Kalamazoo Public Schools issued the following announcement on Feb. 17.
Newly elected Kalamazoo City Commissioner Jeanne Hess wants to get to know her constituents, and she’s starting by meeting with some of the youngest.
Hess visited Andrea Walker’s fifth-grade class at Woodward School for Technology and Research in November to find out what issues matter to them. They had talked about important issues with Walker and had a list of concerns taped to the wall, including: homelessness, violence, drugs, and trash.
Hess told them that she used to teach and coach volleyball at Kalamazoo College, but she is now retired and serving on the city commission. She asked, “Do you know what the city commission is?”
One student guessed that meant she ran the city, but Hess said, “I’m part of a team that advises the people that work for the city on what to do and how to do it.”
A student said that meant that she was smarter than they were, but Hess shrugged off that suggestion saying, “No, I’m just older. We all have our own wonderful intelligences. We can all talk and we can all ask questions.”
Hess said she hopes to visit the class and talk about issues that matter to them. “I want you to work with me,” Hess said. “I would love to come to your class on a regular basis and have you tell me what it’s like to be a fifth grader in Kalamazoo and tell me how I can take what I learn from you to my work on the city commission.”
Walker’s class was in the midst of a community service project to raise money for teenage mothers to help them buy books to read to their babies. Bookbug bookstore donated copies of the new Sarah Stewart and David Small book, “This Book of Mine” to the project and Hess donated to the cause helping the class surpass their $300 goal.
Hess said she couldn’t wait to visit with the students again. “You guys are awesome. I love your energy and enthusiasm.”
Cutline: City Commissioner Jeanne Hess gets a group hug from Woodward students after donating to their Books 4 Babies community service project.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Kalamazoo Public Schools
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