In 1993 when Laura and I moved to Milwaukee to teach at the Urban Waldorf School, I met Tarell, a student in my third grade class that year and for 4th and 5th grades the following two years. Believe me, Tarell had as many obstacles in his life as any inner-city African American student in that very segregated city, but always kept his sweet, non-violent attitude towards everything. This was one reason our youngest daughter, with a summer job at a camp in NH, got the camp to find scholarships for Tarell and a classmate, Jerry, to spend two summer sessions at the camp. Laura and I found money for airplane tickets, and they had two wonderful, safe summers away from Milwaukee’s dangerous streets. I lost touch with Tarell for several years after he graduated from 5th grade, and we moved back to PA. Then one day the phone rang, and it was Tarell, calling collect from a correctional institution. (A serious mistake at age 18 (under the ‘guidance’ of an older ‘friend’ with a long history of such mistakes) had landed him there right after 9-11.) We stayed in touch about every other week for a couple years, as he paid his debt to society. He made the best possible use of the time, getting his GED and certificates for training in parenting and auto mechanics. And he never complained about his lot or denied his responsibility for his actions. As soon as he was out, he got custody of his daughter and set about trying to be a good father to her. He met a young woman with two children of her own and they have been together ever since, for over 15 years, married for 8 years and now with 5 children in their ‘yours, mine and ours’ situation. I’ve continued to mentor, advise and occasionally help them as they’ve struggled—successfully—to raise five good children in one of the most dangerous cities in America. Two weeks ago, Tarell took my advice and got out of Milwaukee, moving his gang north to Green Bay, WI, where more work is available and safer housing more affordable. And there they are. They couldn’t bring much with them, but they’ve found a house to rent in a decent neighborhood and temporary work starting soon and are working through all that is involved in relocating and setting up a home in a new area, new schools for children, deposits on real estate rental, finding furnishings, clothes, etc. We’ve helped as much as we can right now, but it takes a lot more and I’m confidently hoping that others will be willing to help this hard-working, honest family get off to a good fresh start in Green Bay. Please consider, and Bless You if you are able to !
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