The Colonizer And The Colonized

9 Pages 2278 Words

the students also enjoy several additional activities such as, arts and crafts, computer lab, and organized gym time, while learning about Christ (Marks, 2001).
Volunteers come in from the community to help the children who attend the Bob Burdett Center. The tutoring and mentoring offered helps in building academics, esteem, and relationships. It additionally provides inter-racial experiences to help overcome stereotypes and prejudices. These children need someone to look up to, a role model, which they do not have at home. The center helps provide things that are missing in theses children’s lives. Its mission is to “provide a healthy environment for individual growth that enables youth to experience person success and become a positive influence in the community” (Holmes, 2002, pg. 4A).
Kim Creel, “a perpetually cheerful woman with outwardly boundless energy runs the program with a firm but gentle hand. When she yells the children jump. But when she gestures, the center’s children are just as eager for a hug and a smile” (Marks, 2001). Many of the children in the program began with negative attitudes. “You have to be hard so they know you are for real,” replies Creel, “however, you also need to show them love and affection.” They know when Creel, also known as “Miss Kim” by the students, means business and have learned to respect her voice and advice.
In the eyes of many others, Creel is seen not only as holding a leadership position to these children, but also as being a friend. Creel is someone who encourages them to put forth their best effort and to have positive relationships with others. With Creel being the executive director of the Bob Burdette Center, she helps the children tremendously by just keeping the center open and running for them to attend after school. If it weren’t for the center, these children would be out running the streets, and engaging in unsafe situations. “Miss Kim” woul...