10/08/2026
Last week, Daryl Homer went back to the Bronx.
Students at PS/MS 5 Port Morris got a visit from their Athlete Mentor, Daryl, after a year of virtual mentorship through Classroom Champions. A classroom visit, an assembly, a fencing demonstration with teammate Khalil Thompson... the students were thrilled to meet their mentor in-person, and Daryl got to hear firsthand what his mentorship has meant to them.
“Daryl taught me it’s okay to fail.”
“Since Daryl showed up, I started to care and try harder.”
Daryl grew up in the Bronx, and now he gets to be a source of encouragement, perspective, and possibility for students growing up in the same community.
Last Thursday was a day filled with fencing and fun, but bigger than that, last Thursday was the culmination of a year of showing up, building trust, and reminding students that they have a champion in their corner.
It's critical for students to have a positive role model like Daryl in communities like P.S. 5. Daryl is more than just a champion in their corner; he is often the reason a student will come to school.
Moments like these are the epitome of our mission at Classroom Champions. Witnessing students light up when they meet the mentor who believed in them is exactly why we do this work. Because when students see someone who looks like them, comes from where they come from, and chose to show up, they start to believe in what’s possible for themselves.
Thank you, Daryl, for going back to the Bronx.
