Today we learned that Leander, one of the children from our film, has been accepted into the Boys Hope program! This is such a fabulous opportunity for Leander and when you know his story you will understand just how remarkable it is.
Leander was introduced to us by Wendy, a friend of Laura's, who happened to live in the same neighborhood as Leander, although he was living in abject poverty and Wendy was living in very comfortable surroundings. This is fairly typical in New Orleans with people from vastly different socio-economic backgrounds living side by side. It is also something that greatly appeals to me as it can and often does help each of us understand the customs and lifestyles of others.
Leander also had figured out at the ripe old age of 7 that he could
get the needs not met at home through the more affluent neighbors who
fed him, cleaned his clothes, bought him new clothes, let him use the
computer as well as who served as surrogate parents, something he is
to this day desperate for. Hampton Friedman was at the top of the list
of the surrogate parents and it was Hampton and his wife who Leander
evacuated with during Hurricane Katrina.
As Hampton tells it Leander showed up on his doorstep early on the morning before the storm and asked to come along. Leander explained that he had a new puppy and did not want to go to the Superdome where pets were not allowed. Hampton agreed to take him as long as his Mom signed off on that and she did. He stayed with the Friedman's for three months where they enrolled him in a private school in Baton Rouge and where he excelled.
He eventually located his family and went to be with his Mother, Father and sister in Ft. Worth, where, unlike New Orleans, the neighborhoods are not mixed socio-economically. Their living conditions were horrific. Leander's Mother was very ill, and not expected to survive much longer. His Father was also ill, both having long been involved in the world of drugs. His sister, now 12, has had just as hard a life.
But in two weeks Leander will walk into the best home he could ever have asked for, surrounded by peers who are equally intelligent, creative and from similar difficult backgrounds. He will be mentored by outstanding and loving men and women and he will have opportunities beyond his wildest dreams.
Boys Hope will provide top notch education for him through college and
will help him meet his full potential by providing a value centered,
family like home and exciting opportunities, allowing him to become
the wonderful man we all know he will be. www.boyshopegirlshope.org
Babs Johnson
