2017 CIIP Program Book 2017 CIIP Program Book | Page 33

Community Partner: Living Classrooms Foundation
Peer Mentor: Chijioke Oranye
Site Supervisors: Maritza Dominguez
What Living Classrooms Foundation?
Living Classrooms Foundation strengthens communities and inspires young
people to achieve their potential through hands-on education and job
training, using urban, natural, and maritime resources.
"My previous summer at The Patterson Park site of the Living Classrooms
Foundation was scarred by a bloody fight between two eighth grade girls:
Tyshae and Keniesha. As I walked in the Patterson Park Community Center
building, I saw a crowd of students with no adults in sight. I rushed to the
center of the crowd as an onlooker, wondering about the whereabouts of
Mr. Gibson and Ms. Devon. It was Tyshae and Keniesha; They were yelling
in each other’s face, impatiently waiting for the other to make a move.
Then my back was in between them. With my hands outstretched. Before I
could yell, a blow circulated from behind me into the face of the girl in
front of me. Blood. Ms. Devon finally came with first-aid. Their parents
followed, with insults against my way of dealing with kids.
Today, I recorded the progress of the choreography of my dance club.
Unfortunately, most of the eight girls didn’t attend practice because of the
water slip n’ slide activity. They wanted to have fun. But two girls came;
Tyshae and Keniesha. They practiced the choreography to the song
Magnolia by the rapper Playboi Carti. They made-up the choreography
themselves. Today, they perfected it. I clicked the red square on my iPhone
to end the recording. I d idn’t know how that moment came to be, but I felt
so accomplished. I guess I was proactive this time." -Chi
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Summer camp intern
Coach of football club
Coach of dance club
Saturday site supervisor
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