For the second year, PennLive recognizes “Trailblazers and Trendsetters,” leaders and advocates in central Pennsylvania who strive to uplift their communities through work, business, the arts, service, and leadership. Celebrating History Month.
In the coming weeks, we'll be publishing more than 35 profiles of doctors, nurses, gardeners, pastors, educators, entrepreneurs, athletes, philanthropists, restaurateurs, authors, actors, and more. They are nominated by readers, and in most cases are people who have rarely been in the spotlight. More people were nominated than we were able to include. Save those people's names for future profiles.
I hope you enjoy reading about these pioneers. If you missed last year's event, you can find the link here.
joshua robertson
community: East Pennsboro Township
Year: 39
His story: Robertson, founder of Rock Church in uptown Harrisburg, is living proof that a one-size-fits-all approach to education doesn't fit all children. And if it doesn't suit you, the consequences can be devastating, but Robertson says by the grace of God he survived.
After rummaging through the school, Robertson attributed it to a combination of his personal popularity as a star athlete, a school-wide desire to maintain his academic eligibility, and even his girlfriend doing his homework for him. He says he ended up crashing and sustaining burns. During his first semester at Gardner-Webb University he was functionally illiterate.
Returning to Harrisburg and at a loss for what to do next, the former Central Dauphin East superstar told his friends when he got a call from a pastor he had met in North Carolina and asked why he would do such a thing. He said he was preparing to transport a large quantity of drugs to Altoona. He hadn't gone back to school.
When Robertson confessed that he was completely unprepared for college, the preacher cajoled and eventually persuaded him to return to Carolina and enroll in a community college with the promise of becoming his personal remedial reading teacher. Installed.
With one bachelor's degree and one master's degree, Robertson knows exactly how education can open and close doors. He spends much of his ministry creating alternative options for central Pennsylvania families whose children are struggling in public schools.
He's currently doing that through a church-based “learning space.” There, no more than 12 students learn online through an accredited cyber charter school, but under the guidance of an in-person learning guide.
After the “live learning” session ends, guides ensure students complete their assignments, provide assistance as needed, and direct students to physical education, self-selected clubs, and enrichment activities.
Robertson's next step is to create an after-school program where interested children can receive targeted support aimed at raising their reading and math skills to grade level.
It is equally important that Robertson's model is free for families who cannot afford high tuition fees — since his centers are not expected to meet all of the school's requirements.
The results in the first five years have been good enough that Robertson's model has been awarded a $500,000 award from the Yass Educational Foundation to support the effort, under the auspices of his nonprofit, the Coalition of Black Ministers. I just earned it.
BPUE currently has centers in Harrisburg and York, serving a total of approximately 60 children, most of whom are between the ages of 8 and 13.
According to Robertson's plan, the Yass Foundation grant will enable the opening of up to five new learning centers across the state during the 2024-25 school year.
In his words: “What is missing from homeschooling or virtual schooling is the structured day, adult support, and socialization that all children need. This is a service provided up to
“And what cannot be forgotten and overlooked is that character development is on behalf of those (learning leaders) who are at least trying to respect a system of morals and ethics…These children , I'm influenced by that. It's good.”
