We were busy Thursday afternoon, going to the Morton Boys and Girls Clubhouse at 3 and then across town to the Steve Daru Clubhouse at 6. We met with Erika and Janice at Morton. I worked with Erika in the spring and helped her register for a week long Biosphere 2 camp during the summer. She plays the piano and is an A student. We met Janice for the first time on Thursday. She loves to dance and talk. Janice is an 8th grader with big plans and plenty of energy. We had fun with them.
We arrived early at the Steve Daru Clubhouse and got a tour. We are quite impressed by all the Tucson Boys and Girls Club facilities. They all have full size gyms, computer labs, libraries, games areas, and lounges. We met with four kids and one, Jackson, stayed later to talk with us about his situation. Neither of us has ever met someone like Jackson. He was born to Congolese parents, one of five children, that fled to a refugee camp in Rwanda. While at the refugee camp, his mother found out about a resident lottery program in the US and applied. Their number came up in the lottery and they were chosen three years ago, to come to America. One sister had aged above the limit, so she was left behind in Rwanda. Jackson did not speak English when he came to Tucson and in three years, he is on track to graduate from high school. He is well mannered, articulate, and kind. In eighteen years, he has lived a life we cannot imagine. We hope to be helpful to him as he navigates his college options.
