I love people

I really love people. I firmly believe there is more good in the world than evil. This belief is reaffirmed almost daily, and this past week it may have been reaffirmed hourly. 

Today was another great day to witness powerful people. Not powerful, like they're big, smart, make the rules, have money, but powerful in the sense that they don't just strive to make things better, they actually take actions to #makebetterhappen. 

In our session yesterday a group of ladies came to talk to us about a home-visit program they developed in 1996.  Basically a couple of moms took notice that schools that incorporated home visits into their programs were preforming at higher levels. These three ladies wanted to bring this idea to the district, and while people were hesitant at first, because of these women and their perseverance  not only did the district support them, but their small idea and plan has gone national. The training they created has been able to serve endless amounts of students, teachers, and families. After at home visits were utilized, there was noticeable improvement across the board. 

We heard personal stories from parents and from teachers. One of them talked about how before the visit, the mother was suffering from getting out of depression,  looking for find a job, and dealing with the affects of abuse. While she wasn't totally open to a teacher coming into her home, after the visit she was able to finally talk to someone,  and get resources. The teacher was able to understand that her student didn't have a lazy mom, rather one that was dealing with problems bigger than herself. In the visits the teacher also discusses with the parents and the student what everyone's dreams and expectations are for the child.These visits aren't for the 'bad' kids or anything in particular. It's just a way for the teachers and parents to build a relationship and work together on the same team for the student. When parents and teachers realize they're working for the same team, things can only go up from there! 

Then today, I helped  a 7th grade English- Language Arts teacher set up her classroom. We were talking to her about our interests and about what she taught, and she mentioned that last year she taught a creative writing class. In her class she told her students that by the end of the year they would be able to publish a book. They thought she was crazy and didn't believe they could do it. She encouraged them, telling them they could and by the end of the year all of her students ( even the ones one a low reading level) were able to publish a book ( either fiction or a collection of poems) and sell it through Amazon.com. The students were overjoyed and proud of the work they had accomplished  Parents, teachers, friends, and City Year staff last year bought their books and the kids were actually able to keep the profits from them! Teachers like her make things better. 

As I'm in this school and in this AMAZING City Year community, I have heard so many inspiring stories. I'm reminded of how INCREDIBLY blessed in my life to have constantly been surrounded by people who work to #makebetterhappen. Whether it's in a school, at church, in the neighborhood, at the grocery store, on the side of the road, or even in my own house, I'm surrounded. I don't know what I did to deserve this life, but I pray that I will bless people in the way that others have blessed me! <3

Yay for wonderful people!