In the core of Philadelphia, the Rail Park is being developed as a three-mile linear park, intersecting ten neighborhoods. With a quarter-mile open, in the middle of it all, you’ll find an alum of Morehouse College, Kevin Dow, Executive Director of the Friends of Rail Park.
Previously, Dow held executive positions at the United Way, the City of Philadelphia’s Commerce Department, and Wells Fargo. He currently serves as a trustee for Harcum College and on the board of directors for the Fleisher Art Memorial, the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation and the Philadelphia Advisory Board for LISC. He is also a founding member of the Philadelphia Black Giving Circle and holds an MBA from St. Joseph’s University and a Bachelor’s from Morehouse College.
Dow feels that the relationships he acquired while attending Morehouse sustained his professional growth throughout his career. He expresses that you can’t deny the impact of historically black colleges and universities. The thriving Black populations that grew from their influence helped not only Black people, but all people, progress in this country.
Martin Luther King Jr. and Thurgood Marshall graduating from HBCUs should be precedents that this and future generations of Black youth look for in applying to college. Dow stated this is why “we should embrace the institutions not only for what they have accomplished in the past however what they are succeeding to do in the future.”
Who could tell our stories better than us? No one. We tell our stories the best – what we need are allies to do the same. Dow feels continued HBCU success is at the core of a black community and our society as a whole.
HBCUs themselves tell an important story about our place in this culture, and help others continue to recognize the story unfolding within themselves. Knowing this gives Kevin Dow a sense of purpose and desire to achieve personal and professional fulfillment as he continues to support a system of interconnectedness for other young Black people.
