Life sometimes moves in a circular motion. When Phil Yourish graduated from Weequahic in 1964 and did his student teaching at WHS in 1967 and 1968, he never anticipated that 29 years later he would return home again to the high school of his youth to participate in the launching of the Weequahic High School Alumni Association - a group representing alumni from the past and present with the mission to provide assistance to the current students at Weequahic. For the next 23 years, Phil has served the organization in an exemplary manner as a volunteer, founding Executive Director, and advisor.
During his career as an educator in Newark, Phil has not been short on achievements. Starting out as a junior high school Social Studies teacher, he soon became the director of Independence High School - an award-winning alternative high school for high-risk youth for 10 years. In the mid-90s, he became the director of the Newark Literacy Campaign. Yet, he will tell you that his work with the Alumni Association may be his biggest accomplishment.
"It's very special to have contributed from its inception to the birth and growth of an organization that has accomplished so much and has become a model for successful high school alumni groups everywhere. And, most important, it has nobly fulfilled its mission to benefit the the students at Weequahic High School. For me, it can't get much better than that."
Although Weequahic Alumni matters have consumed much of his time over the past years, Phil also found space in his life to serve on the Board of Trustees of a number of local community-based organizations, such as the Newark Public School Historic Preservation Committee, Newark Landmarks, Andy Cappon Community Action Project, Ironbound Theater, Cornucopia Network of NJ, Northeast Earth Coalition, Jewish Historical Society of NJ, and The Jewish Museum of NJ, where he curated the "Synagogues of Newark" exhibit.
Moreover, he has taken three treks across country in his motorhome with his dogs "Beaujangles" and "Red," traveled to Nepal, India and Thailand for 5 months to be with a group teaching sustainable agriculture, and went on a trip through Mexico to Central America with members of the Bread and Puppet Circus from Vermont in a refurbished school bus which was delivered to a performing arts group in Nicaragua.
As to leaving after more than two decades, Phil states "...I've developed many meaningful relationships at WHS and beyond. I will miss working in the Alumni Office; collaborating with current director Myra Lawson; being in touch with graduates all across America; getting to know the wonderful students, teachers, and administrators at the high school - and working with the organization's Co-Presidents and officers and the many alumni board members who have helped build a firm foundation for our ongoing success."
What's next for Phil? "Rest, relaxation, reflection, renewal - and a few more exciting adventures."