Faces

The best part of the reunion is, of course, the people.  Here are a few of the highlights (but not nearly everyone)!

Margot Starbuck Hausman is a truly unique and amazing woman.  She brought her oldest two kids.  She is an author, speaker, advocate extraordinaire!  She is holding the newly adopted daughter of my good friend Michelle (not pictured).  Makena is just 6 weeks old.



Bruce and Pam Main's two daughters, Maddie and Erin.  Erin finished her freshman year at Eastern University but is transferring to Azusa Pacific in CA where Maddie will be an incoming freshman.  Their older brother Calvin just graduated from Brown and has moved to LA for work.  All three Main kids out of the house (empty nest!) and on the West Coast.

A little mix-up with our lunch on Friday afternoon made Bruce make an impromptu change of plans.  He hustled the alums across the street to a wonderful Puerto Rican restaurant where we ate family style.  The food was better than I have words for.  Mark Cerbone (husband of my dear friend Diann) is pictured below (along with Pam & Erin Main).  Diann and I were roommates when I first moved to Camden after college.  She met and married Mark, they moved to Buffalo, NY where she started an urban ministry that just celebrated it's 20th anniversary this year.  They have three beautiful teenage daughters who were at the next table over...can't believe I didn't get a picture of Diann and her girls!

 Tony and a restless Camden (which made for a bad picture).

 Happy 50th Brucie Bear!

Margot, Jeff Smith (who was on my very first staff in 1986), and I visiting Rosebud.  Jeff returned to Camden for several summers and moved out there in 88 or 89.  He worked with UP for a few years, then got his teaching certificate and has been a teacher in Camden elementary schools ever since.

The beauty in the middle is Jodina who is the Executive Director of UP.  She has been a wonderful friend from early on.  She ran all the teenage programs while I did the kids.  She left for a law degree and high-profile work in prison reform before returning to UP a few years ago.  So glad she is at the helm now!

 Jimbo!  He was a summer leader for 4 years in the early 90's.  He, too, is one of my favorite people that I only see at reunions.  He has an amazing wife and two great kids.  Kennedy came as a 6 year old to the first reunion in 2003. 

Kenyatta was a kid in the program from the beginning.  Jeff mentored him and a few other boys for years.  He has had a rough time (through decisions of his own), but is striving to do right.  So good to see him. (as well as Big Joe and Peanut - no picture, just for my memory).

Gabby was an intern for a number of years and one of my afterschool program directors.  She stayed for several years after me and has an long list of relationships she touched through her time at UP. 

 Lucy and Leslie were also interns and long-term staff at UP (both in Camden and in Toronto (Lucy)).