Richmond Community Foundation board, staff, and interested community folks were allowed entry into and a progress report from the president of the Rosie Trust, Tom Butt. His architectural firm is re-building and restoring this historic landmark where Head Start was born under the careful guidance of Dr. Catherine Landreth of the University of California at Berkeley. The Foundation is one of the many civic, county, etc., with whom the National Park Service partners in the creation and maintenance of this unique park that will someday give greater definition to this city.
Complete with "hard hat and tough-toed shoes" (it is, after all, a busy construction site), we were treated to a preview of this important site for which our National Park System interpretive team is actively planning exhibits even as we speak. (And, yes, I'm a part of the interpretive team.)The grand opening is scheduled for March 7th, if all goes well, and it will take at least that long for our interpreters to design the portion of the building that will be arranged for public viewing of life as it was lived in this state-of-the-art (at the time) facility. We have the miniature tables, easels, chairs, etc., items that will form the permanent exhibit along with story-telling plaques, plus examples of some of the 5000 pieces of childrens' art that were thoughtfully saved by a loving teacher whose intuitive act has preserved for succeeding generations a startlingly clear view of their life and times as seen through their own little eyes.
This is a busy and exciting time, as well you can see. Wish I could count on at least one more decade. It will take at least that long to upload everything I'm learning back into life for those who will follow in my footsteps. Not sure there's any precedent for extending one's lease on life, but if there is ... .
And if there's not. I'll leave only under protest!
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