Lebanon leader Cornell Wilson honored by Lebanon Valley College for community service
Back when he was growing up in Lebanon City, 52-year-old Cornell Wilson didn't see himself one day becoming a leader of his community. In fact, he can remember a time when he wanted to become a local elementary school teacher.
But during his time attending Lebanon Valley College, that began to change. Wilson became active in the community, serving in student government and becoming elected as the president his senior year in 1996.
"I always have and always wanted to help others," Wilson said.
Now, he's been awarded by the school for his years of service to the community.
For his work since graduating, Wilson has been honored by LVC with an Alumni Citation, awarded to former students of the school who've made outstanding accomplishments in their field. Along with five other alumni from around the world, Wilson received the award at an event held during the school's homecoming weekend.
"I can say that this award would have never happened if it hadn't been for the great board and volunteers that make a difference has had over the last 10 years. They deserve a lot of the credit."
Wilson first started college in 1989 at Kutztown University but returned to Lebanon after both of his parents passed away. He took some time off and attended a few classes at Harrisburg Area Community College before transfering to LVC for his last three years, graduating in 1996.
After graduating, Wilson worked in social work and case management, mostly for Children and Youth at the boys group home. He was even a foster parent for a time.
A little over 10 years ago, Wilson and others founded Making a Difference of Lebanon, PA, a nonprofit organization focused primarily on education and serving the youth, which now donates books, runs camps and holds events like the back-to-school festival, Trunk-or-Treat and community Christmas meal held on Christmas day.
Wilson is currently the president of the board. He described his volunteers as everyday people, working class individuals, who just want to see a difference in his community.
He cites his time at Lebanon Valley College as the reason why he went on to become a pillar of the community. His time in the Sociology Department, as well as work in administration offices within the school and playing an active role in student government, Black culture club, and his fraternity.
"I just think that learning how to work with people, learning how to plan events, learning to collaborate with others and the experiences that I experience doing serving with Lebanon Valley, the social work field and sociology field, it all just prepared me, without me even knowing, to start a nonprofit and be the leader of the nonprofit."
He has also sat on the board of directors for the Lebanon School District for a term and served as a Lebanon City Council member for a term. While he has sat on various other community committees and board, he's currently on the board of Union Community Care and has recently been voted to sit on the Coleman Memorial Park board of trustees.
After losing reelection on the city council, Wilson decided to take a break from politics, believing that some people might have been reluctant to help out with Making A Difference of Lebanon, PA because of his role in politics and saying that he now sees donations from people that didn't donate or volunteer before.
"Making a difference is and will always be my main focus, till I'm too old to do it," he said.
Looking toward the future, Wilson wants more collaboration between nonprofits in the community, who are not only looking for the same funding and donations, but for the same lot of volunteers, which he says has shrunk since the pandemic.
He sees the biggest issues in Lebanon County as poverty, housing and homelessness and food security. He believes that if more people would volunteer their time, not just at his organization but at any organization, and neighbors began talking to each other, these issues would begin to get better.
Daniel Larlham Jr. is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at DLarlham@LDNews.com or on X @djlarlham.
This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Cornell Wilson awarded by Lebanon PA Valley College
