[Fredslist] High School for Leadership Holiday Arts Celebration

[fklein at legal.org]

You know my devotion to my favorite 501 c 3 which is the Friends of the High School for Leadership & Public Service. Well fellow networker Jane Present is also a Friend and she is keeling below. Please join us in the holiday joy by reading her emotions. 
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----
From: summalead at aol.com
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:59:44 
To: <samorbutch at aol.com>; <p_piccone at yahoo.com>; <Lizzido at aol.com>; <lmorriso at syr.edu>; <fklein at legal.org>; <jhenn at syr.edu>; <jennbrown at mac.com>; <leeanthon at aol.com>; <arbradel at yahoo.com>; <selvenisr at gmail.com>; <shannon_froehlich at hotmail.com>; <tbronsn at schools.nyc.gov>; <AStrass2 at schools.nyc.gov>; <allison.weingarten at gs.com>; <RuthinMN at aol.com>; <lwilkin at syr.edu>; <meghan at blisspr.com>; <Sbloom at bloomreg.com>; <karen.au22 at gmail.com>; <jeromeryan at hotmail.com>; <brad.hebert at abc.com>; <nshanok at tishmanspeyer.com>; <WendlerJ at asme.org>; <Corey.R.Karsch at aexp.com>; <LPender at schools.nyc.gov>; <LBodofs at schools.nyc.gov>
Subject: Leadership Holiday Arts Celebration

I know you have heard a lot about Thursday evening, but I must put in my
two cents. Lucky me, they saved a seat for me down front so I got to see the
whole thing up close and personal. I just feel bad that everyone did not
have  the opportunity to see it because not only was it great on it's own, it
was  a predictor of things to come.

Yes, like Rebecca and Ruth I could not stop the tears. Nor could Rosemary
LeBron who was sitting next to me. The kids broke my heart with how well
they  behaved, how shy they were, their stage fright, their nervousness, how
much they  needed the audience to love them. There was not a single hint of
bravado or  attitude. They were singing their hearts out and you simply had to
love them.  They all wore black bottoms and white tops, they swayed and
rocked and enjoyed  the moment. They were totally alive in the moment.

I cried because, (please do not call me a marshmallow) I could feel things
starting to turn around. 200 kids, one out of every three in the school
participated. And their families were there. All the seats were taken and many
 were standing. Participation, kids and parents, some mentors and a few
Friends.  The mentors were blown away.

For those of us who have been around for a decade or so, let me just say,
our time is not wasted. LP is doing his job, the teachers are doing their
jobs, and we need to rededicate ourselves to doing ours.

Happy holidays.
JP


Jane W.  Present
799 Park Avenue
Apartment 14 C
NY NY 10021
Telephone -  212-988-7602
Email - SUMMALEAD at aol.com

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