Everyday Hero

For Parnell Davis, Mt. Pleasant has always felt like home.

'My family moved here when I was in the fourth grade, and it was like a safe haven for us,” he said. 'When I was living in Orlando after high school graduation, and I wasn't living my life the way I should have been, I felt God was leading me back to Mt. Pleasant, to that safe haven.”

It was in 2006 that Davis dug in his roots to Mt. Pleasant through Christamore Family Treatment Center. It was there that he discovered his desire to work with young people in the community.

'Working within the juvenile system, you tend to notice that there's a connection between those in the system and the lack of parental involvement,” Davis said. 'I grew up without a father figure, and I understand the importance of having that parental figure in your life. It sparked a desire in me to help those kids build meaningful adult relationships in order to grow into the great people that they can be.”

Throughout his time at Christamore, Davis was active within the community with Christamore service projects. However, his involvement grew larger when he brought Youth for Christ to southeast Iowa in 2017.

'It's so cool to have all these parents reach out because they want their kids to be involved with Youth for Christ and our service projects,” he said. 'Youth for Christ does so much for the kids, and it's not just after-school programs and events. We have Youth for Christ Gives Back where we partner with Midwest Old Threshers and the Fellowship Cup to do community projects, too.”

Though Davis loves Mt. Pleasant and being able to give back to the community and work with all great people, he doesn't think the term everyday hero applies to him.

'If we're being candid, the term hero is only because of Jesus,” he said. 'I saw what my life was like before him, and he's the only reason why this has all happened.”

- Mariah Giberson