When you pray, Move Your Feet

What an amazing week!

I haven't been able to post since tuesday! Sorry. It was a very hectic week! I'll go through the highlights.

Wednesday was so cold! I know it was cold because I spend the first 45 minutes of my day in the horribly cold wheather! A part of being a City Year Corps member is Physical Training (PT). They're a series of excersizes that involved some call and response. If you've seen a sports team warm-up, you should have an idea. Either way, we had to learn these in Cobley Square - in the freezing cold. It was fun. Not in the least. But I can look back and laugh at how ridiculous we looked. It looks much better when the entire corps is doing it together.

Later that day we did a series of wokshops. They were very powerful. The first workshop was based around a clip from Spike Lee's, Malcolm X and the concepts of Spirit, Discipline, Purpose and Pride. Basically, not having too much or too little of either.

Friday, I found out that I would be serving on the City Heroes team. City Heroes is a City Year program where high school students apply for a chance to complete 100 hours of service on saturdays to earn a presidential service award. Hmm, high school students giving up their weekends? Yes, it happends. In fact, over 700 high school students applied for about 80 positions available. Pretty remarkable. They came in all races, sizes, economic backgrounds, ethnicities, you name it!

My official title is Team Leader Cooridinator. Pretty exciting. My job description is to be a liason between the entire City Heroes team and Team Leaders. First, I should explain all of this jargon as so not to lose you.

My team is the City Heroes team. This team along with our team leader and a program manager run the City Heroes program. There are several roles in this program. Cirruculum, funding, logistics, etc. Team Leaders are corp members or graduate students who applied to lead a team of City Heroes. Very big job. Some corps members give up extra time to do this, other graduate or college students give up their weekends, as well. Team Leaders lead discussions and execute a lot of the ciriculum that's not done in a large group. It is my job to communicate to the Team Leaders about ciriculum, logistics, ect.

This saturday was the Heroes Training Academy. The Heroes and their team leaders were put together to discuss their goals, expectations and why they serve. The most powerful part of the day, however, was when the entire group was together. There was a group discussion about who were the City Heroe's, heroes. Most of their heroes were family (esp. moms). It was very powerful... I can't speak of it, but the heroes were very open. They let out things that some people will take to the grave. Their was a lot of trust going on in the room and a lot of tears.

Their was more powerful segment. At the end of the day the students recieved their City Heroes T-shirts. In order to make the service that they're doing more meaningful, the heroes dedicate their service to someone or a concept. To see these selfless students dedicate their service to little brothers or sisters who look up to them, people who have helped them, parents, relatives, or even City Year, was very powerful. These kids were energized and read to serve their community to the fullest. I was very impressed!

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Today, I had to be up and at 'em at 5 AM. My team and I had to be at the Reggie Lewis Track Center at 7:30. Not fun. But, it is my favorite holiday! Martin Luther King Jr. Day! I love this holiday!

Either way, we had to be at the track center becuase it was Heroes Opening Day. That was the venue were it was held. Today all of the City Heroes and Young Heroes were sworn in! It was really cool! I absolutly love the high school students I work with! But, there were other exciting things that happened today. I found myself chatting with the Mayor of Boston Thomas M. Menino! I talked with THE Executive Director of City Year, Sandra Lopez-Burt! Wow!

Although I was not able to talk with her, Sen. Sonia Chang-diaz was at the opening day, as well. She gave a beautiful speech about MLK day and the service that goes along with it. She centered here entire speech around an African proverb: When you pray, Move your feet. Meaning don't just hope for change, go get it. She lit a fire under the Heroes and made sure they just weren't hoping, but doing. I'll carry that proverb with my for the rest of my life.

The Highlight of the day, however, was the march. Over 500 people marched in Boston today. I was amazed at the support we recieved from drivers whose commute was elongated. I was happy to be back inside when it was over, though. It was cold. Afterwards we ate lunch and said our goodbyes. Great day!

I have to say, I absolutly love this job!! I love my team, team leader and director first and foremost! I love my fellow corps members and the students I work with. I told the Executive Director of City Year today that I feel like i'm stealing--I would do this for free! She told me not to tell anyone else that!