HOUSTON- Growing up in Port Arthur, Texas, Deloyd’s parents, Mrs. Ruby Parker and Mr. Deloyd Parker, Sr., instilled in him a sense of humility, a willingness to help, the courage to face adversity and the strength to fight injustice when and wherever it is raises it’s ugly face. With this foundation, Deloyd along with countless Volunteers, Staff and Supporters have built S.H.A.P.E. a Comprehensive and Wholistic Community Institution.
For over 36 years, S.H.A.P.E. has survived the ebbs and flows of the civil rights movement. S.H.A.P.E.’s journey from a small organization to one of international scope mirrors the transition of its leadership. The center, which originally had a staff of two, now supports 25 full and part-time staff and hundreds of volunteers, that are the key component to S.H.A.P.E.’s success.
The outreach, which began locally, has now gained national and international attention. As a result, S.H.A.P.E. was honored in Washington, D.C., along with 26 others, for efforts in combating drugs, in the early nineties. S.H.A.P.E. has historically been involved with the organizing of the Million Man March, the Million Family March and the Millions More Movement where hundreds of families were transported from Harris County and the Gulf Coast Area to Washington, D.C. to join in another historic occasion.
For its efforts in improving the quality of life for children, family and the community as a whole, S.H.A.P.E. has received over 450 awards over the years, including the Jefferson Award, MLK Humanitarian Award, UNCF Leadership in the Minority Community Award, Mickey Leland Humanitarian Award, and too many others to list.
We salute Deloyd Parker, Jr. as this week’s Living Legend and invite you to send in who you think will make a good Living Legend and why they should be honored as such to news@aframnews.com.