On July 12, 2004, I interviewed
Gilbert D. Paschall, Jr., senior membership and
program coordinator of Greater Harlem Chamber
of Commerce on 200A West 136th Street in Harlem.
The Chamber of Commerce conducts events that target
different age group such as The Black College
Fair that helps high school students who are thinking
about going to college. Students who join The
Black College Fair have a chance to get scholarships
and attend different events to meet people from
different types of businesses. The Greater Harlem
Chamber of Commerce also hosts events for senior
citizens.
On my way to meeting with Gilbert D. Paschall,
Jr. it was raining and windy.
When I arrived at his 136th
Street storefront, his receptionist paged him
and he came to the front desk well dressed. He
wore a pink button shirt with dark brown pants,
and black shiny shoes. He was very polite and
he asked me to join him at a restaurant on West
138th street while I interviewed him.
Gilbert D. Paschall, Jr.
was born March 23, 1972, at Our Lady Of Mercy
located on 233rd street White Plains Rd. His father
name is Gilbert D. Paschall the second, and his
mother’s name is Nilda Aviles. His mother
and father were born and raised in the Bronx.
The interesting thing about his family is that
Gilbert, his grandfather, and his father have
the same exact name. His grandfather’s name
is Gilbert D. Paschall Senior, his father name
is Gilbert D. Paschall the second, and his name
is Gilbert D. Paschall the third. He finished
high school in 1990 at A. Phillip Randolph High
School and for a while attended a local CUNY college
but he didn’t finish, he felt that it wasn’t
the right time to attain a college education,
so he pursued other career choices. .
He is 32 years old and
is married with two children. He has a daughter
named Daven who is four years old, and a son named
Gilly who is three.
He’s not a religious man but he does believe
in God and describe himself as a determined person.
For example, he said, “when I went for a
job at Verizon and passed all their tests they
put me on a waiting for a job list. So I came
to The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce to ask
them for their help because I knew Verizon was
a sponsor for Harlem, and The Greater Harlem Chamber
of Commerce reviewed my resume, therefore they
decided to hire me. This is what got me to this
point today and it also shows how determined I
was to get the job at Verizon.” And there
was another time when Gilbert D. Paschall worked
as a security guard, he told himself that he needed
a better job and was determined to change jobs
and that’s what he did. He said, “If
I set out to do something I know I will succeed
at what I set out to do.” This shows how
confident he is as well as smart.
He’s been working
at his job for more than five years, and he still
enjoys his work. He said, “I like my job
a lot because of the different people I get to
meet and the different activities I get to do.
I enjoy it a lot.” So I asked him dif he
has any problem at his job? He replied “I
don’t have problems at my job I just has
a lot of challenges. When I can’t handle
the challenges then it becomes a problem, but
it’s very seldom that challenges becomes
problems.”
Then I asked him what could
be done on 125th street to increase work productivity?
He suggested a business directory should be created
to make it easier to contact people living and
working in Harlem. And yes, he does agree with
the some of the changes on 125th Street. For instance,
the new Commerce Bank that recently opened gives
Harlem residents a chance to deposit and withdraw
money 24 hours a day. Other banks such as Washington
Mutual, North Fork as well as such well known
franchises as Staples, and Rite Aid provide jobs
in Harlem and give people within the community
an opportunity to shop and do business on Harlem’s
main commercial strips.
Gilbert D. Paschall is
a nice, patient, and smart individual who has
a head on his shoulders. He didn’t finish
college but he still obtained a good job, all
because he was determined and focused---and he
still is. He showed me that I could accomplish
anything. Gilbert D. Paschall advises young people
to “study a lot, learn as much as possible,
and stay in school.”
