Blog

Conversation with TCS Alumni

We had an amazing Conversation with several TCS alumni. Olivia Yates (’20), Salma Ruiz-Cruz (’21), Claude Nicholson (’21), Joshua Sharp (’22), and Madison Hansel (’25) shared both their experiences at The Community School and since graduation with the students. It was a meaningful and honest discussion with alumni talking about the impact TCS had on their lives.  The students, especially the seniors, were interested in the choices the alumni made after leaving the school and their experiences with college and career. The discussion ranged from challenges with professors to learning from setback decisions that were made to positive strides in the face of adversity.

The discussion was spirited and inspiring with a strong bond created between the current students and the alumni. It was decided to hold more conversations with alumni before the year is out.  We are so proud of our current students and the graduates who are a credit to their families, communities and TCS.

Art Seminar with Kini Collins

Japanese Calligraphy was the theme of this week’s art seminar with special guest artist Kini Collins. Kini learned this art while studying martial arts in Japan.  Each student was given a brush and rice paper and was able to practice various symbols that stood for words.  The students learned the very physical techniques in shaping these words that make each recognizable though unique. The workshop ended with a group project where the students used what they had learned to communicate with each other through their calligraphy.

Thank you Kini Collins for your generous sharing of time and talent, and thank you Cheryl Fair for curating this series.

Special Restorative Circle Seminar

Learning ways to resolve conflict and restore relationships was the focus of aa special seminar today.  This Restorative Circles seminar was facilitated by Sister Helene Cook who traveled from Scranton, Pennsylvania to join us at the invitation of Lisa Knickmeyer, her former colleague. In this time that is often immersed in division and alienation, we wanted to give the students an opportunity to talk about the conflict in their lives and share methods they have used to find resolution.

This was a deeply personal and meaningful seminar that we hope will lead to more understanding and stronger interpersonal relationships.  Thank you Sister Helene.

Conversation with Rafael Alvarez

Journalist, author, screenwriter and extraordinary storyteller, Rafael Alvarez, returned to the school to talk with the students for this week’s Conversation series. He started the Conversation by interacting with each student learning about his or her interests and plans while sharing ideas and contacts to support each one. Rafael then fielded a broad range of questions from the students on topics as varied as his travel experiences to his inspiration for writing to the issues of the day. He had taken two trips on merchant ships earlier this year – one across the Atlantic and another across the Pacific.  While he speaking highly of our school, he also said one of the best ways to get an education was to travel and experience places and lives very different from your own.

Rafael ‘s connection with our school goes back nearly 50 years when he was a reporter for the Baltimore Sunpapers. Since that time, he has written many books and also worked in Hollywood writing for television and film including two years on The Wire with David Simon. He reinforced the teaching in the school that everyone has a story and that much is to be learned from taking the time to interact and listen.

The students have started reading his book “Don’t Count Me Out: A Baltimore Dope Fiend’s Miraculous Recovery” as part of their English literature class.

We appreciate Rafael’s generosity of time with us over the years and for always responding when we ask him to come in to talk with the students.

https://baltimoretraces.umbc.edu/projects/greektown/rafael-alvarez/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Alvarez