Actor and Comedian, Tommy Davidson, Visits Memphis Street Academy

PHILADELPHIA - Nov. 15, 2018 - PRLog -- Tommy Davidson, actor, comedian and former adoptive child visited students at Memphis Street Academy today for a meet and greet and Q&A. Coordinated in part by ChildPromise Inc, Davidson visited with 20 5^th through 8^th grade students from Memphis Street Academy located in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia. Some of the students who met with Davidson are in the foster care system. Davidson, a foster child himself, was able to relate personally to their situation. All of the children present had the opportunity to ask Davidson questions about his life, career, and his experiences in foster care.

Mr. Davidson told the students, "As long as you put everything you have into what you're doing, something's going to come out of it and that something is always going to be good."

BROLL AND SOUND CLIPS FROM TODAY'S EVENT COURTESY OF GREEN LEAF PRODUCTIONS, INC.

LINK: https://vimeo.com/301077755



PASSWORD: tommy

Davidson will be the keynote speaker at this evening's 2^nd Annual ChildPromise Gala, which will be held at the Green Valley Country Club, Lafayette Hill.

"Children can only do what they know," stated Nathaniel J. Williams, Ed.D., President and CEO of ChildPromise, Inc., when asked about the impact of today's event on children in the foster care system. "Tommy Davidson helped them realize that overcoming life's challenges is not only possible but rewarding. Mr. Davidson reminded them that success is the only option."

For many years, ChildPromise Inc. has been supporting and encouraging current and former foster children to pursue higher education or a trade. Today, with the support of donors, volunteers, and community partners, ChildPromise is making a difference by raising funds for higher education scholarships and credentialing opportunities for foster youth. ChildPromise strives to alter the current statistic that only 1% of children in the foster care system go onto higher education/credentialization to match the 30% higher-education achievement found across the general population of America.

Davidson started his career as a standup comedian in Washington DC, earning an ardent following with relentless work in the comedy clubs. As one of the up and coming, young stand-ups, he was spotted by major concert promoters who booked him as the opening act for A-list tours including Patti LaBelle, Kenny G and Luther Vandross. Soon after that, he was off to Hollywood and started to headline at a number of popular comedy clubs that helped skyrocket his career. Davidson is best known as one of the stars of the hit television show In Living Color. He lent his voice to Will Smith's, Youngin', as well as additional animated series' on Disney Channel and Adult Swim. Davidson starred in the award-winning documentary, I Am Comic opposite Tim Allen, Lewis Black and Sarah Silverman. He currently hosts Vacation Creation which airs locally on 6 ABC - WPVI.

"We were privileged to have Mr. Davidson meet our students today," replied Darrien Peoples, Director of Climate for Memphis Street Academy Charter School. "Tommy Davidson is a living representation of hope and achievement despite adversity. It's important for our scholars to believe that they can achieve greatness."

Memphis Street Academy was developed in the Spring of 2012. John Paul Jones Middle School became the Memphis Street Academy Charter School with the help of American Paradigm Schools. Memphis Street Academy is a Caring School Community where children experience a "democratic-values" approach to learning. This method reflects on being inclusive, respecting differences, caring about fellow scholars, and being intrinsically motivated to do the right thing. The school is also a place for children to experience diversity in their neighborhoods, as well as in art, music and many social and physical activities.

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ChildPromise, Inc. supports quality residential and educational services for children and youth. Furthermore, we are committed to fostering a sense of responsibility and accountability in children and youth, by creating opportunities.

Memphis Street Academy Charter School enhances, supports and promotes the critical thinking and problem-solving skills of its school-aged learners as they master Pennsylvania and national Common Core Curriculum standards.  Memphis Street Academy is an American Paradigm School.

American Paradigm Schools develops, manages, and supports diverse school communities, who are grounded in literacy to produce academic excellence and expand opportunities for all students. Our vision is world class schools in diverse communities.