Among many other instances two events are more significant than others.
In 1969 in Albany NY a strong effort was begun to respond to new insights on the need for integration in educational settings. We attended courses at the State University and were influenced by speakers like James Cone. .
Students were suggested, by Bishop Howard Hubbard, then a “ street priest” in the South End, to attend Kenwood. I remember changing my text for the Religion courses and using “Black Theology” by James Cone. With the 14 new African American students I experienced change with them as we began to learn to be included in new thinking. Some of those students are still my friends and have worked with social justice issues.
In 1983 I met Brother Brian Carty FSC in Manhattan. He was opening an inner city school for gifted middle school students.. He asked if I would help him. We cleaned the top floor of the Holy Name School on West 97th street, found old School desks in basements, claimed high school texts from a closing school, interviewed faculty and began to write the curriculum. Brian found students from 6th and 7th grades who were bored in their classes or were. “ excused from class to help the principal because they were ahead of the others in their class setting”. It was a great adventure and I was with the school for 5 years before going to Bloomfield Hills where Bridget Bearss and Kathy Church helped the Academy to respond to the academic needs of Pontiac children in need of tutoring. Responding to immediate needs always brings us to challenge and personal response.
