James has been coming to John 23 longer than any current student, staff member, or volunteer. He started in elementary school. He still walks himself from school to the center every afternoon.
When he started, James was multiple grade levels behind in reading and math. He was also the kid the younger ones at the center watched. He reminded them to stay focused, to be respectful, to keep working. He was cool without being disrespectful to adults. That kind of presence does not show up on a Renaissance Star report.
One afternoon, James asked if we had a messenger bag he could use for school. We pulled one through our network and gave it to him. We told him a few people had been impressed to hear about a kid this committed to his future, who also happened to come from a low-income, single-parent home.
At Christmas, KR Catholic donated jackets to the center. James picked out a Carhartt-style and a leather one. For a kid who walks to the center year-round, options matter.
This summer, the City of Racine’s Youth Improvement coordinator placed him in a paid work opportunity. He graduates from high school this year. The job means everything to him and his mom.
“John 23 gave me hope for my son. I didn’t have the resources to help him with math, and when I overheard ‘tutoring’ at a school resource fair, my ears perked up. I asked the person where they learned about a tutoring opportunity, and went straight to the John 23 booth. My son has been attending John 23 for the past year, and I have seen his growth. John 23 is highly appreciated.”
— James’s mom