From left, Haydon Tucker, Elizabeth Webb, James Atkins, Caroline Combs, Max Barringer, Kathryn Cash, Kaki Voges, Natalie Becker, Diamond Wadley, Kate Probasco and Baylor Community Service Directory Joli Anderson.
Ten Baylor students, all leaders in the school’s community service program, left for New York City early Monday morning for a week of training, collaboration, and service. The service trip has connections with the Leadership Baylor program as well, beginning two years ago as the Senior Capstone Project of Carly Hawkins ’13, continuing last fall as the project of Sierra Watkins ’14 and Jordon Tipton ’14, and being spearheaded this year by senior Max Barringer as he completes his Capstone Project.
On the trip, the group will reconnect with alum Li (Angel) Wang ’13 to hear how she is applying her service experience at Baylor to her current work as UN Youth Representative for the Foundation for the Support of the United Nations, and will also collaborate with leaders of Columbia University’s Community Impact leadership program, one of which is Megan Thompson ’11, a student at Barnard College.
More exchange of ideas is expected when the Baylor students meet with students involved in Horace Mann School’s Service Learning program and with the director of the Harlem Grown, an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to create a network of neighborhood farms and spread its produce and social benefits through Harlem.
The entire week-long experience is largely due to Baylor's connection with Dr. Jodene Morrell and her husband, Ernest Morrell, once a speaker at Baylor's MLK Day program. Dr. Morrell has arranged for the Baylor group to serve in several classrooms of Harlem and Brooklyn schools, where the students will, among other activities, teach lessons from Keep Trying Tiny Turtle, a children’s story written by Baylor senior Haydon Tucker.
Making the trip are Haydon Tucker, Elizabeth Webb, James Atkins, Caroline Combs, Max Barringer, Kathryn Cash, Kaki Voges, Natalie Becker, Diamond Wadley, Kate Probasco and Baylor Community Service Directory Joli Anderson.