The Diamonds are hosting a 20 year reunion June 19th and 20th at the Holiday Inn North. June 19 activities begin at 7pm with a Meet and Greet and continuing June 20 with Family Fun skating at Skate World and 7pm dinner and dance at the Holiday Inn.
Former YMCA/EHA Diamonds from all over the country, Jeffersonville YMCA Diamonds and current YMCA Diamonds members will come together for weekend of fellowship, host a youth summit and fun.
The program began in 1995 by founder Calvin Turnley to assist at-risk girls living in the housing developments to graduate high school, increase self esteem, prevent teen pregnancy and learn to become self sufficient.
Those founding sisters, with the guidance and mentorship of India Davis created the name and acronym D.I.A.M.O.N.D.S.-Determined, Intelligent, Active, Mature, Outstanding, Nubian, Dedicated, Sisters. Bylaws were established, weekly meetings held, community service requirements, college tours and a mentor was assigned to each girl.
The YMCA and Evansville Housing Authority hired Karen Ragland as the first full time director in 1997. At that time, the program had 15 high school and middle school girls. To be a member the girls had to recite the Diamonds mission statement, perform monthly community service and maintain minimum 2.5 GPA. The program had a 99% high school graduation rate.
Within 5 years of the program, it had grown to 150 high school, middle school, and elementary girls at six different sites. The YMCA staff over each group was Sherri Montgomery Diamonds II-middle school, Tracey Williams -Diamondettes, and Off-site Diamondettes staffs were Delia Flores, Kimberly Van Zant and Tiffany Boyd.
Through a partnership with University of Southern Indiana social work department, students completing their master’s degree could intern for the Diamonds program at the YMCA. Â Deidra Stewart, a MSW intern, wrote a Healthy Choices/Healthy Relationships curriculum for the Diamondettes program.
The Diamonds program was in three elementary schools, Erie, Caldwell and Fulton housing developments and at the YMCA.
Many former Diamonds members have graduated college and or continuing their post secondary education. The young women have careers as entrepreneurs, teachers, nurses, behavior specialist, and psychologist. One former Diamond has her law degree.
The Diamonds 20th year reunion is made possible by corporate sponsors-YMCA of Southwestern Indiana, Inc., Imprint Center, Inc., WEOA “The Pump 1400†and City of Evansville Youth Leadership Grant.
