Yesterday, Wendy Kopp was in town for some meetings...and given the day's schedule and number of people that need to be at each of the meetings - the most convenient and cost-effective way of transporting everyone was to get a mini-van...and given that while I wouldn't be in the meetings, it made the most sense for me to be the driver of said mini-van.
Let's just say that driving a mini-van of some of the top people in TFA --- including its CEO and founder --- is kind of crazy. However, if there is one thing that I took away from my time driving around the greater Milwaukee area was what a truly amazing woman Wendy Kopp is.
Sure - she started this organization and is the reason I have a job...but for me, it was overhearing her checking-in with her 4 kids back in New York. The ones of school-age were had the day off from school...so she called them in-between every meeting to make sure they were doing what they needed to be doing for the day even though a full-time nanny was with them. My favorite line from Wendy --- as she was discussing a project of some sort due the next day --- was "Is it your best work, Benjamin?" which was followed by another conversation about the day's upcoming piano lesson: "Have you practiced the piano today? You need to practice...there is about 30 minutes before your lesson...why don't you go and practice now....I'm going to call later and you should have practiced by then."
There was just something about those quick conversations that really struck me and made me realize that the 10-page document I had to follow to set up the day for Wendy was worth it...for someone who has given so much of her life to this organization, I can surely take the time to make things run smoothly in order to give her even just 5 minutes on the phone with her kids because I know that no matter how big this movement gets...she will do anything to make sure she supports the children she and her husband have brought into this world.
I am blessed to work for an organization led by a genuinely good person.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Saturday, September 03, 2011
See you in September??
I'm pretty sure the month of August just disappeared...completely. However, looking back --- it was quite a month:
Anyhow, the reason he was back in Milwaukee was because he called the mom of one of his former students, Dion, to see what school Dion would be attending this coming school year. Dion had been attending a low-performing school and in all honesty, was on the track to drop out of school before graduating from high school even though he was only going to be a 6th grader this year. If that's hard to believe, but I can send you the stats on Milwaukee's high school drop out rates...if you want.
Dion is a good kid, works hard, and has a mom who wants what is best for him. However, for whatever reason all the work that my friend had done last spring to make sure Dion and his mom had the information to get him enrolled in one of the great schools here in Milwaukee just landed Dion on a wait list and he was not technically enrolled in the 6th grade at any school.
My friend got in his car and headed east towards Milwaukee. He called one our 2010 corps members who works at this school. She didn't have any openings for 6th grade, but the new campus opening up this year might. My friend made the call - they had 2 openings for 6th grade and 1 opening in 3rd grade (perfect for Dion's little sister). He called Dion's mom and told her he was on the way to pick her up and take, Dion and his sister to the school and enroll them for the school year.
They made it in time and officially filled out the forms to make sure Dion and his sister had a great school to go to for the next few years. My friend picked up the school supply list asked Dion's mom if she had bought any school supplies yet...she hadn't. He drove them to Target and bought the supplies that Dion and his sister would need. I know my friend doesn't have a job right now and so I asked how he paid for it - he just said, "It's been an expensive evening, but Dion needs to be in that school. I'll be fine."
Now, there's a lot you can take from this...and there are a lot of people who can question my friend and/or Dion's mom's decisions or even why Dion hadn't been placed in the open spots of the other campus when he was on the wait list at the original school...but honestly, does it really matter?
What it makes me think is that it really shouldn't be the luck of someone calling to see where a former student is going to school and then be able to make the trip to make sure that student is enrolled in a great school. Shouldn't we just have great schools for our students to attend no matter who their parents are or where they live?
Anyhow, school has officially started and Dion is already loving his new school and teacher who happens to be a 2011 corps member - I can't wait to visit that 6th grade classroom and meet him.
- Our corps members came back to Milwaukee to begin their teaching here, here, or here
- I enjoyed at least two outings here (God Bless Wisconsin and it's frozen custard)
- Drove to Lawrence to celebrate the Weekend of Amy
- Saw this family's new house
- Made a visit to my favorite restaurant with Mom and Dad!
- Attended a party here
- Enjoyed a nice brunch here
- Found out a little bit more about motorcycles here
- And I'm still jealous of these people
Anyhow, the reason he was back in Milwaukee was because he called the mom of one of his former students, Dion, to see what school Dion would be attending this coming school year. Dion had been attending a low-performing school and in all honesty, was on the track to drop out of school before graduating from high school even though he was only going to be a 6th grader this year. If that's hard to believe, but I can send you the stats on Milwaukee's high school drop out rates...if you want.
Dion is a good kid, works hard, and has a mom who wants what is best for him. However, for whatever reason all the work that my friend had done last spring to make sure Dion and his mom had the information to get him enrolled in one of the great schools here in Milwaukee just landed Dion on a wait list and he was not technically enrolled in the 6th grade at any school.
My friend got in his car and headed east towards Milwaukee. He called one our 2010 corps members who works at this school. She didn't have any openings for 6th grade, but the new campus opening up this year might. My friend made the call - they had 2 openings for 6th grade and 1 opening in 3rd grade (perfect for Dion's little sister). He called Dion's mom and told her he was on the way to pick her up and take, Dion and his sister to the school and enroll them for the school year.
They made it in time and officially filled out the forms to make sure Dion and his sister had a great school to go to for the next few years. My friend picked up the school supply list asked Dion's mom if she had bought any school supplies yet...she hadn't. He drove them to Target and bought the supplies that Dion and his sister would need. I know my friend doesn't have a job right now and so I asked how he paid for it - he just said, "It's been an expensive evening, but Dion needs to be in that school. I'll be fine."
Now, there's a lot you can take from this...and there are a lot of people who can question my friend and/or Dion's mom's decisions or even why Dion hadn't been placed in the open spots of the other campus when he was on the wait list at the original school...but honestly, does it really matter?
What it makes me think is that it really shouldn't be the luck of someone calling to see where a former student is going to school and then be able to make the trip to make sure that student is enrolled in a great school. Shouldn't we just have great schools for our students to attend no matter who their parents are or where they live?
Anyhow, school has officially started and Dion is already loving his new school and teacher who happens to be a 2011 corps member - I can't wait to visit that 6th grade classroom and meet him.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
year 2...or 6?
Tomorrow will be my 1 year anniversary of moving to Milwaukee. A year ago tonight, I was in West Allis, WI with the majority of my family...falling asleep way too early for my sister, Liesel, and actually not sleeping well - at all...thinking that I was not quite sure why I had moved to this city or why I was going to start a brand new job. I also remember being just incredibly tired.
So here begins Year 2 in Milwaukee and Year 6 with Teach For America - at least I don't have to do any unpacking! I'm pretty excited about this coming year...there is just so much to do and explore still here in the MKE and given all the transitions going on in my office - it has to be a pretty transformational year ahead of us.
To Milwaukee, living the dream, and not forgetting to be awesome.
So here begins Year 2 in Milwaukee and Year 6 with Teach For America - at least I don't have to do any unpacking! I'm pretty excited about this coming year...there is just so much to do and explore still here in the MKE and given all the transitions going on in my office - it has to be a pretty transformational year ahead of us.
To Milwaukee, living the dream, and not forgetting to be awesome.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
27 and rolling...
Here are a few pics from my birthday weekend w/ the Reddig family. Thanks for making the trip and for celebrating with me!
Enjoying the KU victory!!
Enjoying the KU victory!!
 |
| From Birthday Weekend 2011 |
 |
| From Birthday Weekend 2011 |
A trip to the Milwaukee Public Museum and the awesome butterfly room!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
not exactly 'the phog'...
This past Wednesday, I got to go to a Milwaukee Bucks game here - "we" won...although I don't know if I'm a fan enough to say "we" just yet...It was a great time - one of our donors gave us their tickets in a suite - so we got to enjoy the game in style! It wasn't quite Allen Fieldhouse, but it is a little unfair to compare the two.
One of the exciting things is that Drew Gooden plays for the Bucks - he didn't play during this game, but I did get a pick.
Go Bucks!
One of the exciting things is that Drew Gooden plays for the Bucks - he didn't play during this game, but I did get a pick.
Go Bucks!
 |
| From Milwaukee Bucks - January 2011 |
 |
| From Milwaukee Bucks - January 2011 |
Monday, January 24, 2011
one week...
Well - actually it's 6 days until I turn 27.
27. It hasn't quite hit me that I'm in my "late 20s" - but I guess it was bound to happen. I will say - I have a better feeling about turning 27 rather than turning 26. I'm ready for a new year. A new start.
In other news - I made my second trip to San Francisco (thank you, Southwest rewards!). I know that I have no desire to live on the West Coast, but the weather is pretty hard to beat...particularly when there is a constant negative degree windchill in Milwaukee.
Two of my friends from working on the Chicago institute and I reunited for the weekend - enjoying dinner at Maverick (incredible fried chicken, disgusting carrot cake), frozen yogurt at L'Amour in Palo Alto, brunch at Cafe Borrone (James Franco's favorite place), and a bike ride along the bay and across the Golden Gate Bridge. And well...it was in the mid-60s the whole time...sun shine and good times had by all.
27. It hasn't quite hit me that I'm in my "late 20s" - but I guess it was bound to happen. I will say - I have a better feeling about turning 27 rather than turning 26. I'm ready for a new year. A new start.
In other news - I made my second trip to San Francisco (thank you, Southwest rewards!). I know that I have no desire to live on the West Coast, but the weather is pretty hard to beat...particularly when there is a constant negative degree windchill in Milwaukee.
Two of my friends from working on the Chicago institute and I reunited for the weekend - enjoying dinner at Maverick (incredible fried chicken, disgusting carrot cake), frozen yogurt at L'Amour in Palo Alto, brunch at Cafe Borrone (James Franco's favorite place), and a bike ride along the bay and across the Golden Gate Bridge. And well...it was in the mid-60s the whole time...sun shine and good times had by all.
 |
| From San Francisco - January 2011 |
 |
| From San Francisco - January 2011 |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)