For Continuing Learners, Every Day is a Chance to Head Back to School
At Project HOME, the mission to end and prevent chronic street homelessness is not just a job, it’s a calling, a community, and for many, a second chance. For staff members like Tycheonah White and Alonda Jones, the opportunity to learn and grow through Project HOME’s educational resources has been more than professional development, it’s been life-changing.
Tycheonah White's story is one of the powerful transformations. Just a few years ago, he was navigating the challenges of homelessness. “I was going through being homeless. A lot of people told me that Project HOME can help with other things. They also help with different classes too,” he said. It was during this time that Tycheonah discovered the educational resources at Honickman Learning Center Comcast Technology Labs (HLCCTL), a cornerstone of Project HOME’s Adult Education and Employment Program.
“I received my ServSafe Manager, ServSafe Food Handler, and my Certified Recovery Specialist certifications all from Project HOME,” Tycheonah shared proudly. He didn’t stop there, he went on to take a public speaking course, noting, “Miss Sierra, she made it like the whole experience relaxing. It wasn’t really stressful.” More recently, he earned his Community Health Worker title through Temple University. “I have three titles right now, and it’s so beautiful.”
Now on the employee side of Project HOME, Tycheonah works as support staff in the city’s Philly Home near Girard College program that Project HOME staffs, the very building where he once lived. “It’s definitely different from being on the other side. You really get to see the different dynamics and understand what each person’s issues are like,” he said. His lived experience has shaped not only his empathy but his approach. “Even if you never walked a mile in somebody's shoes, they're still people.”
For Tycheonah, the certifications weren’t about credentials; they were about credibility and connection. “I want to be able to put myself in a position to be that person to help for individuals who decide that they want to get help.”
Nearly three decades into her journey with Project HOME, Alonda Jones continues to be a source of strength, compassion, and connection. As the beloved lead receptionist in Outreach at the Christopher J. Seward Residence, Alonda warmly welcomes individuals experiencing homelessness, staff, residents, and members of the community—often serving as the first friendly face they encounter. With genuine empathy, she builds meaningful relationships, offering not just guidance but dignity and hope. Her recent decision to complete CPR certification through Project HOME reflects her deep sense of responsibility and unwavering commitment to the well-being of everyone she serves.
“You just never know when an emergency will occur where I might have to jump into action,” she said. “With my experience of dealing with some of the residents through crisis and seizures this was something new. I just wanted to take that training so I can learn the next steps of what to do.”
Alonda took part in a hybrid CPR training which was half online and half in-person at Ruth Williams House at the Gene & Marlene Epstein Building. The hands-on experience was intense, she recalled, “You’re working under pressure, trying to keep this person alive until rescue gets there. Even though it was practice, it was still challenging. I was still nervous, because I wanted to keep this mannequin, this person, alive.”
Her decision to get certified was deeply personal. “We worked on adults; we worked on babies. I have got kids out here that are infants. You just never know when you have to act fast.” The course wasn’t just for work it was for a life lesson. “You could be in a movie theater, walking down the street, at dinner, anywhere where someone needs your services. ‘Do anybody know CPR?’ ‘Do you feel strong and confident to act fast?’”
Tycheonah and Alonda represent two ends of a powerful spectrum: one, a newer staff member fresh from lived experience and eager to create change; the other, a seasoned cornerstone of stability, looking for every opportunity to grow and give back. Yet their stories converge in a message that rings true for everyone: We all deserve access to education and tools that help us better ourselves, and one another.
Whether it's a CPR course, a recovery certification, or a public speaking class, the resources available through Project HOME help empower residents, employees, and community members to grow. In doing so, they remind us of all of one simple truth: no matter where you come from, we all have the right and the potential to rise.
