Brilliant article.
Sherryl Moore-Ollie looked out the metal-screened windows of Penn Elementary School’s main office and saw a man in the U-shaped building’s courtyard holding what appeared to be a beanbag. Several of her young school boys were punching the bag — the same kids she would usually have to yell at for throwing rocks at the school windows.
Moore-Ollie went outside and realized the beanbag was a punching bag: The man was teaching the boys to box. She introduced herself and the man explained who he was. Derek Brown, a former gang member who was trying to help local kids develop discipline and stay out of trouble. She liked him immediately, liked his passion. The boys seemed to respond to him.
