In the initial post on this blog, I stated that some amazing things are going on all around the world with Surgance. Just this morning, rejuveNATION National Program Director Eric Hoenigman made "chance" connections with two very significant people. Here is his account of the story:
"We often can't see what God is doing in our lives... but God sees the whole picture and His plan for us clearly."
That's where I left off reading this evening in Quiet Strength--A Memoir: The Principles, Practices, & Priorities of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy. Mike Laughrun--my friend, my 5am workout partner...oh yeah, also one of my pastors...loaned me the book to read while away in Carlisle, PA for the week for EMBARQ, the employment God has blessed me with to provide for my family and allowing us to remain in Las Vegas.
Melissa, the boys (Austin & Alec) and I rose early this morning and had breakfast together at the Sunrise Cafe before they took me to the airport to catch my flight to Baltimore...after which I drove to Carlisle, PA where it is currently a balmy 21°F (Feels Like 10°F). As I entered the jetway, I entered a brief discussion with the lady in front of me--a native of Las Vegas who was traveling to Baltimore for business. She works with United Healthcare and as our conversation unfolded, I had the opportunity to share about Surgance and rejuveNATION. She asked if we had been in touch with the Clark County Educational Foundation, because she thought they would definitely be interested in rejuveNATION and could potentially become a strong ally in Las Vegas. I gave her my business card--writing the direct link to the video regarding rejuveNATION-Las Vegas.
As I boarded the plane, I found my seat (15D). There was someone in seat 15F and for the time being, 15E was empty. About 10 minutes later, Kaya Henderson selected seat 15E. As she was settling into her seat, I volunteered to place her carryon in the overhead compartment, then returned to my seat and buckled in. As she thanked me for placing her bag, I asked her if she was going home or going to visit family. She indicated that she was going home, explaining that she spoke at a conference in Las Vegas over the weekend and was heading back home to Washington D.C.
Curious, I asked her what she spoke about at the conference. Kaya shared that she works with the District of Columbia Public Schools and explained that there were several programs that the Clark County School District had asked for someone to share about the innovative programs that are currently underway in the DCPS.
WOW! I thought out loud...then began to explain rejuveNATION and its history. Of course, I mentioned the recent rejuveNATION project (led by Dale South) at Roosevelt High School in Washington D.C. and asked if she was familiar with the school. She said she was very familiar with the school and was interested to hear about the project. When she learned what had been accomplished in New York City through Paint the Town and the nature of our continued partnership with the New York City Department of Education, she asked which schools we had worked in...because she grew up in Westchester County (just outside the Bronx), and was familiar with several of the schools in the Bronx because she previously taught at a middle school in the South Bronx near Mott Haven. That lead me to explain the partnership with which we've been blessed in World Vision in the Bronx. I explained the nature of our relationship with World Vision and that our partner at the World Vision Storehouse in the Bronx was helping us establish a relationship with the World Vision warehouse in Washington DC. Kaya explained that World Vision in DC is not far from the DCPS offices. Taking the conversation further, I explained how we had been asked to come to Las Vegas to start a non-profit organization and how Surgance is all about engaging the three sectors (Public. Private, & Social) in transforming communities. I shared how Surgance, and the principles upon which it is built, engages people from the Business, Religious, Educational, Government and Social/Cultural arenas to attack the needs and problems in communities.
It was not until I asked Kaya what her role was with the DCPS that she explained she is the Deputy Chancellor--this whole time, I was talking with Deputy Chancellor Kaya Henderson of the District of Columbia Public Schools!!! Kaya explained she had worked with Chancellor Rhee over the last 15 years and that big changes were coming. She shared that they are very open to organizations like Surgance who have the vision of helping the community rally around itself...developing partnerships among the community with relationships that help the communities change from the inside out... Click here to visit the DCPS Chancellor's Corner where you can read the bios of Chancellor Rhee and her key staff.
As the plane pushed back from the terminal, Kaya pulled out a book--RESILIENCE: Faith, Focus, Triumph (about NBA star Alonzo Mourning and his journey through kidney failure and kidney transplant)--whom I later found out was a classmate of hers at Georgetown. As she began to read, I rested my head and began to praise God for the amazing and divine appointments that had happened...all before 10.30am!!!!
At this point, Kaya explained the nature of her role--stating that the Chancellor of DCPS was a controversial and catalytic individual...Michelle Rhee (Note the glowing recommendation from "...Chancellor Joel Klein, whose work in New York City's public schools is a model for effective change, said of her appointment that it was 'the choice D.C. needs, given that, year in and year out, they have not gotten results.'...") ...indicating that Chancellor Rhee had recently been on the cover of TIME Magazine because of her stance and one of her controversial programs: Renew, Revitalize, Reorganize. (Interestingly the article explains that "...Rhee came highly recommended by another prominent school reformer: Joel Klein, chancellor of New York City's schools.") Kaya indicated that several of the programs they have initiated were actually piloted in the New York City Department of Education... Amazing, isn't it...??? 
Once we reached cruising altitude and the seatbelt sign was turned off, I dug out my Surgance business cards and wrote the direct link to the video regarding rejuveNATION-Las Vegas. At the same time, Kaya gave me her business card...on the back of which she wrote the contact information for Shereen Williams, Director of Community Partnerships at DCPS. Kaya indicated she would review our website and the and that I should reach out to Ms Williams as Kaya would be passing our information along to her.
As if the above wasn't enough...this next part is 'icing on the cake.'
While waiting for my bag at baggage claim, after the 1st 20 bags came out, the belt stopped...and after about 10 minutes, the overhead PA indicated that there had been a massive jam on the belt leading up to the baggage carousel and that "...it would be rectified as soon as possible." As I was standing there, knowing I had a 2-hour drive yet ahead of me, I heard somebody call my name...it was the lady from United Healthcare whom I had run into while boarding the plane. She explained that they had retrrofitted a school bus to be a mobile clinic/doctor's office--C.O.W. (Clinic on Wheels)--and donated it to an organization. But since then, the organization they donated the bus to has ceased to exist/need the bus and the bus has been returned to United Healthcare. She then went on to say that "If we could put it to good use, she's pretty sure we could have it."
SO...anybody have any ideas as to how or whether we can put the bus to good use?
eric HOENIGMANN
National Program Director, rejuveNATION
