for the kids of cohen teen violence early parenthood and sheer poverty can
early parenthood and sheer poverty can
early parenthood and sheer poverty can pose overwhelming challenges
pose overwhelming challenges
pose overwhelming challenges understanding education was already
understanding education was already
understanding education was already hanging by a thread and so to me it is
hanging by a thread and so to me it is
hanging by a thread and so to me it is apparent that katrina just cut the end
apparent that katrina just cut the end
apparent that katrina just cut the end of that schools shutdown transcripts
of that schools shutdown transcripts
of that schools shutdown transcripts perished and kids lost proof of what
perished and kids lost proof of what
perished and kids lost proof of what year they were in leaders talked about
year they were in leaders talked about
year they were in leaders talked about rebuilding the city but today parts of
rebuilding the city but today parts of
rebuilding the city but today parts of the Big Easy still lie and ruin our lien
the Big Easy still lie and ruin our lien
the Big Easy still lie and ruin our lien Kennedy is the new principal at Cohen
Kennedy is the new principal at Cohen
Kennedy is the new principal at Cohen she has been an educator for 15 years
she has been an educator for 15 years
she has been an educator for 15 years most recently in South Carolina New
most recently in South Carolina New
most recently in South Carolina New Orleans is a much different world I’ve
Orleans is a much different world I’ve
Orleans is a much different world I’ve come to a laid-back culture I’ve come to
come to a laid-back culture I’ve come to
come to a laid-back culture I’ve come to a laid-back society there are a lot of
a laid-back society there are a lot of
a laid-back society there are a lot of things that are considered to be more
things that are considered to be more
things that are considered to be more important than education in a city with
important than education in a city with
important than education in a city with a soaring homicide rate Cohen’s
a soaring homicide rate Cohen’s
a soaring homicide rate Cohen’s teenagers are among those most at risk
do I think that he’s a kid that’s
do I think that he’s a kid that’s unsavable no I don’t I think he’s a
unsavable no I don’t I think he’s a
unsavable no I don’t I think he’s a child that still has hope there’s a lot
child that still has hope there’s a lot
child that still has hope there’s a lot more than me and the teachers and the
more than me and the teachers and the
more than me and the teachers and the climate control managed or the football
climate control managed or the football
climate control managed or the football coach there’s a lot more than us they
coach there’s a lot more than us they
coach there’s a lot more than us they need to come and take an active part
need to come and take an active part
need to come and take an active part it’s difficult getting his mom to come
it’s difficult getting his mom to come
it’s difficult getting his mom to come to school Julie Murphy is in her first
to school Julie Murphy is in her first
to school Julie Murphy is in her first year of teaching English it blows my
year of teaching English it blows my
year of teaching English it blows my mind when I walk into my school and I
mind when I walk into my school and I
mind when I walk into my school and I had no books in my personal library and
had no books in my personal library and
had no books in my personal library and kids who couldn’t get pens and binders
kids who couldn’t get pens and binders
kids who couldn’t get pens and binders and just basic school supplies miss
and just basic school supplies miss
and just basic school supplies miss Murphey understands that for many Cohen
Murphey understands that for many Cohen
Murphey understands that for many Cohen kids graduation can be a frightening
kids graduation can be a frightening
kids graduation can be a frightening prospect scary thing for a lot of kids
prospect scary thing for a lot of kids
prospect scary thing for a lot of kids not just I but a lot of the seniors to
not just I but a lot of the seniors to
not just I but a lot of the seniors to leave here because this is a safe place
leave here because this is a safe place
leave here because this is a safe place not really a lot safe but it’s a safe
not really a lot safe but it’s a safe
not really a lot safe but it’s a safe place for them I really really want you
place for them I really really want you
place for them I really really want you to not just
the only reason we get mad is because we
the only reason we get mad is because we see you like throwing it away that’s why
see you like throwing it away that’s why
see you like throwing it away that’s why we get mad if we didn’t see something a
we get mad if we didn’t see something a
we get mad if we didn’t see something a new tie we wouldn’t care
graduation day has finally arrived with
graduation day has finally arrived with no stadium and the air conditioning
no stadium and the air conditioning
no stadium and the air conditioning broken at Cohen auditorium this church
broken at Cohen auditorium this church
broken at Cohen auditorium this church welcomes the community for this
welcomes the community for this
welcomes the community for this milestone event
I stood there and said to them you all
I stood there and said to them you all need to understand this is a rite of
need to understand this is a rite of
need to understand this is a rite of passage this is the movement from
passage this is the movement from
passage this is the movement from childhood into maturation and this is
childhood into maturation and this is
childhood into maturation and this is your ability to say I’m ready to step up
your ability to say I’m ready to step up
your ability to say I’m ready to step up in the world my kids my kids deserve the
in the world my kids my kids deserve the
in the world my kids my kids deserve the best because they’re the best they are
best because they’re the best they are
best because they’re the best they are right they are full of life they have so
right they are full of life they have so
right they are full of life they have so much to say
much to say
much to say it’s just that nobody listens of the 66
it’s just that nobody listens of the 66
it’s just that nobody listens of the 66 seniors began the year at Cohen 32
seniors began the year at Cohen 32
seniors began the year at Cohen 32 graduate
graduate
graduate do I think I’ve gotten far no I think
do I think I’ve gotten far no I think
do I think I’ve gotten far no I think I’m 25% of the way do I stop no because
I’m 25% of the way do I stop no because
I’m 25% of the way do I stop no because we need to get a hundred percent of the
we need to get a hundred percent of the
we need to get a hundred percent of the way
way
way despite Katrina despite the violence and
despite Katrina despite the violence and
despite Katrina despite the violence and intense poverty that engulfed them 15
intense poverty that engulfed them 15
intense poverty that engulfed them 15 Cohen teams will go on to college
Cohen teams will go on to college
Cohen teams will go on to college sparks of hope in a city where hope can
sparks of hope in a city where hope can
sparks of hope in a city where hope can still be terribly hard to find
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