available. With this awareness, I want to work as a civil rights attorney, defending the legal rights to social justice, human rights, and racial equality as provided by American law. Cases involving discrimination based on age, race, national origin, religion, sex, and color are handled by civil rights lawyers. I was guaranteed the wonderful opportunity to participate in a summer internship at the Defenders Association of Philadelphia; one of the biggest law firms in Philadelphia. This was a proud achievement for me and my family. As the youngest intern, I engaged in court hearings, communicated with lawyers, and strengthened my passion for practicing civil rights laws to defend underprivileged people. I know what it is like being from an underprivileged neighborhood that lacks several resources for those living in the community. These individuals, especially deserve to have the same resources and recognition as the suburban communities because when feeling neglected people start putting themselves into dangerous situations which could lead to things like mental health, dangerous gangs, and more.