A child shall lead them.

Today a potential grant-donor came to DinoMights tutoring. Typically, when these people come my boss spends a decent portion of the work day preparing for their visit. The whole process could be compared to a really intense job interview. Grant donors want to make sure you are an organization worth supporting. Well, for as much time as we can put into these "visits" by people who help fuel non-profits, surprises come up.

DinoMights tutoring takes place in an elementary school in South Minneapolis. Tutors spend an hour each Tuesday with a student working on reading, math, homework, and simply building a positive relationship with a kid.

As all of the kids were beginning to fill the library a school employee asked "are these kids with you?" I told her that they were with me. I was worried that she was going to have some type of complaint that they were being disruptive. Instead, she began to tell me how incredible DinoMights is. The potential grant donors walked into the library and this school employee asked if she could talk to them. She told these two individuals that the school which we use for tutoring has a 97% poverty rate. She began to get teary eyed, explaining that too many kids in the city fall through the cracks. As this happened, my boss entered the conversation and simply listened. Talk about a true testimony to our organization without even expecting it!

After talking with the grant people for awhile, my boss introduced them to some tutors/kids. When Kelsey( tutor/former DinoMight) and Edward (1rst grader/Kelsey's buddy) were introduced they were playing a game. Edward did not seem to be phased by these professional business-looking people. He said to them "Wanna play?" I loved hearing that story from Kelsey after tutoring. This 1rst grade boy attends the school where 97 % of the student population live in poverty. Yet, he has such a love of life and people. He has a HUGE heart. On Sunday afternoon we took him and another DinoMight out for lunch. He saved half of his lunch to give to his little brother.

Yes, gangs exist, drugs are being sold on the corner, and the schools seem so flawed at times. In the midst of the numerous broken, messed up, un-just situations, a child shall lead them.....