Week 8, was as hot as the previous class, but the ladies still showed up with smiles, happily participating in a fun excursion across the city. A trolley arrived picking everyone up and whisked us away to a couple of very interesting and fun places including the Rocky steps, as seen above!
The ride through the city was sticky, but the ladies didn’t let the heat get their spirits down. They took pictures, shared stories, and even sang a little karaoke!
Our first stop was at the whispering benches, where we learned a little about the properties of acoustics. Sometimes you don’t need to talk very loud to hear each other.
As hot as it was, the ladies climbed the steps and when they reached the very top, there was a refreshing fountain filled with water worth more the gold! Almost everyone took off their shoes to dip their feet into the water and hang out for a bit! It was the perfect way to relax outside and take some great pictures.
At the very end of the trip, the whole group went to visit some of the officers who were not able to make the class. The trolley drove over to the 19th district police precinct and everyone piled out to say hello. It was a pleasant and quick surprise! Another successful class with some great shots. At this point the ladies knew that next week was the last week, but it didn’t hinder their spirits. They all have created such a positive bond with each other, it has become like a little family.
“LOOKING JOLLY ON THE TROLLEY”
Week 7, Kevin Brown arranged for a trolley to pick the ladies up for a Mural Arts tour. Clara Williams hosted the tour while educating the women about the history of the program and each mural. There had been a heat advisory earlier in the day, but the police officers still showed up in their full uniforms, smiles included. Although the heat was super intense, leaving the confines of the room that we have met in for the past 6 weeks, was refreshing. There were some spectacular pictures taken and everyone was enthusiastic throughout the tour. Everyone’s personal favorite mural seemed to be the story of Miles Mack.
Below are tons of photos from our adventure as well as a link that shares more about Miles and his story.
This is the overall view of the day. There’s something to be said about police officers and kids breaking stereotypes and barriers. We live in a city full of turmoil and neglected youth, yet somehow, these women have come together and found ways to laugh and play around with each other. Words can’t express the energy that these officers have put into making these young kids feel comfortable and changing their perspective on law enforcement and the humanity that exists within it.
