In 1997 I worked as youth coordinator at Forest Manor Multi-Service Center on East 38th Street. I found the work stressful, but exceptionally rewarding.

In the summer we held summer camp for kids 5-12 years of age. It seemed like a growth phase for all involved. We went on many field trips and participated in the NJTL tennis program and the Lee Elder Golf Program.

We also developed programs inside the center. We started a jump rope club and a poetry club. The poetry club resulted in a grant establishing The Forest Manor Poets Society through the Community Enhancement Fund.

The kids had a quiet/nap time every day. The kids that did not want to take a nap were asked to get a book from the center's library. The staff would go from kid to kid during quiet time and ask them questions about the book they were reading. Surprisingly to me, the kids really liked this.

One day during camp I was being interviewed about our camp by telephone from a local paper. The journalist asked me if they could speak to three of my kids. I asked one of my assistants to bring me three kids. She said, "Which three?" I said, "Any three."

She brought me three youngsters. The first two were younger kids and they spoke of the program in glowing terms.

The last kid was older and began citing one thing after another that he loved about the camp. Then he added, "Oh yeah, they let us read." The interviewer was very interested in this. This taught me that little things do mean a lot and you never know how a seed will flourish.

Incidentally, the youngster who made this comment was later on the front page of the Indianapolis Star for taking his high school basketball team to the state finals. Now, I can take no credit for his athletic greatness. However, I can credit him with making me a better kid with a more hopeful view of humanity.