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partnerships allowed our students to participate onsite in the Orlando Opera Camp and to study photography
at the Crealdé School of Art located in Winter Park. Moreover, the Crealdé School was divinely led to paint a

historical mural on the fence at the Tajiri facility and to build a historical totem pole inside the yard. Crealdé

provided the paint, brushes, and instructors, as well as the two photographers ‒ Toya Flewellyn and Angela
Peterson.

Well, wouldn’t you know, my next-door neighbors came over to inspect the painting process and asked if they
could participate. I welcomed the idea and – believe it or not – those who volunteered to help were very gifted

painters. Look at God! There Is Power in Partnership!

Passion = Sacrifice

In the summer of 1996, we took approximately fifty students and parents from Tajiri Arts on a field trip to New
York City. We visited the Museum for African Art, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the Apollo

Theater in Harlem (where the students were able to touch the stump and do a no-audience performance on
stage), and the Henry Street Settlement for Children in Soho. We also studied at the Alvin Ailey Dance School

and went to see Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk on Broadway. Rather graciously, Savion Glover, the show’s

star, signed all the students’ programs following the show. After this New York experience, I was inspired to
form a Boys Glee Club for male children who needed encouragement to stay out of trouble. I gathered boys from

the elementary, middle, and high schools in Sanford and Orlando to develop a 27-voice choir with pianists Mrs.
Lorraine Offer and Mr. Vernon Jones.

At first, the boys had very negative ideas about the concept. They wanted to sing songs from the Hip Hop and
Pop genres. My plan was to sing Negro Spirituals, Patriotic, and more positive message music (not to say that all