Community Comes Out to Support Hazel Park Promise Zone

(Crystal A. Proxmire, March 9, 2024)

Hazel Park, MI – Jared Gajos gave a speech at the Hazel Park High School graduation ten years ago. He was one of the first students to benefit from the Hazel Park Promise Zone – an organization set up to ensure that students in the community have financial support – and mentorship support – to go to college. Now, after earning a Master’s Degree from Wayne State University, Gajos remains involved in the community that helped to raise him, serving as a mentor to this decade’s youth, and working as Human Resource Director for the City of Hazel Park, where he started off as an intern eight years ago.

Gajos was honored with the 2024 Sutar Sutaruk Meyer Promise Zone Scholar of Excellence Award at the Feb 27 at the Hazel Park Promise Zone annual dinner.

“The Promise Zone is much more than just a scholarship,” Gajos said. “It’s resources. It’s connections.”

Monica Rattee was awarded the William C. Hitchcock Promise Zone Scholar of Excellence Award for the numerous ways she has been involved in the Hazel Park community, including serving as bookkeeper for the Promise Zone for the past ten years.

She is the Hazel Park School Board Treasurer, PTA President, and a member of the Downtown Development Authority Board. She is the wife of a Marine Veteran and mother of three who is also involved with sports teams, bake sales, and other events. City Manager Ed Klobucher presented the award, stating the Rattee “takes time to listen to all sides of an issue. He also recognized her work putting on the annual events for Promise Zone each year. “These Promise Zone dinners do not put themselves on,” he said.

The Above and Beyond Award went to Rick Dearly, who is retiring from the school district. He’s also been involved in the Promise Zone for years, and it was his creativity behind the group’s logo and branding.

The event also featured a presentation by historian and reporter Ken Coleman, who spoke about Michigan’s role in the Underground Railroad.

The real stars of the evening were the people who attended and helped to support the scholarships offered by Promise Zone. In addition to a lovely dinner and presentations, there was also a caricature artist and raffle to help bring in funds for supporting the students.