Sonhos e Histórias de um Jovem Embaixador: Cleveland, Ohio - 8th day

It was an atypical and happy day. It was atypical because we had a special guest with us today, and happy because many things happened: Cari, our coordinator in Washington D.C had to come see us in Cleveland.

Yuri came around at 7:30 a.m to pick us up at Westlake High School. We headed to Gina`s office, because we had to talk about our observations so far about the program in Cleveland, and also about our action plans. Each Youth Ambassador had some time to talk about their experiences. During our speeches, Cari arrived with another person, Jennifer A. Phillips from the U.S Department of State. Both of them would be with us for a little while in Cleveland. We started to talk about our action plans. We had visited many NGOs in the United States and also in Cleveland, and we saw how good they were. We would incorporate their ideas in our action projects.

This is me inside of Cleveland Council on World Affairs

It was around noon that we went to do volunteer work. Cari headed to host the Globo crew in Cleveland, as well as Julio Galhardi who came to promote the program. Yuri drove us to Bishop William M. Cosgrove Center. We had the opportunity to see the work developed by a food bank. We arrived and were hosted by the coordinator, Ms. Nicolle Evans, who spoke about the mission of the NGO. They give support to homeless in Cleveland. The most touching thing that I have noticed in her speech was that she spread love with every single word. She really liked helping underprivileged people. It is make-believe that the United States doesn't have their problems; that there aren't poor people there.

The Bishop William M. Cosgrove Center serves more than 115.000 million meals per year, and this number grows year after year. The coordinator also said that they do not waste food, because they know the value of each donation received, and also are aware that the food wasted would be helpful to those who need it. We also heard a young girl that was supported by the NGO with her mother, and nowadays she helps as a volunteer. They handed us a brochure about the organization, and what most grabbed my attention was this piece from the Bible:

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me... In so far as you did this to one of the least of these sisters and brothers of Mine, you did it for me."

Allan in front of Bishop William M. Cosgrove Center

Coordinator of the project talking to the Youth Ambassadors

Youth Ambassadors listen to Nicole Evans' speech

After this first welcome, they ushered us to the kitchen. The group was divided to provide the service of food today. Everyone worked: Jennifer from the Department of State, the Youth Ambassadors, Gina and also the coordinators of the project. There were a lot of people there, and I was extremely happy to see all people from the organization working for those people. In brief words, it was a beautiful gesture that should be cherished forever. Before giving the meals to people they explained how it would be done, and we prayed together.

This is me and other young girl volunteer

This is me volunteering

Jennifer from the Department of State, Layse and Rízia volunteering

Tairik inside of the kitchen volunteering

When we were close to finish the work, a gentleman came close to me and said: "Thank you for volunteering." Those words spoken to me made me feel brand new. The tears almost fell from my eyes. The words said are unforgettable. The small gestures all made a difference.

As we finished serving, they invited us to have lunch. We entered in the kitchen and chose what we wanted to eat, and we headed to the same room where Nicolle Evans hosted us and talked about the NGO. She thanked us, and we thanked her.

Youth Ambassadors having lunch at Bishop William M. Cosgrove Center

Gina Cirino on my right, and Youth Ambassadors with the coordinator of the food bank.

We left Bishop William M. Cosgrove Center to do the other activities. We went to Lake Erie's Waterfront.

Skyline of Cleveland, Ohio

Near to Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame

This is me in the Lake Eries' Waterfront

It was really cold, and we had more activities to do today. We stepped in the car and Yuri drove us to Thomas Jefferson's Ninth Grade Academy to volunteer with the City Year Cleveland Group, the same group we worked with on MLKD. The group left a good impression on me last time, and it was worth it to get to know their work in schools.

Cari came to enjoy our group again. The first thing that called my attention there were the two billboards on the main entrance wall of the school. One of them was written in English and the second one in Spanish. I knew later that they worked at this school with Latin American children who spoke both languages, English or Spanish, or only one.

In front of the Thomas Jefferson

Billboard in Spanish

Billboard in English

As we got into school, we were immersed in a mixed cultural environment. There were many flags of many countries, decorations, objects, dolls and so on. Furthermore, we saw many children leaving school and some of them spoke Spanish among themselves.

Poster inside of school welcoming visitors written with many languages

Youth Ambassadors in the main entrance of the school

Dolls

Flags

Decoration

Flags

Students leaving school

The City Year Group steered us to the library, where we were introduced to some students. They divided us in groups to talk. We chatted about ourselves, about how we got to be where we were as Youth Ambassadors. The volunteers of City Year talked about why they decided to do volunteer work, the difference we made with our volunteer work in our communities in Brazil, and about social justice and big issues. My group had a student who talked about her daily life and the origins of her family.

Janailton Mick, volunteer from City Year and me

After talking, we walked around the school. As I walked I realized that I have never seen a school like this one, with this structure. I believe that City Year is a model organization. They showed interest to make a difference. In each class there was, at least, one flag of the United States. Moreover, they put up many posters with beautiful messages written on them.

Janailton Mick, Toddy Marsh (City Year Volunteer), and me walking around the school

School Hall

Classroom

This is me inside of a classroom with a flag of the United States of America

Posters

We also went to the gym, cafeteria, and art and music classrooms. There were labels on the things in the classroom written in English and Spanish.

Cafeteria

Gmy

Music classroom

Art classroom

Nametags

Nametag

We came back to the library where we finished our visit. We made a big circle and discussed our impressions of Thomas Jefferson's Ninth Grade Academy, and what we learned with each other.

This is me talking to City Year Volunteers

City Year volunteers, Youth Ambassadors and students from Thomas Jefferson

It was almost twilight and we had another activity to do. We said our good-byes to City Year group and headed to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Globo crew was there to record us. I greeted them as we arrived and I finally met Julio Galhardi, the guy who called me to say that my video was chosen to take part in the contest to become the 36th Youth Ambassador.

Globo crew

Globo crew talking to Youth Ambassadors

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was one of the places I most wanted to go while in the United States. Everything inside of it was charming, mainly the collections which they show to the audience. We also had the pleasure to see the clothes that Michael Jackson wore in the video clip "thriller".