A few months ago, eighteen middle school boys here in Chattanooga – nine from Chattanooga Preparatory School and nine from McCallie School – participated in an after-school program as a way to bridge their differences and prepare to become future leaders.
The program is part of the “Own Your History” initiative, which poses this challenge: What kind of America do we want for ourselves and our descendants?
Bess Steverson is director of Develop for Special Initiatives at McCallie School.
Kelcey Watson and Montrell Besley were the two facilitators for the after-school program.
Kelcey teaches middle school at McCallie - he’s also a Learning Center specialist who coaches football, basketball and track.
Montrell is director of community engagement at Chattanooga Prep - as well as head track coach there.
I spoke with them - and with two students who participated in the “Own Your History” after-school program: Cooper Gentle, a 7th grader at McCallie and Akeem Birt, an 8th grader at Chattanooga Prep.
