This past weekend, Darryl Thompson rallied a group of men to serve as “fishing mentors” for ten of our students.  Our students felt the sting of bug spray and sunscreen, the burn of the sun on a 95 degree day, the frustration of waiting patiently on overfed catfish, and the sheer joy and delight of being with a kind and loving male mentor, catching fish, being in the outdoors, and forming positive memories of experience outside of their normal routine.

Fishing is not essential for overcoming the hardships inherent in living in a low-income neighborhood, but having positive adults investing in a variety of ways is.  I am so thankful for men who spent a Saturday morning building into our students experiences that they will look back on as life-shaping stories of resilience and hope.