In Mississippi, Real-Life Lessons for Grade 9
For the second year, Shore's ninth grade students traveled to Glendora, Mississippi, to work with Ipswich-based Partners in Development on service projects to benefit residents of this economically disadvantaged area.
Accompanied by faculty members Walter Morris, Pamela Torres, and Ruth Bauer, students began their week-long experience in Memphis, Tennessee, at the National Civil Rights Museum, then traveled by van to the tiny village of Glendora, where they would help to construct a house for a needy family as well as reclaim and reassemble an unused playground for the residents.
According to Partners in Development's founder and president Gale Hull, "Glendora is a place where the population for generations has felt that their lives have been controlled and dominated by others. There is much entrenched hopelessness, depression, and inertia. We have been entrusted with a huge responsibility. As the pioneers working in Glendora, we are still very much about trust and relationship building."
During their week-long stay at a local bed-and-breakfast, the students wrote daily reflections on their experiences:
Day 1: Travel and Memphis
By Emma and Daniel
We got to the airport at 4:30 a.m. Going through security took a very long period of time, and they almost gave our seats away. Once on the plane, many of us were seated next to random travelers; most were nice except for some grumpy ones. We got to Chicago hoping to find a Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks, but they were nowhere in sight. We made sure to get in line for our next flight quite early so that we could sit together.
We got to Memphis, and the transition to the PID vans was pretty easy. We then went to Central BBQ, which was quite delicious. The Civil Rights Museum was next. It was kind of frightening, but eye opening. There was a special exhibit on slavery from 1808 to 1858. Standing on the spot where Martin Luther King was shot was eerie. Afterwards, a highlight was Phoebe getting her finger stuck in a flute.
We then departed for our final leg of the trip. Both vans enjoyed sing-alongs but with very different genres. The sunset over the fields of Mississippi was very stunning as was the rising super moon. The community and town are a lot different than at home, but we are excited to see what the trip brings us.
Day 2: Glendora
By Claudia and Cage
Day 3: Glendora
By Jeffrey and Jacob
Today started with Ethan jumping on me (Jeff) to wake me up. Our first day of hard work was behind us, and we were ready to attack the second. After a breakfast of cereal, bagels, and an eggs, grits, cheese, and sausage casserole that Sarah helped to prepare, the two groups that were split yesterday were ready to take on each other’s jobs. The group that was previously working at the house was now at the playground, attempting to dig out the rest of the structures. The group that worked hard digging up the playground was now at the house constructing the attic entrance and laying down the insulation. The work was hard, but the whole grade felt rewarded as another very successful day of work was behind all of us. The crew was now excited to play with the kids again. When the kids got off the bus, their faces brightened, and they ran toward us with glee. Jeff, Garrett, and I (Jacob) played basketball with some older kids and adults. For me, this was truly eye opening because we got the chance to interact with people from a very different part of the country from ours. One child named Draylon turned 8 years old today. He was excited to think that the new playground equipment we had installed was for him. His cousin gave him a dollar for his special day. Compared to what we receive from our family, this was a minimal amount, yet it still filled him with delight. After the kids went home, we were served a delicious dinner of BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, and squash and eggplant. With our bellies satisfied and our minds relaxed, we ventured upstairs to write in our journals. This is a time to reflect on the day that passed. After much discussion, it was time for Jeff to tell us another scary story. For the past couple nights, his stories have been scaring everyone into screams. Even so, we all slept well.
Day 4: Glendora
By Garrett, Oliver, and Abi
Back
Accompanied by faculty members Walter Morris, Pamela Torres, and Ruth Bauer, students began their week-long experience in Memphis, Tennessee, at the National Civil Rights Museum, then traveled by van to the tiny village of Glendora, where they would help to construct a house for a needy family as well as reclaim and reassemble an unused playground for the residents.
According to Partners in Development's founder and president Gale Hull, "Glendora is a place where the population for generations has felt that their lives have been controlled and dominated by others. There is much entrenched hopelessness, depression, and inertia. We have been entrusted with a huge responsibility. As the pioneers working in Glendora, we are still very much about trust and relationship building."
During their week-long stay at a local bed-and-breakfast, the students wrote daily reflections on their experiences:
Day 1: Travel and Memphis
By Emma and Daniel
We got to the airport at 4:30 a.m. Going through security took a very long period of time, and they almost gave our seats away. Once on the plane, many of us were seated next to random travelers; most were nice except for some grumpy ones. We got to Chicago hoping to find a Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks, but they were nowhere in sight. We made sure to get in line for our next flight quite early so that we could sit together.
We got to Memphis, and the transition to the PID vans was pretty easy. We then went to Central BBQ, which was quite delicious. The Civil Rights Museum was next. It was kind of frightening, but eye opening. There was a special exhibit on slavery from 1808 to 1858. Standing on the spot where Martin Luther King was shot was eerie. Afterwards, a highlight was Phoebe getting her finger stuck in a flute.
We then departed for our final leg of the trip. Both vans enjoyed sing-alongs but with very different genres. The sunset over the fields of Mississippi was very stunning as was the rising super moon. The community and town are a lot different than at home, but we are excited to see what the trip brings us.
Day 2: Glendora
By Claudia and Cage
After breakfast, I (Claudia) helped Lady make lunch. I got to talk to her and discovered that she is very funny and nice. We are all very appreciative of what she does for us. Today we split up into groups, one going to help build the house, and one removing a playground from an abandoned school in Ruleville. In the house group, we put up insulation for all of the walls and nearly finished the strapping for the ceiling. Later that day, some of us went to level out the yard by the previously built house. This involved much moving of dirt and filling of holes.
The playground group traveled to the old Ruleville elementary school playground where we removed old playground equipment with shovels and crowbars to place in the Glendora playground. Sounds simple, but it involves digging down to the cement footings and then using a sledge hammer and crow bars to blast out the cement.
We were all back at the B&B by 4:00 when the Glendora kids came back from school, and we got to play with them in the park. It was surprising how open and not shy they were to new people and we had a great time with them. Before that ended, I (Cage) had to leave for it was my turn to help in the kitchen at night. There I was helping out Lady in any way I could, realizing just how much she has done for us already, and it is only the second day. After dinner we wrote and drew in our journals, shared, and then listened to Jeff read us a scary story.
The playground group traveled to the old Ruleville elementary school playground where we removed old playground equipment with shovels and crowbars to place in the Glendora playground. Sounds simple, but it involves digging down to the cement footings and then using a sledge hammer and crow bars to blast out the cement.
We were all back at the B&B by 4:00 when the Glendora kids came back from school, and we got to play with them in the park. It was surprising how open and not shy they were to new people and we had a great time with them. Before that ended, I (Cage) had to leave for it was my turn to help in the kitchen at night. There I was helping out Lady in any way I could, realizing just how much she has done for us already, and it is only the second day. After dinner we wrote and drew in our journals, shared, and then listened to Jeff read us a scary story.
Day 3: Glendora
By Jeffrey and Jacob
Today started with Ethan jumping on me (Jeff) to wake me up. Our first day of hard work was behind us, and we were ready to attack the second. After a breakfast of cereal, bagels, and an eggs, grits, cheese, and sausage casserole that Sarah helped to prepare, the two groups that were split yesterday were ready to take on each other’s jobs. The group that was previously working at the house was now at the playground, attempting to dig out the rest of the structures. The group that worked hard digging up the playground was now at the house constructing the attic entrance and laying down the insulation. The work was hard, but the whole grade felt rewarded as another very successful day of work was behind all of us. The crew was now excited to play with the kids again. When the kids got off the bus, their faces brightened, and they ran toward us with glee. Jeff, Garrett, and I (Jacob) played basketball with some older kids and adults. For me, this was truly eye opening because we got the chance to interact with people from a very different part of the country from ours. One child named Draylon turned 8 years old today. He was excited to think that the new playground equipment we had installed was for him. His cousin gave him a dollar for his special day. Compared to what we receive from our family, this was a minimal amount, yet it still filled him with delight. After the kids went home, we were served a delicious dinner of BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, and squash and eggplant. With our bellies satisfied and our minds relaxed, we ventured upstairs to write in our journals. This is a time to reflect on the day that passed. After much discussion, it was time for Jeff to tell us another scary story. For the past couple nights, his stories have been scaring everyone into screams. Even so, we all slept well.
Day 4: Glendora
By Garrett, Oliver, and Abi
Today I (Garrett) woke up sore due to moving countless panels of extremely heavy drywall inside the house with Jacob and Ethan, so it would not be rained on. Later, I worked in the house itself which is progressing well, putting up dry wall onto the ceilings. This process was extremely difficult, and the drywalls were not very cooperative with our tired bodies. Each panel of drywall took three hard working individuals to keep it lifted to the ceiling, while Jeff and Oliver came around screwing the pieces into wood strapping above. This work continued to lunch.
Meanwhile, as Garrett was working in the house, I (Abi) worked on the abandoned playground in Ruleville. We pounded the crowbars into the concrete and dislodged the last piece of structure. As a group we carried it back to the trailer, using all of our might. We then faced the task of fitting everything on the trailer so we would only have to take one trip. We finally decided on a way to fit all the pieces and we lifted them all up and onto the trailer and then strapped them on. We then drove back to Glendora with the playground equipment on our tail.
Meanwhile, as Garrett was working in the house, I (Abi) worked on the abandoned playground in Ruleville. We pounded the crowbars into the concrete and dislodged the last piece of structure. As a group we carried it back to the trailer, using all of our might. We then faced the task of fitting everything on the trailer so we would only have to take one trip. We finally decided on a way to fit all the pieces and we lifted them all up and onto the trailer and then strapped them on. We then drove back to Glendora with the playground equipment on our tail.
After lunch, we split into two groups and went to the Emmett Till Museum. This museum was very moving and mind-blowing. We learned about the story of Emmett Till, a black boy who was beaten cruelly because he whistled at a white cashier at a store. After he was beaten, he was shot dead and thrown into a river where he was found dead three days later. His mother decided to hold an open-casket funeral for her child, so that the world could know what had happened. I (Oliver) learned a lot about the racial history of our country, and why the Emmett Till story was such a big deal. It catalyzed the Civil Rights movement, and 100 days after his body was found, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus and started the Montgomery bus boycott. All this is a huge part of the history of our country’s legacy that many children do not have that chance to learn.
Day 5: Glendora
By Kiara, Sarah, and Ethan
In the house, we continued to put up drywall. Getting it measured perfectly and positioning the holes for vents and lighting fixtures is difficult. Big pieces of drywall are also really heavy. The group learned to use a “dead man” to hold these pieces in place while we drilled holes into the strapping. Tomorrow, we hope to finish the ceiling and begin the outer walls.
Once again we finished our day playing with the kids on the playground and helping Mrs. Bauer with the art class. The kids are doing some great paintings and drawings that we are going to make into cards back at school to sell to help PID in Glendora.
Day 6: Glendora
by Gabe, Gwen, and India
Day 7: Glendora
By Alia and Phoebe
Day 5: Glendora
By Kiara, Sarah, and Ethan
Yesterday, we (Kiara and Sarah) went to the house to work on the construction. Everyone worked together to come and take measurements across the ceiling and cut the drywall so that it fit into the right spot. It took a while to put each up and to drill the screws in the wood planks. Kiara, Claudia, and Bella spent the morning unpacking the remaining nineteen suitcases we carried with us from Boston that were filled with sheets, towels, and books. We organized the books to take over to the community library and merged the PID suitcases together so that we can take them back to Boston.
Meanwhile at the playground, it was a day of digging two-foot holes into the stubborn Glendora ground. We needed eight holes for the two towers and the one more for the tic-tac-toe attachment. The more we dug the more we figured out that Patrick was right about pouring in water to help loosen up the soil. We also found out that the post hole digger is a really good tool. In the afternoon we were able to put up both towers. It was great to see that the holes matched up although the connector is going to need some persuading to fit into place.
In the house, we continued to put up drywall. Getting it measured perfectly and positioning the holes for vents and lighting fixtures is difficult. Big pieces of drywall are also really heavy. The group learned to use a “dead man” to hold these pieces in place while we drilled holes into the strapping. Tomorrow, we hope to finish the ceiling and begin the outer walls.
Once again we finished our day playing with the kids on the playground and helping Mrs. Bauer with the art class. The kids are doing some great paintings and drawings that we are going to make into cards back at school to sell to help PID in Glendora.
Day 6: Glendora
by Gabe, Gwen, and India
This morning, I (Gwen) was working on the house. Today we had to continue installing ceilings and walls. The process was cutting the drywall after taking measurements so it could fit in the space. It was a lot of hard work and became tiring when we would get the measurements off and would have to shave off some of the edge. For light fixtures, we would have to take extra measurements to cut a circle. It was hard work, but satisfying when it would fit and then get drilled in.
The playground went up today, mostly. We had to exhume the red structure because the support holes weren’t deep enough, but that was remedied within a few hours. The yellow towers both found their way into the ground, but we spent almost all of the morning attempting to connect them with the tube. Eventually, after hours of bracing, pulling, and struggling, Patrick drilled new holes rather than continue messing around with the old. The slides and stairs are all up, the roofs are on, and the holes are being filled with concrete. It’s only a matter of time before it’s solid enough to use. The massive swing-set is ready to be assembled. We have all six of the holes dug and have test-assembled the structure. Hopefully, it’ll be up by the end of tomorrow.
This afternoon we got to spend some time with the kids again. We all played lots of games of tag and catch. It’s amazing to see how much time the kids here spend with each other rather than on their electronics. When they get home from school they immediately go to play with each other in the park. There is such a close-knit community here in Glendora, there’s nothing like this back home. Some of the kids got into little arguments today. It is hard to see that knowing that we can’t really help to correct their actions. Although some of the people here aren’t the best influences on the children, I believe that everyone has good intentions. Everyone in this community supports each other, and it is a place full of hope.
Day 7: Glendora
By Alia and Phoebe
Today was the last day of work. We (Alia and Phoebe) worked on the house one final time in the morning. It is amazing to see how much the house has progressed since day one; the insulation and strapping have been completed, and the dry wall has been cut and screwed onto the ceilings and walls.
After putting up a few last pieces of dry wall, we headed over to the playground to play with the children while the other group finished installing the massive swing set. They had to complete digging six holes, each three feet deep and angled to accommodate the poles of the swing-set. Already, there were at least twenty kids eagerly waiting for us. After running around with the kids for a while, it was time for cooking class. Two separate groups of fifteen kids came into the B&B to make their own individual pizzas and a dessert (dirt and worms, aka chocolate pudding, whipped cream, and gummy worms). The excitement and gratitude on the children’s faces were heartwarming.
Towards the end of the long day of laughter and playing, the ninth grade class, accompanied by a few Glendora kids, went on a beautiful walk through the Emmett Till Memorial Park and the nearby bridge on the Tallahatchie River. When we got back from the walk, it was time to say our goodbyes to the children.
Although we are happy to be coming home to our families tomorrow, a big part of us wants the trip to last longer. During the final goodbye with the kids, there were many tears and hugs. We all realized how much we have impacted the children, and how much they have impacted us. We hope that maybe one day, we will get to return to Glendora and see them again.
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Making connections with Glendora residents
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Tired but triumphant on the playground
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Departing from Logan Airport
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In Memphis
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At work on the house
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Playtime at the end of the day
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With Glendora residents
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Walter Morris with one young Glendora resident
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