As I walked
through the parking lot from my car after a meeting off campus today I was
surrounded by all the sound and movement going on around me. I could hear peals
of joy from the children in the swimming pool and another group of older boys
playing basketball. I could see a group
of children assisting our Art/Farm teacher carry mulch to the path that leads
to the extensive urban garden the children and staff have created and which we
are presenting this weekend as a site on the Urban Farm Tour, sponsored by
Cultivate KC. There was another class of students having their lesson out under
a big tree. And there was a group of volunteers painting the curbs with bright
yellow point. It was truly a collage of enthusiasm and happiness.
I was struck
by the feeling that all this activity and all our dedicated staff and
volunteers were providing a multitude of normal, healthy and healing
experiences for the children we serve here at Gillis every day. Children who,
no matter how much trauma and pain they have experienced in their young lives,
can still play and work and learn and heal and relate in a positive way to
caring adults. I am grateful that we can offer these normalizing and happy
experiences to our hurt children because these are the kind of experiences that
build resilience and “plant seeds” for healthy growth and that is what we are all
about here.Submitted by Mary Ellen Schaid, Gillis CEO/President
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