And That's a Wrap. Sliding into Saturday with Bags Under My Eyes, but Absolute Joy That Another Youth Leadership Academy was Achieved

There isn't much better to fuel the heart than to see 82 8th graders engaged, writing, enthusiastic, and full of promise for a better tomorrow. Rony Delva recruits the best students, teachers, and schools to participate in the MLK Youth Leadership Academy and I can't imagine a better guest speaker than Dr. Yohuru Williams. His brilliance as a speaker is out of this world and his civil rights knowledge is like no other. I am forever thankful that he shared his time with Bridgeport youth and helps me to fulfill my mission as a National Writing Project director to reach all its goals. 

But now it is Saturday. I need to unwind. To Walk. To take advantage of these abnormal temperatures and to find away to get ahead on a rather tight schedule this upcoming week with no breathing room. 

We had numerous guests at the event, including Dr. Williams, President Nemec, the interim Dean of the School of Education and Human Development, Yolehema Felican, the incredible Don Sawyer, and legacy Deb Chappell who represented the MLK Essay contest. There were also several photographers and news reporters, so I look forward to the press that may (or may not) come out of it. Always interesting to be interviewed by such folk, trying to guess the angle they're going to take. 

I'm also thankful to two of SEHD's undergraduates, Meghan and Madeline, who are miraculous in the work they do and the support they show. They are the next generation of educators and I love when they come at it with passion and commitment. The real deal is what our schools need. 

I should share a story, however...an elevator one. While bringing books on a cart to the event in an elevator by my elevator, I thought I might lose my life. Not sure what happened, but it sounded like cables snapped and I went flying down rather quickly, before I was suddenly jerked back up. I fell to the ground, and then it jerked back up, only to crash again. Then the door wouldn't open. I thought for sure it was my demise (even after a smooth drive to work and successful preparation in the days ahead...I thought things were smooth but it was all over). After 15 minutes, the door opened and the first person I saw I asked, "Am I alive, or did that elevator just kill me." 

Needless to say, I reported it then did my four hour workshop. 

Phew. But it messed up my hip and back. I need to keep an eye on that.

Aways something.