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| In the ESY NOLA Garden at Green |
“Dan still has a good arm!” James “JB” Brown – host of The NFL Today on CBS – announced with a
laugh. “You need that to work in the garden.” He was talking about Dan Marino,
once quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, now analyst for The NFL Today.
Mr. Brown and Mr. Marino are touring the city with a bus
full of volunteers, making Samuel J. Green Charter school their last of 16
stops. The volunteers come from all over the country, here for AARP’s Life@50+
National Event. This year, for the first time, the Washington, D.C.
organizers decided to make community service an integral part of their
convention.
Hands were shaken, weeds were pulled, and, according to
Denise Richter, “The volunteers got worm castings, saved flower seeds, and
helped prep production rows.”
But Green wasn’t the only FirstLine school with a visiting
sports star today. Langston Hughes Academy attracted a gym full of media
attention when Hornets shooting guard Eric Gordon walked in with a message of
love for New Orleans.
After speaking, #10 refereed a quick 1-on-1 between one of
the third graders and an eight grader. Gordon finally jumped in and set up a
screen when the younger competitor found himself overwhelmed. When it was over
and prizes dispensed, the scholars chanted from the stands: “Shoot! Shoot!
Shoot! Shoot!” Gordon obliged with a lesson in perseverance, sinking a three
pointer on his third attempt.
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| Enjoying the Bookmobile |
And because no story is complete without a good book, the
Hornets player led a line of 3rd grade scholars out of the gym and into the Bookmobile
parked outside. Scholars climbed into the little painted bus in groups to
receive a free paperback from the star.
While Eric Gordon didn’t help in the Dreamkeeper Garden, LHA
did get an assist from Dillard University. The new partnership between Dillard
and LHA, called “From Seed to Table,” kicked off today. Funded by the Blue
Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Impact Grant, it creates the opportunity for
Dillard University students and LHA scholars to utilize the Greenhouse located
on Dillard’s campus as an educational facility twice a week.
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| In Dillard's Greenhouse |
As part of the project, vegetable seeds will be started in
the greenhouse and then transplanted to the LHA Dreamkeeper Garden. This allows
ESY NOLA at Langston Hughes Academy to move forward with its new Family
Supported Agriculture (FSA) program, bringing fresh school-grown food to
students and their families.
It’s been a star-studded day at FirstLine Schools, but in
the end our focus remains on the health and success of the scholars who depend
on us. Thanks to everyone for your support, and don’t forget to visit the new
Arthur Ashe campus – at 1456 Gardena Drive – for Community Day this Saturday from 10am to 2pm!
Jason Lacoste is the AmeriCorps VISTA K-8 Outreach Coordinator for FirstLine Schools.
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