Cathedral Choir School of Delaware provides support system for vulnerable children.
by Tabe Mase and E. Norman Veasey, December 21, 2010
This article first appeared in The News Journal of Wilmington, Delaware
A compelling series on life in Wilmington's Southbridge and East Side that ran in The News Journal opened many eyes to the challenges of generational poverty in our city.
One of the young men quoted in the series described his life: He started drinking and smoking pot, "just like my uncles,'' at 12. He robbed people to get money to pay for those drugs. "That's what I grew up around,'' he said.
If that were the whole story, it would be unbearably sad. But all around this city are nonprofit groups whose members are sending lifelines into the hardest-hit communities and transforming lives one at a time.
We are involved in one of those nonprofits, the Cathedral Choir School of Delaware, which is based at the Cathedral Church of St. John, at Market Street and Concord Avenue. The school offers after-school musical training — including voice, piano and choral singing in several languages — and provides adult-led homework help, mentoring and leadership training in a safe, welcoming environment — all at no cost to the students or their families.
We are board members of the Choir School, one of us a nurse who became involved when her sons joined the choir; one of us a former chief justice of the Delaware Supreme Court, who grew up singing in the choir. We have seen how the positive influence of the caring people at this school can play out in real life.
Let us tell you about one family: In 1988, two young boys were enrolled in the Choir School by their grandmother. She was their guardian, as they had lost their mother to the streets. It was not easy keeping them focused. The call of the streets was strong, and after five years, the older brother dropped out of the Choir School and started getting in trouble with the law.
The younger boy stayed and took advantage of what the Choir School had to offer, including tutoring, mentoring and the safety the school provided. He graduated from high school in 2010 and won admission to college. To celebrate his achievement, he was invited to spend the summer with a former Choir School family.
While he was away, tragedy struck. His beloved grandmother was attacked in her home and nearly killed. Shockingly, the attacker was the older brother, who was sent to prison. The younger brother, devastated, returned and immediately was surrounded by his Choir School family, mentors and staff members. He received the support he needed to care for his grandmother in the hospital and for himself.
His former mentor drove him to college in August. He's doing well.
Two boys. Same background. The Choir School. Different outcomes.
We've seen children's lives changed in beautiful ways when adults in the community reach out a hand to help. Volunteers, people like you, provide a safety net and a foundation to help vulnerable children succeed. We encourage you to get involved. Please contact us!
Tabe Mase is a nurse practitioner with Christiana Care Health Systems. E. Norman Veasey is a former chief justice of the Delaware Supreme Court.
