CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ana McDougal was rocketed out of her comfort zone this past Wednesday morning. She started her day as a volunteer breakfast server to homeless men at a large shelter near downtown Cleveland. The experience exhilarated her and simultaneously caused some discomfort. Her day was only beginning.
McDougal teaches Spanish at University School, a private all-boys school with campuses in Shaker Heights and Hunting Valley. She was participating in a daylong immersion tour into the subterranean of Cleveland. Over the course of twelve hours, she and dozens of her colleagues were systematically exposed to some of the city’s unsung heroes and more than a few of its desperate people.
The tour wasn’t designed for casual voyeurs. It wasn’t an urban safari created to elicit temporary sympathy or donation checks. The day was structured to inspire public service.
“Before the tour began, we told the educators that we wanted to make them feel uncomfortable,” said Marianne Crosley, president and CEO of Cleveland Leadership Center, who organized the tour.
“However, the primary mission of the tour was to encourage public service. We designed the outing with the hope that motivated participants would be inspired and empowered to search for ways that they can become change agents – collectively or individually,” she added.
In addition to the stop at the homeless shelter, the tour included visits to the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Facility, Fatima Family Center, Thomas Jefferson International School, and the Refugee Response farm in Ohio City.
When I caught up to McDougal, she had just finished serving breakfast at the shelter and was walking into the Fatima Family Center in the Hough neighborhood. One of the first people she encountered was Richard Clark, a former student who lives in Hough and who participates in a teen summer camp that the non-profit Fatima Center operates each year.
The pair warmly greeted each other, clearly thrilled by the unexpected reunion. McDougal commented on how tall Clark, now a junior at University School, had grown since she had last seen him as an 8th grader.
“When I signed up for the tour, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Frankly, I’m overwhelmed and experiencing a bit of whiplash right now,” said McDougal, who emigrated from Spain to the United States in 1989.
“I’m taking this all in and asking myself what I can do to help in underserved areas,” she said.
The 45-minute stop at the Fatima Family Center gave the University School educators an opportunity to meet LeJean Ray, the dynamic leader of the center who is renowned for her work with young people and families throughout the region. Ray has tirelessly championed the Hough neighborhood and was excited to briefly introduce her enthusiastic campers and her vision of neighborhood empowerment to the visitors.
“I’m thrilled that you’ve come to Hough. The image of this neighborhood is often distorted. By visiting, you can see and learn about the work we’re doing firsthand. All our children need is exposure and opportunities,” said Ray.
Patrick T. Gallagher, who was hired as University School’s director last September, listened closely as Ray welcomed the group. He then mingled with the nearly 100 campers, ranging in ages from 5 to 18. He closely watched as a 6-year-old girl excitedly showed off her fluency in sign language, a skill taught at the camp. He softly applauded, which attracted the attention of other young campers also eager to demonstrate their signing abilities.
Gallagher then walked to another room and mingled with nearly a dozen teenagers, who each stood in front of colorful cardboard vision boards that outlined their educational plans and employment goals for the future. Gallagher along with his staff were being educated by inner-city children.
“At US we expect our boys’ education will be about more than themselves. Our immersion experiences help us equip them to take advantage of the opportunities and take on the challenges of our region,” Gallagher told me after the tour ended.
“We are most grateful for our partnership with the Cleveland Leadership Center as we help students engage with their heads, hands, and hearts. We are making a deeper commitment to Cleveland,” he added.
This sort of eye-opening exchange was the point of the tour. At a time when rampant discord and polarization splinter communities, University School is working to build stronger bridges to the mother city. The immersion experience exposes teachers, who in turn will expose students to challenges and opportunities that confront us all.
This effort represents remarkable public service. University School is leading by example.