Oct 21, 2009 8:37 pm US/Pacific
San Francisco Man Mentors Community Kids
Jefferson Award: Tracy Dixson
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ―
Tracy Dixson distributes food from San Francisco's Food Bank to more than a hundred families a week. It's part of his paying job at the Heritage Homes affordable housing complex. But from 35 years experience working in the high risk Visitacion Valley neighborhood, he sees many who need even more help.
"As Resident Services Coordinator, I was dealing with helping folks stay out of eviction, so you know the struggles they're going through," he says.
So, besides food bank donations, some people receive hot food from Tracy himself. He cooks more than 250 free meals a week for cash-strapped families using profits from his weekend catering business, Dixson Delights.
Senior citizens cook, too. The program builds relationships.
"That's the way I coach, that's the way I take on anything I touch - as family," Tracy explains.
For neighborhood kids, Tracy started Family Fun Nights, coaches sports teams, and takes them camping, rafting, and swimming.
Neighbor Evelyn Raglin says Tracy is a role model who keeps kids out of trouble.
"Marcus - my son - was like his son. When Tracy would cook, he'd be right there with him," Evelyn remembers.
Tracy mentored Nakeitha Kennedy also, and now he helps her son see there's life outside Visitacion Valley.
"My son is eight years old," Nakeitha says. "He looks up to him, like: 'Mom, I'm going with Tracy, call Tracy to tell him to come!' He does camping, he does fishing, it's always something."
Tracy keeps going, even when times are tough. He lost nine neighbors to violence last year, including his own 15-year-old son. He says Trayon was not a gang member, but was shot in a drive-by shooting. He says the loss makes him more determined to serve other families.
"To honor him, I have to keep on doing what I've been doing, keep on pushing, to get some success out of this."
That inspires Tonja Boykin, Tracy's supervisor at the housing complex.
"Change happens one person at a time, one child at a time, one family at a time," Tonja says. "I know he believes that. That's what keeps him going."
Tracy adds, "People who come up to you and say, 'Hey, man, you are making a difference!" This is what gets you up in the morning."
So for helping thousands of families with food, field trips, and a family atmosphere, this week's Jefferson Award in the Bay Area goes to Tracy Dixson.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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