when I read that the average life expectancy for someone living in the neighborhood I work is 68, I sobbed for the circles my students will likely not circle around the sun. I cried in the middle of grad class then realized what a damn privilege it is to be crying in the middle of

questions for my students and no these will not be on the test but they are so very much more important-

do you know about Einstein? and is it E=MC2 or the fact that he didn’t speak until he was 9, thought to be slow, was expelled from high school? do you know about Dr. Seuss? and is it all 1 fish 2 fish or is it the 27 rejected publishing attempts before his first success?

Philadelphia is a city trying

She used to boom and bustle, now she yearns and yawns. ‘Cause Philadelphia is a city tired. her bones ache these days and she’s been napping more than she used to. we saw her waking over a month ago, we saw her squint her eyes at the sun. (’cause Philadelphia is a city hopeful) we

Kids are so resilient,

bouncing back and back and back andbelieving “i’m sorry(‘s)“every time they are spokenand not questioning “i promise“or “i love you” or “i mean it(‘s)“.they are everyone’s advocate they are proudand generousthey are forgivingthey are relentlessthey are effervescentand curious.they are teachers. -&

Am I giving back or am I sharing with?

(context: these are about my time at Sheppard Elementary School in North Philadelphia helping muralist Sandra Gonzalez with a mural project in the school. a group of us worked with different classrooms of the elementary school students to help them paint tiles for the mural to be installed in their school) People talk about service as though it