Tonight, tens of thousands of school children are still waiting to find out when face-to-face learning will return.
If there's a robust vaccination effort, it should be achievable by September.
And in preparation for that much aspired to goal, today, Coast Guard Cadet Coordinator Leroy Lewis made sure that his Cadets received some brand new backpacks. Here's more.
January of 2020 was a simpler time, the worldwide pandemic had yet to be declared, we knew nothing of facemasks and lockdowns, and the kid called "Windcuttaz" had just joined the sea cadets.
And while those days seem almost like another life, there was some hope today for the Sea Cadet program, a coming together of sorts, organized by the always sturdy Lieutenant Lewis.
Cherisse Halsall:
"Now Lieutenant Lewis it's been a long time since we've seen cadet activities. What prompted you to bring them back together today?"
Lt. Gilroy Lewis, Cadet Coordinator
"It is very imperative in these changing times that we have the cadet to understand how important they are and that they are the country's asset for tomorrow, as I've mentioned earlier these are changing times, these are socially economic tightness if I could use such a term and every parent would be happy with whatever assistance. So, we choose at this time to assist the Cadets with school supplies and a backpack so that they will be prepared whenever it is they go back to face-to-face learning?"
"Education education is very important, my parents used to say, if you believe that education is expensive then you try ignorance. So, we are equipping them so that they would be able to do well in school and become productive citizens, that's the end state to take care of our Jewel the appropriate way."
Cherisse Halsall:
"How difficult do you think it's been for these kids sir to not have had the community that the cadet program provides for them?"
Lt. Gilroy Lewis, Cadet Coordinator
"I believe it is extremely difficult because coming from the challenged neighborhood that they are all coming from it is an important outlet for them. You are aware that here at Gateway we provide sports in the form of basketball, football, karate, judo. We also provide music classes, wind and pan instruments. We afforded them the opportunity to assist them with projects and their homework and the basic computer knowledge here at this institute."
And while it's still pretty touch and go for these southside kids, Lewis vows that their days as cadets are far from over.
Lt. Gilroy Lewis, Cadet Coordinator
"The cadet program will be back as soon as the government and the ministry of Health decide to have face-to-face, so it's important that we encourage as many people to take the vaccine. So that we can return to some form of normalcy."
Johnathan "Windcutazz" Coleman is set to see an eye surgeon on August 7th. That surgeon will determine whether or not to recommend surgery on the boy's left eye.
