NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: YVONNE SARGEANT
Can you share a bit about your background?
I grew up on the island of Barbados and immigrated to the United States as a teenager. Life in the U.S. was an adjustment, but with family and church friends, I was able to make that transition.
After high school, I attended New York Technical College and then Pratt Institute, where I earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. That led me to work in public service with the New York City Housing Authority. The work has been challenging over the years, but also rewarding. I’ve been involved with different contracts and projects that helped make life easier for residents of New York City Housing Authority developments.
What's a fun fact about you that most people don't know?
I’ve won the NYC WorkWell step challenge two years in a row! People often ask me about my daily step count and try to beat me. I tell them, “Go for it.” I enjoy staying active, and I guess I like a little competition.
How did you learn about AIM and why did you join?
I learned about AIM when I was looking online for things to do since I was thinking about retirement. I didn't want to wait until I actually retired to figure out what I would do with my time. I came across AIM and decided to sign up online before I ever attended an event. When I eventually attended my first meeting in May, I liked the events and activities they were putting together. I also felt that I had ideas and experiences that I could contribute. Since then, I've attended meetings, participated in activities, and become a member of the program committee. I'm happy to be able to volunteer my time and be part of AIM.
Who has influenced you the most in your life?
I don't know that I would say there is one particular person who has influenced me the most. I'm more of a person who gets an idea in my head and then tries to figure out how to make it happen. I believe that if something comes into my mind, the Lord put it there for a reason. So I'll go online, do some research, and look for a way to make it happen. That's actually how I've found many of the things I've gotten involved with over the years, including AIM.
My family has certainly shaped who I am. My dad had a real heart for people and liked to share whatever he had. My children have also influenced me in a different way. They make me think. They don't just accept one answer -- they make me dig deeper.
What are some of the biggest changes you've seen in the world during your lifetime?
One of the biggest changes I’ve seen is how families share home responsibilities. In the past, taking care of the home and children was typically seen as the woman’s responsibility. Now I see more men cooking, taking care of the children, helping around the house, and taking a more active role in the household. I’m glad to see more of that being shared now. I think it makes a difference.
If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?
I don’t really have a historical figure, but I do have a present-day person I would love to have dinner with: Mia Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados. I’m very proud of the way she has led Barbados. I admire her intelligence and her leadership, and I like the way she thinks about the future. She cares about Barbados, but she also thinks about the whole Caribbean and what the region can become. I would love to sit down with her, hear how she thinks about leadership and the future of Barbados, and understand what motivates her.
What's one thing you've always wanted to learn how to do but haven't had the chance to yet?
I would love to become fluent in Spanish. It’s funny because for some reason, I actually disliked Spanish when I was in school. I’ve never been able to grasp it the way I’d like to. I’ve been trying to learn it for years, but it still hasn’t stuck. Now I have a lot of family and friends who speak Spanish, and I really want to be able to communicate with them in their own language. So, after all these years, I still really want to learn Spanish. It hasn’t clicked yet, but I’m still determined to work at it.
