Inspired by Humans of New York, we started our "Humans of Medford" project on Thursday, July 9, 2015.  It is my hope that portraits of students, presented along with their quotes from peer-to-peer interviews, will give them agency and a voice.  

These Humans of Medford are friendly, kind, and thoughtful people.  They have experienced quite a bit in their relatively short lives.  They have all had successes and they have all had failures.  They have aspirations.  They have stories.

Humans of Summer School 2015

"I say this much better when I am angry, but the principle of the School to Prison pipeline is important to me and something I am passionate to dismantle. The School to Prison Pipeline is how the public education system’s way of disciplining kids disproportionally affects young men and women of color and pushes them into the streets and prison. I spoke at this rally about how this has directly affected me and my family."

- Nakiyah Shelby-Barnes, age 19, 7.10.15

"First we had a meeting with all of the elementary school principals.  We then took the idea to the school committee.  When they approved our idea, we went to all the elementary schools and presented the idea to all the children.  They all had great questions and they loved the idea.  We now have one buddy bench installed at the McGlynn and more to come when the summer is over.  The kids can sit there when they need a friend."

- Katie Rousseau, age 16, 7.10.15

"My brother and I race 5k obstacle course races to challenge ourselves and our bodies to the limit."

- Jordan Zayas, age 18, 7.10.15

"The most important thing in my life is my father.  Without him, I'd probably be in a gutter.  Or in jail."

-Rory Robinson, age 18, 7.10.15

"I don't go anywhere without my backpack. He's been there for me since eighth grade holding it down. He's the only one who's actually always had my back."           

- Alton Palmer, age 19, 7.10.15

"Every single day I ride my bike for an hour and a half. Even though I scraped three layers off both my feet."

- Heather McShane, age 14, 7.10.15

"My mom is my favorite thing and my best friend.  She made me laugh yesterday."

- Kayla Hanson, age 18, 7.10.15

What do you regret?

"Not trying hard enough."

In what?

"Most things.  I feel like I could be good at things if I tried."

- Jarod Torres, age 17, 7.10.15

"Without basketball, I'd be miserable."

- Karten Louis, age 17, 7.10.15

Would you like to be a part of this project?

Contact me via email (dambrose@medford.k12.ma.us or misterambrose@yahoo.com) or Twitter (@misterambrose).

Let me know if you have any ideas for the project.  It is a work in progress.

Thank you.