'Dare to dream boldy': Rockford area educator shares inspiring message on MLK Day

Dreams have the power to inspire people to see beyond their circumstances. Just ask Terrell Yarbrough, Harlem School District's first Black superintendent.

Yarbrough, the guest speaker at Rockford Ministers Fellowship's Martin Luther King Jr. weekend of celebration, shared his dream Monday of leading a school district in honor of the slain civil rights leader at the Nordlof Center.

Yarbrough, who grew up in Milwaukee, said he is a "product of the welfare system" after his father left the family.

"Government assistance helped my mom, who I love and miss her everyday. She's no longer with us. ... But this is not a sad story," Yarbrough said. "I embrace and appreciate everything that happened when I was younger because it provided me a vision for the future."

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Like many inner city youths, Yarbrough thought basketball would be his means to lift himself out of poverty. A teacher convinced him that going to college could be part of his vision, as well.

Yarbrough said going to college and becoming a teacher was a proud moment in his life. "But I thought to myself, 'Why not keep going?'

"You see, I'm here in front of you today because of teachers, coaches, friends family and the Y-5 — that's the Yarbrough-five, the family that I created, my wife and my three kids. I would not be here without their sacrifices."

Yarbrough encouraged all, especially the youngsters and young adults in the room, to follow their dreams, but he also said dreaming is not enough.

"We must combine our dreams with belief that we can become anything that we set our hearts and mind to in the pursuit of greatness," he said. "Let us dare to dream boldly and embrace challenges as stepping stones, failures as lessons and achievements as testaments to everyone that your circumstances don't define you."

The weekend of celebration kicked off Friday with a clergy luncheon at Court Street United Methodist Church and a religious celebration Sunday at Saint Paul Church of God in Christ.

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford area educator praises power of dreams on MLK Day