Re: Supplies for the World of Opportunity students in Birmingham

[Anne Nonniemouse <ShopMathEdu@AOL.COM>]

Dear Gabie Gedleman, Gloria Pipkin, and folks on the ARN list:

What a pleasure it is to read of your interest in sending supplies for our
students in the World of Opportunity program, the school which the
standardized war machine could not close down.

More than 250 students have enrolled in our school since we reopened in
September.

We average about 30-35 students per day.

Each day, new students are enrolling to overcome adversities which derailed
their education.  And, each day, students who enrolled in September, but
stopped attending, return to this sanctuary which we struggle to keep open.
And they pick up where they left off.
And we open our arms to them.

Yesterday, Dr. Horace Huntley, Professor of African-American Studies at UAB,
was the guest speaker for our first annual African-American History Month
presentation.  Among many things which he shared with our students, he
emphasized "that the best time in one's life is when opportunity and
preparedness meet."  He congratulated the students (22 were in attendance)
for traveling on the road of preparation through this program.  We are humbly
proud that this program is opening windows and doors of opportunity for our
students and our staff.

One of our health care students who was pushed out of school, Shemika, came
to class yesterday wearing the most enormous smile.......and an employee
identification tag on a small chain around her neck.  She was hired at a
local public health care facility and she aced her pre-employment test based
upon the practical and theoretical information she learned in our class.
Success stories like this are growing each day in our program and it is great
cause for celebration when one blooms like Shemika.

Joanie, another one of our shining stars, a pushed out student who wrote the
public school Superintendent and explained that our program had "made ways
out of no ways" lost contact with us for a couple of months.    It was
discouraging when she stopped attending.  There was an obviously vacant desk
where Joanie had studied before.  We heard through the grapevine about one
adversity after another occurring in Joanie's life; from getting arrested for
fighting, to becoming homeless after 100 mile per hour straight-line winds
toppled a tree on her family's home on February 16, 2001.  (We were able to
assist with clothing and furniture donations for her large family.)  And when
the dust settled, she found her way back to our school, bringing two other
enthusiastic pushed out students with her, and they are each reinspired to
continue their education.

How can I describe young Jason's demeanor last night?  He entered the
building with a frown that nearly scraped the door threshold.  He didn't even
want to be here, but he grudgingly was pulled along because his mother was in
health care class.  When he browsed through the children's books, his frown
disappeared and he quickly selected 5 books to read that evening.   He
finally checked out 2 books from our lending library ("Willy the Champ," and
"Where Are You Blue?").  He showed his mom the books before her class was
over.  She almost had to drag him from the library so we could close the
building.

Or....our student, Ginger, who was hospitalized for an emergency incoluding
high fever, showed up at our door at 4:30 PM two afternoons ago.  "What time
did you get out of the hospital?" I asked her.  "At 4:00 she said," and
smiled.  We were the first place she went to when the pain subsided.

This is just a glimpse of how students feel about this program, and the
encouragement and brightened future it offers.

Everyday, we accumulate more experiences like these.  Tears from laughter and
plenty of tears of sorrow.

Everyday is also a struggle to remain open and beat the odds.

We hope that you will consider assisting us with the supplies which Gloria
Pipkin and the Committee to Recognize Courage in Education have published.

Once again, many thanks to Gabie Gedelman, Gloria Pipkin, Susan Ohanian, Judi
Hirsch, Eric Crump, the good folks from Substance, Quan Cao, and all of the
rest of you on this list who have recently offered and provided moral support
and/or concrete assistance.

Warmest greetings to one and all,

(what's left of) Steve Orel
Assistant Director
BAC World of Opportunity
c/o MWW
7429 Georgia Road
Birmingham, AL  35212
Tel: 205-271-9532

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