Where It All Began: An Interview with CHAH Founder Yvonne Stennett

Yessibel Aquino

We interviewed the founder of our school, Yvonne Stennett. She discussed what inspired her to make CHAH and what her motivations were and still are. 

“I thought of CHAH because I thought of young people like yourselves who needed to have… quality education in a place where they could feel welcome, wanted, and valued,” Stennett said. “We thought that we could create a school, we thought we could create an environment where our young people could thrive, where they could learn, they could feel valued and be loved. So if others don’t do it for you, you do it for yourself, right? So we decided that we could do it.”.

Yvonne Stennett was born in Jamaica and came to NY when she was 10. She was raised on 157th St. in Washington Heights. She was motivated to start a school because while she was working in education for a long time, she recognized that young people weren’t getting enough support and community at school. 

“I had young people in mind. I had the desire to make sure that we were doing the right thing for our young people, that we were pouring into them everything that they needed to be great human beings, to be the best human beings that they could. So are they being loved? Are they being nourished? Are we teaching them like we’re supposed to? Are we giving them just the best environment and atmosphere so they can thrive? So all of that was part of the love that we poured into the school, and that’s what we wanted. We wanted a place, and I hope you guys feel that way. I really do. I hope you feel valued when you step in the doors, and you’re not being disrespected, but you’re being honored for the minds that you have and for the hearts that you have,” Stennett said.

Stennett studied in what is considered nowadays a community school. It was a school where everyone was connected, where you could participate in classes you didn’t even attend. A school,in Stennett’s eyes, that was very tight-knit, like a family. It was this very school that inspired Stennett to create CHAH, in hopes to bring kids of our generations and many generations to come that same comfort and education she received. 

“I would like to see many more CHAHs in different neighborhoods,” Stennett said. “I don’t really want to change it, not in that sense. I want to see it continue to grow. I want to see the young people more engaged and come back and participate in it. I want to see that cycle of life. Just continue, you know, come back and be great teachers, come back and be great principals, come back and, you know, cherish your neighborhood.”