“In the long run, Imani was the best thing that happened for me. At first I wasn't interested in Imani at all except for the basketball team. I thought Imani was too Godly, everything seemed to be about God. I came to the realization that God is everything and as long as you put Him first and believe in Him, great things will actually come. My experience was terrific. The staff was not there for the money; they were there to make sure every student had a plan for their life, a certified plan. They showed a lot of love towards me but also towards every student K-12. They went as far as helping you outside of school, things we needed in our personal life. If something was going on with us students they made sure to get us right, and that's what Imani is all about.” – Eugene Butler, 2010 graduate and current participant in "A Brighter Pittsburgh" at Geneva College
“My eleven years at Imani Christian Academy was a great experience. The staff is phenomenal. They are more than teachers, more like parents. Being in that environment really helps you to strive for your goals. When I graduated in 2008, I left with more than a diploma; I left with courage and dignity, and I was ready for the world.” – Tiffany Key, 2008 graduate currently working with mentally challenged kids and going to school to become a pharmacy technician.
“Imani is very important to me. It has helped me out in so many ways. It has even changed my life. When I came back to Imani in 8th grade, I was lost and had no direction or concerns about my future. With all of the support from the teachers down to the janitors, I realized there was more to life than just playing in the streets and risking my life. Above all, the encouragement and support I received, along with the love everyone poured into me, made me realize the most important piece of my life that was missing was a relationship with God.” – Brandon Balthrop, 2006 graduate and current employee for K.R.J. Landscaping.
“My situation was slightly different than most of the students attending Imani. I started Imani because my dad was one of the elders of the church. I was also one of the first students to attend when we were in the house setting. What I liked most about Imani was the closeness of the teachers and students in a learning environment. Most of the teachers were like a second dad and mom, and that helped ease the pressures most kids dealt with in other schools. Imani was a safe environment; I didn't have to deal with walking through metal detectors or school bullies. It was home away from home, and I think that is what helped me grow not only intellectually but spiritually. I was accepted to every college of my choice and felt a little more prepared than my peers once I started college. Now having kids of my own, Imani will be my first choice when they become school age.” – Lydia Reed, 2000 graduate, wife and mother of two boys, and current registered nurse at Presbyterian Hospital.
“My Imani experience is faith. In addition, Imani has taught me to value family that extends beyond my bloodline. I've learned to see what is special inside me, and through that I've learned how to be accountable to people and place others above myself. I developed a work ethic and was taught to serve no matter the situation. Through Imani I gained a new perspective on life, there was life outside of where I was raised. Above everything, my Imani experience gave me my wife and children, allowing me to cover them with integrity and love.” – Gregory Scales, 1994 graduate, husband and father of three boys, and hair stylist at Hair Care by Tiffany.
