{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/q814m92423/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Khaleel Anderson Oral History"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eKhaleel Anderson discusses growing up in Far Rockaway, Queens; sheltering at Queens College due to Hurricane Sandy in 2012; his time at Queens College as an undergraduate in the SEEK program and graduate student in Urban Affairs; and his political activism as a campus and community organizer. \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAfter these interviews took place, in November 2020, Anderson was elected to serve Assembly District 31 in Queens, becoming the youngest Black Assembly Member in New York State history.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2019-06-24 (created)","2019-07-01 (created)","2019-07-15 (created)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Tags"]},"value":{"en":["Queens College Alumni"]}},{"label":{"en":["Type"]},"value":{"en":["Audio"]}},{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Khaleel Anderson (Interviewee)","Obden Mondesir (Interviewer)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source"]},"value":{"en":["Interview conducted as part of the Queens College SEEK History Project."]}},{"label":{"en":["Coverage"]},"value":{"en":["2005-2019 (temporal)","Queens College and Far Rockaway, Queens, NY (spatial)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["English"]}}],"summary":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSummary of Full Interview\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eKhaleel\u0026nbsp;Anderson discusses growing up in Far Rockaway, Queens; sheltering at Queens College due to Hurricane Sandy in 2012; his time at Queens College as an undergraduate in the SEEK program and graduate student in Urban Affairs; and his political activism as a campus and community organizer.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAfter these interviews took place, in November 2020, Anderson was elected to serve Assembly District 31 in Queens, becoming the youngest Black Assembly Member in New York State history.\u003c/p\u003e"]},"requiredStatement":{"label":{"en":["Attribution"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003eCC BY-NC-SA\u0026nbsp;Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},"provider":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Queens Public Library"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/010/original/Aviary_QPLlogo_192x192.png?1578574261","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/117/121/small/Screenshot_%2874%29.png?1623684120","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 3 - Anderson_Khaleel_by_Mondesir_Obden_06242019.mp3"]},"duration":2360.37219,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/117/121/small/Screenshot_%2874%29.png?1623684120","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-queenslibrary.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/117/121/original/Anderson_Khaleel_by_Mondesir_Obden_06242019.mp3?1623682492","type":"Audio","format":"audio/mpeg","duration":2360.37219,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Full Transcript - June 24, 2019 [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Uh, living with folks, immigrants, uh, folks who are Black, white, Hispanic. Uh, the building was highly, very diverse, uh, across the street from the building was my school. Uh, so living in Brooklyn and just living, uh, in that neighborhood in general, uh, there was very few things we actually had to leave the neighborhood to do 'cause everything was so local. I was a few blocks from the Brooklyn Museum, a few blocks from the library, um, a few blocks from the park, etc. Um, but what, what finally pushed us out of that neighborhood was, of course, the gentrification of the neighborhood. Uh, rents began to skyrocket, um, and people just couldn't afford the neighborhood anymore. Including my family.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=0.0,51.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Um, could you tell me the year you were born?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=51.0,54.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Yes, I was born in 1996. I was born at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=54.0,59.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: And what do you remember? What streets you, the first house?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=59.0,62.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Yeah, so, um, the house I'm describing now was the first house, the first and only house I lived in, uh, between '96 and 2005. Uh, this was on Sterling Place between Washington and Classon, uh, Avenues in Crown Heights. So across the street was P.S. 316 where I went to school for a little bit. Um, and then that was my neighborhood. I learned how to ride a bike there and all the good times. And actually at that period, my dad actually lived with, lived with me. Um, but for the period there following, I grew up in a single parent household.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=62.0,101.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Could you tell me about, um, could you tell me about your parents?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=101.0,105.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Sure. So professionally or personally?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=105.0,108.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Both.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=108.0,110.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: So my mom, uh, was a community organizer. Um, my mom was someone who was highly active in the neighborhood. Sit on PTA. Uh, was, uh, you know, worked for ACORN. Uh, you know, was involved in pretty much everything from A to Z. Um, you know, at her young age and her and her ability to, to do that. Um, my, my father, uh, when he was with us, he, when he lived with us, he's still alive. Um, he was, uh, an x-ray technician, uh, at, uh, St. Vincent's Hospital. Uh, he had immigrated here, uh, from Liberia. Um, just, just a little bit before the, uh, second civil war broke out in Liberia, in the '80s -- '70s, '80s, around that period, uh, is when he came. Uh, and he was also a member of 1199, 1199 NCIU and was active in that type of work as well.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=110.0,168.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Cool. And, um you said that you guys were living in Crown Heights, you were across the street from your school and that everything was within distance. And, um, tell me about your move from Brooklyn to Queens.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=168.0,185.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: So this was, um, this. The move from Brooklyn to Queens was, was, uh, was a rough ride, literally. And, and, and, and an actual, uh, you know, specifically related to the process of moving. Um, we were, we were, I guess we were out already, in addition to the rent going up, we were outgrowing this space. My mom was expecting. I believe she was expecting around that time. Give or take, let me not say that.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=185.0,219.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: So it was in 2005.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=219.0,222.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Yeah. My sister came in '06, but we moved. No, she wasn't expecting yet. 'Cause we moved, moved Christmas Eve '04, but we didn't get in the place until like February 2005 and then my sister was born in ...No, so she wasn't expecting, OK, sorry. I had to do that math. But, um, so we moved, um, piled up in the truck, uh, me and my, my two brothers , the moving men. Uh, and we, we, we set off from, from, uh, from Brooklyn to, to, uh, to the Rockaways. Um, never been there before. Um, didn't know what we were getting into. Uh, and, and in fact, uh, when my mom closed the deal and ended the lease and everything, we actually hadn't even seen it yet. So we were just, we didn't know anything. Um, but it was, it was, it was a rough ride because we had to ride in the back. Like literally in the back of the truck. But, um, no, I mean, it was, it was definitely a life changing experience. It was, it was definitely a process of uprooting, cause uh, I definitely made a lot of friends at the school and neighborhood and stuff like that. And I was, you know. Uh, so it was definitely a different, different thing. It was definitely a different experience. One that was unexpected to say the least. Right. So I knew enough.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=222.0,317.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: So, and, um, before we continue talking about your move to, Queens, I guess tell me, tell me about what school was like or yeah. What do you remember about school?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=317.0,328.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Sure.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=328.0,329.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: In Crown Heights.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=329.0,330.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Right. So, um, I went to P.S. 316, the Elijah Stroud School right across the street from my apartment, uh, for, for a little bit. Um, shortly after I was, I was diagnosed, uh, with, I believe it was emotional disturbance, uh, and, and, uh, attention it, attention deficit, ADHD. And that, you know, required that I go to a setting with more supports, uh, a system, uh, where folks are, where the young students, the students can actually have like a paraprofessional, uh, academic support, um, emotional support, things of that nature. So I had to be moved to a different setting. So I believe the first school that I was moved to was P.S. 9, which was on Underhill Avenue in Brooklyn in the same Crown Heights vicinity, not too far from, uh, from my home. And, uh, from there that site moved and consolidated so I had to go to P.S. 304. No, actually I was at P.S .12 first. I was at P.S. 12 first. P.S. 12 is on Howard. This is P.S. 12. And then from P.S.12, I went to P.S. 9, which is on Underhill. And then that site consolidated. And then I went to P.S. 10 -- P.S. 304, which is on Hart, Hart Street. Um, and then somehow that site consolidated so we moved back to P.S. 9 before I left.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=330.0,426.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/18","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: And, um, what do you remember about your, like your experiences in school or like, do you remember any particular teachers?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=426.0,432.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/19","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Yeah, absolutely.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=432.0,433.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/20","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Did you have a favorite subject, like just...?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=433.0,436.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/21","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Across the board teachers in general. Uh, from K to \n[laughs] 20th grade, if you count the five years I did here \n[at Queens College], um, were my main support system. Teachers that looked out, teachers that, um, took, like picked up where my mom, uh, needed support or whatever the term is. Uh, picked up .Well the better term is it picked up where they saw fit. Right? Um, I had teachers who helped me if I needed extra time on a test, which was also required by my IEP, but they gave you more extra time, which is good. Um, if I needed emotional help, if I needed a walk, if I needed anything to help me cope with, with my disability at the time, you know, the teachers were there for support. And, um, while I do remember, um, pretty much a decent number of my teachers -- in fact, I've run into them occasionally. I was actually at a lupus walk for my mom, 'cause unfortunately my mom has lupus. I was at a lupus walk in May and I ran into my third grade teacher from Brooklyn. Uh, and I exchanged contacts. She remembered me by face. And, uh, it's, it's actually funny 'cause I, I think, I don't know if that was a partner or a friend who was also my teacher at that school. Uh, they had moved to the Rockaways , had followed us to the Rockaways at that time. Um, but we didn't know the neighborhood well enough to say, \"Oh, they lived on this street or that street.\" Whatever ..We just knew they lived in Edgemere.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=436.0,537.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/22","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: And so, um, I would say a specific teacher, would be Miss Smalls. Um, Miss Smalls at P.S. 12 in Brooklyn was someone who kind of saw my bright, my ability, um, to be bright or ability to express myself in an academic setting. So she always gave me challenging work. Like I was in kindergarten and first grade with her. Uh, and I would get like first and second grade work, third grade work just to, just to, you know, keep me preoccupied. Cause I found myself finishing the work before everybody, being on a different, you know, grade level than everybody. Um, so I found myself with like different levels of work. And my primary issue wasn't the learning piece. My primary issue was the behavior piece, the, uh, uh, the, the attention piece I had .Sometimes I just needed instant gratification and I wanted to do this and move on to that. Uh, so that, that held me back in, in terms of, um, being able to, to work in a space with mainstream quote unquote -- I hate that term, but that's the terminology the, the, uh, the system, the education system uses. But, um, you know, it held me back. My behavior, my inability to cope with, just my mannerisms, uh, and that sort at a young age -- 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, you know, in this time. So, you know, that held me back from functioning in the mainstream. But in terms of academics, I was blessed. Um, you know, to have that level of mental, to have that level of support at home, uh, to be able to perform while in school. Thank God. I guess,\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=537.0,652.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/23","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Aside from the work that Miss Smalls would give you, like...Or give me an example of like, um, the, I wouldn't say idiosyncrasies, but like, uh, like any attention issues that you would have. Like, uh, while in school, like, would you get fidgety or would you like dance?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=652.0,675.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/24","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Fidgety dancing, getting out of my seat, walking around, talking to people, just whatever I can get my hands on. Just doing different stuff. Sometimes I'd have a phrase. Not so much a tick, but like a phrase. And then I'd say it back and forth with my friends, like potato or something like that. Something like some, you know, harmless, uh, and I'd say that back and forth and we'd joke back, back and forth about that. But, um, just creating those types of types of, uh, behaviors kind of held me back in that space.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=675.0,717.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/25","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: You moved to Far Rockaway and, um, what do you remember about? Uh, what do you remember about like the differences in between Brooklyn and Far Rockaway or just, what do you remember about, um, Far Rockaway when you first moved there?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=717.0,736.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/26","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: I remember, um, well, first I remember losing all my friends, uh, 'cause that is always a tough thing, especially at our age, like we're 8, 9, 10. You know, you don't have cell phones.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=736.0,751.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/27","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Yet\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=751.0,753.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/28","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Well, I mean that cell phones were out, but we didn't have them at that age. So, um, you know, I remember losing all my friends and not being able to stay in touch as much as I could have., But I was excited to make new friends. Um, so when I first, uh, got to Rockaway. I'll talk about the school experience and then the home experience.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=753.0,775.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/29","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Go for it.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=775.0,776.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/30","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Uh, so the school experience, um, we were zoned to go to P.S. 105, which is three blocks from our house. Uh, but my mom didn't want us at P.S.105. She wanted us all to be together. Um, and because myself and my brother were in a District 75 program, uh, we needed to be at a school that provided District 75 services. And in that program, the nearest school with a good record, with a good -- I wouldn't say good record -- with a good, uh, background. What's the word? Good. Um,\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=776.0,819.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/31","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondésir: Focus?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=819.0,820.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/32","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: No.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=820.0,820.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/33","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Program?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=820.0,820.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/34","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: No a good, um, record., Not record, but, um...\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=820.0,827.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/35","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Practice?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=827.0,827.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/36","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: They had a good name for, for academia at the time. Whatever phrase you use for that. Was P.S. 43, which was about 20 blocks from the house. Twenty, thirty blocks from the house. Let me not say blocks. Well, I'll just say like a mile or two down the road. And that was a site that we were assigned to for District 75 \n[a program providing specialized instructional support services], but now, uh, my brother who was not District 75, who was just a standardized gen ed, general education student. He was assigned to 105. So there was a fight back and forth with, uh, with, uh, with the District to try to get them, get us all at 43. My mom, thank God was able to win that fight. So all of us were at the same school, just different sides of the school. So what happens is, is the District 75 program co-locates with a general education, general population school. Um, so as to not intermingle, um, you have students that are on the lower end of the spectrum who just have like behavior problems all the way up to folks who are physically, uh, uh. Um, have physical impediments, uh, that require more supports for their education. Um, people who are, um, who suffer from autism or suffer with autism. People who suffer with Asperger's, things of that nature. The entire group is a group of folks that need, students, young people that need extra supports. That's all it is. Extra supports. Whether that be extra time on a test. Whether that be a paraprofessional to help with the work, you know, breaking down the work and content. Whether that be counseling services for emotional support, weekly, weekly counseling services. Or physical therapy. And these are the things that our students need so that they can be successful. Right? So that's, that's the, that's the program that I was in, uh, and 43 was a good school, uh, in that it allowed me to grow. It allowed me, um, space to, um, I guess learn about myself, um, as a budding 9, 10, and eventually 13-year-old when I graduated. Um, it allowed me also space to begin the process of integrating with the, uh, general education students, which there's a program within District 75 called the inclusion program, uh, where you are moved from your more restrictive environment into a more mainstream environment. So you work with those populations so you can begin to become independent. So you could begin that work.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=827.0,998.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/37","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: And so... and so that's something that we learned, I was able to experience throughout my time. And it was a similar situation. I was blowing through the work, um, couldn't sit still, couldn't do this, couldn't do that. Uh, as it relates to just keeping my behavior in check. And I, I, I don't want to say it got worse when I moved to Rockaway, but cause also in correlation with moving to Rockway also, my dad didn't move with me so that may or may not have played a role. But there was definitely an increase of like misfits and misbehavior. Um, I, the one negative thing I can say about the program -- although I talk very positively about the District 75 programs and citywide programs, nationwide programs that services, you know, students with disabilities -- is that they did not have, they didn't always have the tools to deal with my type. People with, with behavioral issues. So, uh, one thing that you'd see, uh, particularly when I was at P.S., uh, P.S. 9, was that a fight between two 8-year-olds or 7-year-olds would result in the police officers coming to the school. Um, an altercation with a student and a teacher would result in police or ambulance folk come into the school. Uh, I had one incident where I had gotten to a disagreement with a, with a, with a teacher and I was handcuffed at 7 years old.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=998.0,1099.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/38","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondésir: who was she ?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=1099.0,1101.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/39","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: I don't remember. I think it was Miss Cooper or Mr. Jules. Well, I got into it. Maybe Mr. Hill. I don't remember which teacher I got into it with, but I got into a disagreement with that teacher and it resulted in me being handcuffed, uh, and taken to a mental hospital. Um, and, um, I don't want to talk about this, but I'm going to talk about it anyway, because it relates to now. It relates to how our schools are ill equipped to deal with, uh, to, to not only deal with high-tension issues, but to diffuse them before they become a high tension. We're ill equipped. Uh, across this city, across this state, across this country, our teachers, our paraprofessionals, our, our folks who are supposed to work with kids, sometimes exacerbate issues, uh, so much so that, that, you know, uh, uh, things like that can happen. And in addition to exacerbating issues, they don't have the tools to actually maintain and handle. So that type of stuff happened when I was younger. Um, up until I was 12, 13, I had, like went from 16 incidents and I'm just using it as a, as a whatever. Sixteen incidents to like two or three. Cause, um, again, back to the positive about the program is that you have individuals who care about you. You had individuals who invest in you, you got individuals who will work with you, one on one with your specific, um, different ability. I hate using the word disability. So you'll hear me using different ability because folks are differently abled. We're not disabled. Where we can't do this, we might be able to do that.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=1101.0,1220.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/40","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: So what, um, just, just in summation, I guess what helped me guide me through middle school, elementary school and into high school was trying to find channels for that, that energy. Trying to find my voice. Trying to understand why I'm acting out. Uh, what are the root causes and how do we address it. This is something that I had to do on my own. Uh, obviously with the support of my mom. I would say it was mom 90 and me 10. Because my mom is someone who looks at things from a holistic picture. We don't, we don't. She, she never taught me to look at things where it says, uh, for example, um, he's acting out, he needs to go to a program. He's acting out. Why is he acting out? What's making him acting out? What are the incidents? And she's the type of investigative type of mom who goes deeper, um, to address issues. And that's how I was able to, to move to a path from 16 incidents -- and I'm just using it as a figure -- down to two incidents because of a mom who's willing to, to defend me, uh, in incidents and, uh, with teachers or, or even my peers and things of that nature. Um, all the way, you know, to... You know, if I'm wrong, I'm wrong, but just balancing that, that type of relationship. And, and, and, and so, um, in addition to having mom being a support, uh, trying her best single family, a single, single parent household to having teachers and paraprofessionals who will take me on a walk, would give me extra work when I had finished my work before everyone else. Would, do give me pep talks or give me life talks.Would tell me if you want to get here, you need to do this. If you want to get here, you need to do that. And, and, and, and, and helping me find my channel, my voice for how to address my behavior issues.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=1220.0,1342.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/41","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: And now I'm going to fast forward really quickly. Now, looking back on, um, my behavior issues, the root of a lot of those incidents was a social justice voice that was trying to be expressed. Um, I looked back at an incident with a teacher, where a teacher took 15 minutes of recess away from us, uh, because one student acted out. And I thought that that was unfair. I thought that I needed to speak out on that because, yes that child probably acted out, but there was a different way to deal with that. And obviously at 7, 8, 9, and 10, and even, even up to the 12 and 13, I didn't have the proper voice to say that. So I throw stuff. I get upset , throw tantrums, things of that nature. Um, but what really needed to happen was me to just speak it out, uh, and go to the proper authorities, uh, as a principal or assistant principal, whatever. The proper channels to express that. And now I'm looking at myself now and I get angry at, uh, I get angry at, uh, uh, a system. I get angry at a criminal justice system that locks up people. That's what I'm angry about now. I get angry at, um, racial injustice. I get angry that my neighborhood has very few grocery stores, uh, spaces for people to actually buy healthy food. And now they're suffering from hypertension, high blood pressure and the things that people suffer through in the Black community, um, because, because of inequality.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=1342.0,1448.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/42","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: So now I'm angry about that. I know what I'm angry about. I know what the root cause of that anger and frustration and emotion is. And I'm able to channel it into addressing those issues. So just. And that's something I came to realizing very recently about myself. It's like, I've been doing this like literally my whole life, but just not in an organized fashion. I'm sorry if that was a mouthful.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=1448.0,1477.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/43","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondésir: No, no, no. That's kind of what we want. Yeah. And so you came to this realization and I guess if we're going back, you talk about, um, your mom realizing how important, um, you staying in District 75 was, and that she wanted all her children to go to P.S. 43. Um, describe, describe P.S. 43. What was that like?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=1477.0,1504.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/44","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: So P.S.43. Um, in terms of what though?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=1504.0,1508.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/45","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondésir: What do you remember from P.S. 43?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=1508.0,1511.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/46","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Um, so I remember, um, again, you know, the District 75 program with my brother this time, uh, it felt a little bit better at 43 that I was actually going through a program, going through school with my brother, my older brother, um, because prior, um, because there weren't that many District 75 programs that met everyone's, uh, and this is how I understand it. Uh, uh, that met everyone's different ability. Um, long story short, it caused us to be at separate schools. So I never was at the same school as my, my brother. Uh, so going through that program at 43 together was helpful. He's upstairs. I was downstairs or down the hall, and I was near the hall, wherever. And that was good as a support system and speaking out for each other and things of that nature. But my younger brother who, who, um, was not diagnosed with any, uh, sort of, you know, different abilities. He was on, all in the other side of the school, so we never saw him. But when it was time to come home and come together, uh, you know, there was that ability for that to happen in different ways. So what I remember about 43 is that I was 9 years old. It was the middle of the school year. I was placed in a sixth grade class -- I was only in the fourth grade. There was no more seats in the fourth grade class. And I was testing higher than fourth grade. So they put me in a sixth grade class. Um, there were -- and I'm going to give you full, you know, full disclosure -- District 75, wasn't organized, uh, based on academia. The classrooms were not organized based on that. You think you'd go to school for academics. It wasn't organized that way. It was organized, uh, based on the level of folks' behavior or folks' different abilities, right? So you had a classroom, obviously with students who, who have, uh, one level of autism, this level, higher functioning autism. Then you had a classroom with students who are quote unquote standardized -- and I'm using their terms just for the purposes. You had students that were standardized. That were high functioning, but had high, low behavior problems. Then you had people who are low functioning with high, uh, high behavior problems or low behavior problems. And that's how it was organized. So as to be able to make sure that the resources are properly allocated. Resources, meaning the paraprofessionals, extra time, room, tougher teachers, male teachers -- especially if it's a male class with people with behaviors. But I would say throughout my time in the District 75 program, it was always a 90-10 or 80-20 in terms of boy- girl ratio. It was more boys in the District 75 system. Boys in my category, behavior problems, um, uh, that were in the classrooms. So we required tougher teachers. We required more male, uh, uh, you know, more male presence 'cause we were bad, we were bad. Uh, and so I hate to use that term. We weren't bad. We were just misguided. And the story was always the same. Low income, single parent, either foster care or, uh, an emergency situation. You know, these things could range from anything. These are kids you don't \n[unclear word] , so it can range from anything. Young people. So I found myself in that program and I found myself excelling and, and, and, and I, and I, I'm also trying to be a support to my brother um, whenever I could. Sticking up for him and making sure, you know, 'cause that was why mom put us together in school to make sure we had each other's back. Um, wow. I am opening up to you. I've got best friends I never even told this.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=1511.0,1761.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/47","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondésir: So, well, so we're talking we're. And 43 was an elementary school or a junior high school?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=1761.0,1767.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/48","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: This was, uh, fourth to eighth.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=1767.0,1772.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/49","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondésir: So what happens after P.S. 243? I'm sorry, P.S. 43?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=1772.0,1777.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/50","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Um, so I am, I graduate in 2010. Um, when I reached the seventh grade, I started to get my act together. Uh, I was placed into a mainstream classroom with 30 students and a para one-to-one, so behavior started to progress in a positive way. Uh, you know what, let me just tell you this funny thing now. We use the, um, positive behavior intervention system, PBIS. Uh, this is to help keep a young people's behavior, uh, appropriate and understand how to act in a, in a, in a setting. It's to train us for the real world. And we use that, uh, to help manage behavior. And it was also a data set too, where you learn where the students primarily acted out. Like where, like what time, what period. And if you're a good administrator, you're able to say, OK, I know my class doesn't do well with transition between this class and that class, so what can, what, what supports can I put in place to make sure that that transition goes a little smoother? And so, um, and so what the PBIS system that was able to take place, uh, again, depending on the administrator. And so I say that this is funny, it's because now recently the Mayor just announced, uh, Mayor DeBlasio announced that, uh, the city is going to be focusing on restorative justice in our schools. Which means we're going to look at, uh, ways to avoid punitive behavior, uh, excuse me, punitive, uh, you know, uh, instances, uh, from the administration, the school administrations on to students. And look at ways we could address it in a different, in a different, with a different method. Uh, PBIS, uh, or a variation of PBIS is one of them. And this is something that was being used in the special education District,75 system, which is now being to some degree expanded in the general education population-- which should have been happening anyway. Cause it works here. It, some elements, elements of it may work there, you know. So that was a genius idea to say the least, but nonetheless, uh. And I'm not saying it's an exact replica. We're talking about elements. Like we're talking about, uh, as opposed to suspending students -- which I got a lot of superintendent suspensions in my time as a student, um, which is like 80 days, 90 days, whatever the number is now -- to looking at why that event took place that required the student to get suspended. And what are some alternatives. Maybe, um, he will recommend him or her, or, or, uh, non-conforming to have extra counseling services or to have more recess time or to go on walks and things like that. Now this is expanding to some degree to the general education students. So the school might say, \"Hey, someone's having an incident.\" They'll be able to call the district. We need a counselor. I mean, this is great, but this is stuff that 75 was already doing -- just to a certain degree. I'm sorry, what was your initial question? I get off topic.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=1777.0,1983.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/51","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondésir: Uh, what happened after 43?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=1983.0,1984.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/52","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: OK, so I got my behavior together. Seventh grade, eighth grade. Seventh grade I was partially in the inclusion program mainstream. Eighth grade I was fully in the program, uh, to the point where I almost took Regents exams. Uh, where again, I gotta go back to, this is another negative about 75 is that academic, academia is not the focus, always. It's the behavioral piece, it's the disability, different ability piece. And then academia. First and second. So, um, I probably could have taken those Regents exams in seventh and eighth grade if I had, if I had a better focus on academia, I didn't take those Regents exams. I graduated Student Government President, um, at the time. And then, uh, student government, student representative on the mainstream side, because it's two different student governments, cause it's two different schools. But because I'm an inclusion student, I benefit from being in both schools. So that was, that was, that was a blessing for me. And it was partly again, because we had teachers, paraprofessionals, individuals who were from the community, knew the community, knew the kids -- not just in the school, but outside of the school and invested in us when we were there. I had one paraprofessional, I'll never forget him. Mr. Glenn Keith. We're in touch all the time. His birthday's on Wednesday. I talk to him all the time. Um, he was literally, him and Mr. Edmonds were literally the male presence that was missing at home. Uh, that really helped me get my shit together, honestly. To get myself together, to get myself OK. Like literally helped me say, \"Hey, you know, you, you, you're very articulate. You could be using your voice to advocate for this. You can be, using your voice for so many different things. Get your shit together.\" And they really like hammered it into me. I mean, of course there were obviously, uh, uh, amazing female role models that played a role, but the male role models stick out, uh, because that wasn't there for me at home. Um, and so, uh, so I graduated, I went on to the other, um, uh, 256 program at, at, uh, my high school where I went, um. My first year I saw more of the same, my first year.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=1984.0,2124.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/53","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondésir: Right. We're going to stop at high school 'cause like we have 30 minutes. And I think the next time you start with this continue from high school forward.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=2124.0,2132.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/54","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: OK, great. Great. Do you have any other questions on middle school and elementary?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=2132.0,2135.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/55","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Well, I will. Um, 'cause I'm gonna listen back to this and...\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=2135.0,2138.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/56","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Let me tell you, everywhere else. As soon as...The middle school, uh, freaking high school, college, I was in Student Association. I just can't stop.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=2138.0,2149.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/57","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondésir: Well, I guess it's like, the question would be like, what inspired, like you, you do mention that, like...\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=2149.0,2154.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/58","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: I found a voice.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=2154.0,2155.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/59","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: So listen, there's this like finding the voice, but like, was it like you saw what -- so what was the first position that you got when you got into the student government?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=2155.0,2166.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/60","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: It was seventh grade. Oh, and I also have to talk. Uh, OK. Um, there were two programs that helped me. There was a Mouse program. And then, uh, this is where I learned technology design, human centered design, uh, doing for others using technology. And then the student government piece. I want to say the first thing I did was eighth grade, eighth grade Student Government President.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=2166.0,2197.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/61","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: So you ran for president for the eighth grade. And, what, what do you remember of that experience? Like what was, what were the signs that you made? Did you have any slogans?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=2197.0,2205.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121/transcript/29264/annotation/62","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Yeah, I had. I don't remember the slogans. Actually, no. That was the first thing I ran for in school, but at my community center, uh, at the Beach 41st Street Community Center, I ran for, uh, president of the club there. I think I won. I don't remember, but I, I remember the slogan being \"Vote for Khaleel, he keeps it real.\" It was actually pretty cool. I liked that. I didn't come up with it at all. Um, so that was that there. And then, and then, yeah, so eighth grade I was Student Government President. Um, my, my primary issues. And this one -- these are the things I ran on and these are the things that I got done and tried to get done -- was we, we wanted to create a girls' club. Uh, being a male, I recognized my privilege then, uh, so much so to, to, to recognize that as a male, we have stuff already. We have programs and resources already. And the few sisters -- uh, the program was primarily the Black and Latino students, \n[in an undertone] that's just the way it is -- um, uh, the sisters didn't have the resources. They didn't have no spaces where they can congregate, spaces where they can have girl talk and, and do the things that were appropriate for girls in that, in that time. So I worked to create a girls' club that met on Fridays. It was, it happened. I was so freaking surprised. Thirteen years old, how are you creating a girls' club? Uh, and, and, uh, they would do nails and hair, whatever the heck. But it was just a space for, for young ladies, uh, to congregate and the very few young ladies that were there. It's like, you know, 10 of them, five of them or whatever in the whole school. So that was one. And then the other thing was -- I didn't get this one -- but we wanted more recess time. We did. Um, we did, uh, we fought for more field trips. They started to listen a little bit. Um, recess, not just outside, but in the gym, because as males we, we needed ,we need, we need to get out aggression. So things like that, it was, it was stuff like that. It was very intentional, uh, cause I knew the school. Um, I knew the community. I knew what, what folks wanted. So this is what I ran on, and this is what I tried to get done. The girls' club was a good thing.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117121#t=2205.0,2360.37219"}]}]},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 2 of 3 - Anderson_Khaleel_by_Mondesir_Obden_07012019.mp3"]},"duration":6374.68819,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/117/122/small/Screenshot_%2874%29.png?1623684137","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/content/2/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-queenslibrary.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/117/122/original/Anderson_Khaleel_by_Mondesir_Obden_07012019.mp3?1623682495","type":"Audio","format":"audio/mpeg","duration":6374.68819,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Full Transcript - July 1, 2019 [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : OK. Um, but it was crazy. I saw it on TV. 'Cause I closed down my polling site. So I was there until 9 o'clock and then I had Community Board. So I couldn't, I couldn't do it, but yeah, it was crazy, like in a good way. Did you get a chance to get out and vote?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=0.0,19.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : Oh yeah. Um, I think I did it that... Um, um, like, you know, growing up in Harlem then, uh, also the first time going to Africa and just talking about the SEEK Program in the early days and talking about New York in the early days. Well, not in the early days, but before our time. So in the 1970s or so. Um, and yeah, what it was like going to college in the South, uh, because yeah, and I think he came from a perspective of, he was initially told that you couldn't. It wasn't safe to go to school in the South and they're not gonna let you go down just to play sports. And he was just like, he did go down to play sports. So like, it was a really great experience for him to see that type of world, especially 'cause his parents were from the Caribbean. But, um, yeah, it was good. I'm just, I'm going to try and do a lot more research before we start talking. 'Cause there are like particular dates that I need to, like, understand and um, hopefully at one point we'll do it in his office just because he has a lot of, um, documents and photos that will really trigger his memory and talk about certain, certain times.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=19.0,109.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : Um, so we'll get into it. Today is July 1st, 2019. We are at Queens College. This oral history again is being collected, um, on the behalf of, uh, the Queens College Archives and Special Collections. My name is Obden Mondesir. I am with --\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=109.0,126.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Khaleel, Khaleel Anderson.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=126.0,126.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : And uh, we're going to be continuing the conversation that we had, um, last week. And, um, I guess with the interview last week, we kind of started from you growing up in Crown Heights, moving to the Rockaways, going to school. Um, you having difficulties with behavior, but being part of a program -- I think District 75 -- and them helping you in certain ways, but in other ways, um, them not having the particular tools to help, um, students in your situation. So... And that towards the end of your schooling, one of the things you realized with your energy is that you really wanted to challenge, channel it into this voice that speaks for social justice and um, all the ways that you had like these personal protests while you were in school. So I guess the way I want to just start it today is, um, having you talk about your experience in high school and, um, those that inspired you while you were in high school. So for this, tell me what was high school like?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=126.0,196.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Yes, absolutely. Um, thank you, um, for, you know, getting us back on track in discussion. Um, so high school for me, um, I was still in the same program. So in District 75, I was in a program, um, at this point, um, six, seven, eight. And so from eighth grade on, I was in the mainstream program where it is with the mainstream students learning one-to-one and I was taking courses, um, just regular high school courses, but I noticed that, um, one I still had a lot of growing up to do, uh, in retrospect. But, um, I noticed that after my first year, um, in high school that I wasn't being challenged. So my first year I went to Beach Channel High School, um, the now defunct Beach Channel High School, uh...\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=196.0,268.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : And this is in where?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=268.0,270.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : It's in Rockaway Park, in the Rockaways.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=270.0,271.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : What year?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=271.0,353.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : 2014. And so, yeah, 2014 I started high school, ninth grade, Beach Channel. The school was already slated for closure, um, after my graduating class, so '18 -- I'm sorry, not '14, 2010 was when I started high school; 2010-2011 was when I started high school, I'm sorry. It was slated for closure for the '14-15 school year -- as a matter -- the '13-14 school year, sorry. That was when it was slated for closure, so my class was the last graduating class, if I would have stayed. And so I went to Beach Channel my first year. It's strange, because I was in the mainstream classrooms. I still had paraprofessional one-on-one support, tutors, etc., you know, to help me with my academia. But in some instances, most instances actually, the students in the District 75 program who were in the mainstream inclusion program, were much more manageable than the students in the mainstream program. \"Manageable\" meaning, like, you know, they have a disability, or different ability rather, but they're not acting out as much as the mainstream quote unquote students. So it was also a resource issue, I think. I think part of some of their acting out is they felt like, you know, not enough resources, the teachers really didn't care 'cause they, like...it's, it's the, the morale is low. The school's getting ready to close. Students are failing at a high rate. Uh, and so, you know, that is something that played a role, I think, personally, played a role in a lot of people's just attitudes towards the school and toward the academia in general. Then you had, of course you had students that just didn't care at all, give a shit at all. Uh, and then you also had your kid, your students who, who, you know, struggle, you know, um, with outside social issues. Um, you know, issues with coping with, uh, teen pregnancy. Like these are all things that, uh, you saw at Beach Channel or you, you, you know, you've worked within. And did they have the resources across the board looking back? No, I didn't think that -- part of the reason why I think that that school went down is because, you know, just the lack of true investment resources. Not just capital resources, money, but, but human, human resources. Meaning, um, teachers, paraprofessionals, teachers, um, programmatic resources, uh, that would stabilize and that would create, um, create the excitement or create the incentive for people to want to go to school or understand the importance of school. So I finished out my year there. Um, I was, um, I was blessed enough to make it on the honor roll. Um, uh, there was an academic achievement award. Then there was a, um, I'm just trying to remember. It was like eight years ago. And then there was an award for, um, attendance. Uh, but nonetheless, nonetheless, like, the first year was, uh, was, was easy. I wasn't being challenged, uh, primarily because the teachers were more focused on student behavior rather than the academia piece. Um, I mean, of course, you know, I kinda fed off of some of their...misbehavior as well. Thirteen years old.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=353.0,517.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : Who do you remember, um, from your first year of high school?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=517.0,523.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : \n[Laughs] Um, I actually remember a lot of the, uh, a lot of the -- actually a lot of the people who I came in with, like just, you know, live in the community, so I've seen them, Iike if I'm going to the grocery store, if I'm going to the gym or something like that. Uh, I guess I'll speak about a specific incident that sticks out. And then I can just talk about like individual people that I remember. Um, no, I'll talk about individual people or teachers that I remember. And then I'll talk about a specific incident. This is pretty funny. So, um, hmm. So I had a, I had a teacher, a global history teacher named Miss McSweeney. You could...she's a nice, she was very nice, a very nice teacher. Uh, I think the primary issue with her was that she never really got through her lesson plan 'cause people always were harassing her. Uh, or not harassing her, but just like just disruptive, disruptive that's a better word. So for when she did get on a roll, she really, you know, spoke about world history and the importance of the Regents exam. 'Cause we had to take two years, four semesters of global history before we could take the exam. Uh, most students that were in the class were repeat students. And so that, that was a, that was a interesting class 'cause she had to raise her voice several times. And these people, the students weren't getting it. Sometimes, sometimes I, I -- like, I wasn't the leader of it, but I, I'd go right in and participate in their stupidity. It could be anything from, uh, you weren't supposed to have your phone in school, so now people getting their phone...so being on your phone or talking while she was talking and just silly stupidity. Um, or, you know, just talking, joking, making jokes in the background about, you know, stupidity. But, um, I remember another teacher that I had, a man, Mr. Eichner. Mr. Eichner. Two teachers, Mr. Eichner and Mr. Pecorero. Um, I'm going to get in trouble for this, but I'm going to say it anyway. Um, they were both math teachers. One was, uh, algebra and the other was, uh, geometry, trigonometry. The algebra professor, Mr. Eichner, I don't know. He -- that guy was a different guy. I don't know how I got a 65 in his class. I dunno. I came every day. I was respectful. I think I passed all three of the tests. I think he was more or so grading on behavior. 'Cause whomever, whomever, honestly whomever's behavior was, um, the worst, but like, improved, like, they got higher grades. Like I was actually sitting there actually doing the freaking work, which is surprising to me. Like he was the lowest grade I've ever gotten in high school. Like he really messed me up. But um, yeah. So, um, I remember, um, so Beach Channel has this tradition, uh, where, uh...it's crazy. So where they have, uh, the end of the school year, they do this whole like, um, water fight thing. They do this. It's, it's, it's fun. It's stupid, it's dangerous -- or can be dangerous. But nonetheless, the students participate in it, um, not so much in the school building, but once we got out. Dismissal time. So everything from water balloons to buckets of water. It's the last day of school. So everybody's just...stupidity. So I, I remember one year they caught this, uh, this friend of mine, um. His name is Josh and they caught him, uh, and he was a target, like, to get wet, uh, to take, you know, whatever. So they caught him and they took a whole bucket of water and just dumped it on him. \n[Laughs] It was crazy. It was on Facebook. Uh, but then they were, uh, they were, they were, they were quite a bunch, they were quite a bunch. Um, but yeah, so, I mean, I still see a lot of them in the neighborhood. Some graduated, um, some have had children, um, some have started nursing or GED programs. Uh, very few of us actually have like, took the step of like a bachelor's or a master's or anything of that sort. Which is, which is, you know, unfortunately the, the, the, not the, I don't want to say the norm, the majority. Uh, a big portion of, of, of just like my neighborhood and where I live, I think just like 25, 30 percent of us that actually go on and do like a four- or five-year, like master's or bachelor's, um, type of degree. I have to relook at the statistics on that, but it's something around that number. And because when you're dealing with so much socioeconomic issues, um, and there isn't that one link of stability, uh, you know, in your life, um, you're searching for it and that takes time and that's time-consuming to search for it. Uh, and so you get consumed with that and then your own academic or your own professional development takes a backseat. It's unfortunate. It's really unfortunate.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=523.0,857.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Um, but yeah, so the first year at Beach Channel, we finished, I finished. I asked for a transfer to, uh, Channel View. Um, so let me just explain the Beach Channel educational campus, right? So the Beach Channel educational campus is, it's a, it's a huge school, um, campus school, uh, at one point it was 4, 5,000 students when it was just Beach Channel. Um, but what happened was, as they began to consolidate the school -- I know this is something that was a big policy under Mayor Bloomberg, where they were closing failing schools, quote unquote, uh, and putting other schools in, in them, uh, to sort of consolidate the schools and try a different educational model for those bigger schools. The idea, I believe, was smaller class sizes. You're able to teach more students and give more resources so that the group... Because of that, the grades are higher. And I forget the, the, the, the theory behind Bloomberg's policy, but that, I was a, uh, a product of that policy. Um, having had, um...when I first started, it was just...when I first started at Beach Channel educational campus it was just Beach Channel and...Beach Channel and Channel View. We had two schools in the building. Then as I graduated, there was about two or three other schools added into the building. It's a wing, one of those. And so, um, it was Beach Channel, Channel View or Rockaway Park High School for Living Environment and Sustainability, Rockaway Collegiate High School. Now I think there's a, think there's a charter school in there now. And then there's a suspension site in there now too, for students who, um, need to go to a different site for their, to serve out their term of school suspensions. But I asked for a transfer upstairs to Channel View because I know that I, it was a uniform school. Um, they did 6 to 12, um, in addition to it being a uniform school -- and that being a part of the aspect there -- was that it was more of a space, but folks were focused on academia in a bigger way. Uh, um, so that was something, that was something that like fueled my, my, uh...That was something that fueled my, um, my, my decision to, to transfer, 'cause I finished with like a 92 and a half average at Beach Channel. And I was like, this is way too easy. I, if I, if I want to prepare myself for post-secondary, I need to challenge myself.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=857.0,1034.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : When did you, when did you know that you wanted to go to post-secondary or college?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=1034.0,1044.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : I always kind of knew that I wanted to do something after high school. Um, but I really knew, knew when I left, when I left Beach Channel, went to Channel View because that was something that they stressed a lot. College college, college, college. College, college, college. That's about it. Go to college, college, college. And then career tech, career training. But you're doing something after high school. This is not it. Um, it's just not the end of the road. And I think about 95, 98 percent of my class went to college or was accepted to college. Went to college or not -- were accepted to a college. And like, yeah, 'cause I remember, I remember the program. You know, you get the little program at graduation. So everybody was like, so-and-so went to this college. This one...\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=1044.0,1097.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : And this is when you transferred to, after you transferred, like 98 percent of them went to college?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=1097.0,1102.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : 98%. 95 to 98% of my Channel View graduating class, Channel View upstairs. Channel View School for Resources was the high school that I went to, um, for the remainder of my high school years. So that's uh, I think that's '11- '12 school year to '13- '14 school year. Um, and so for me, Channel View was a challenge. Um, in addition to having to make sure that I follow dress code -- 'cause it was very strict. Um, it was all black sneakers, all black shoes. And then I think a navy blue, navy blue bottom, white top. Navy blue bottom, navy blue bottom, light blue top. Like baby blue, teal, sort of that teal. Baby blue. Uh, and then the bottoms were khaki and, and the same setup for the time. Uh, and so, uh, I think one of the difficulties was, was just the black shoes. Like who has just plain black shoes. You know, if you're, you're a teenager, you're, you know, if you're a young person, you probably have like several different pairs of shoes. Like nothing, all black, but...Uh, we didn't like it. Um, but we knew that having a uniform helped sort of breed a culture of, of, um, seriousness. A culture of like, uh, taking academics serious. A culture of preparing you for the real world, because any job you work there is some type of dress code policy, some way or the other, you know? So that was something that we, we had coming up in Channel View So, um, I finished my 10th grade year with like an 85 average and I was like, wow, this is a huge drop. Um, I was taking classes like geometry and a lot higher-level classes. I got introduced to the, um, PSAT and things like that. These are things that just primarily were not the focus at Beach Channel. The focus at Beach Channel was literally get folks out, just graduate. Here's your high school diploma. Getting them out. Uh, at Channel View, the focus was more so, more so getting you out, but like with the focus on like making sure you have the tools you need -- as much as they could -- uh, to prepare for postsecondary, whatever postsecondary looked like. Whether it was career training, tech, trade school, work, whatever. Just trying to make sure you have those tools. Um, and so for me, yeah, 10th grade, uh, I got into like, you know, a lot of 10th grader behavior. Uh, handed in work late and, and, um, I guess because of the rigor of the work, I found myself falling asleep in class a little bit more . Being a little bit more tired, 'cause like, like it required me to do work outside, aside from what we did in the classroom, I literally had to do outside work -- which is like common for high school students or any student growing up. But it wasn't common when I was at school, Beach Channel, downstairs.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=1102.0,1302.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/18","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Um, yeah, so I mean, it was a fun year. Um, I believe the following year, uh, 11th grade is when a joint student association, student government. Uh, that year was different. Um, so I'm moving on to 11th grade. That year was different because, uh, half of the year we were not, uh, in, in our home building. Uh, 2012 is when Superstorm Sandy hit and um, that year, um, our school was, had been, you know, uh, experienced extreme flooding from the Superstorm 'cause the school sits on Jamaica Bay. It's like the last piece of earth and then Jamaica Bay is right there. And so we got flooded out and we were out of the school building from...like about three months, three, four months, roughly. Um, and so that presented a hardship for me and presented a hardship for all the hundreds of students who went to school there, 6 to 12. So the Board of Ed had to find other school sites for us and the high school students -- I'm not sure about the six, six to eighth graders, the middle school students, 'cause Channel View has both -- um, we had to go to a school in Brooklyn. So whomever lived in Rockaway or was affected by the storm, they had to face their school being displaced and their home being displaced like, like I had. And so, not only was I displaced from my home, 'cause I got about, maybe got like four and a half, five feet of water in the first level of our home. We lost everything. Done. Everything had to go. Um, because Jamaica Bay's like spitting distance. Um, it's, it's our house, sidewalk, street, Jamaica Bay. So it's right there. Or a field and then Jamaica Bay. Grassy field. And so, I mean, it was definitely a hardship. It was definitely a struggle. Um, I did begin to see my grades slip. Um, it was, it was early enough in the semester. Um, it was early enough in the semester to like, um, that you saw like bad report cards that you could directly correlate to not having a place to live, having to travel two and a half hours to get to school each day. Uh, it was a lot, it was a lot. Um, school wasn't a priority for me after Superstorm Sandy. Getting home, figuring out where I was going to sleep, was a priority for me. And it's kinda sorta how I stumbled upon Queens College. Um, so I remember watching the Jets and Giants game, October 29th, 2012. Uh, I really wanted to watch the whole thing, but they kept being interrupted because they were telling us, you gotta go. If you live in a low-lying area, you gotta go, you gotta leave. You gotta evacuate. You gotta go. Um, live in a low lying area. Um, we had to go. Just had to go. Had to evacuate. Um, I wanted to watch the rest of that game, but, uh, so we ended up evacuating. Um, we didn't have a car or anything, but we live across the street from the public housing development, Redfern Houses, and they had a lot of school buses, uh, to take the residents off the peninsula, to the evacuation center. Uh, strange enough, the residents weren't using the buses. They don't, no one thought the storm was gonna be serious. Uh, I was displaced for Irene, which was a year before. I was also a school, a student in high school at that time. But Irene, it was three days, we went home. Thank God, it wasn't bad. Um, we did, we didn't evacuate that time. At this point we were in Brooklyn. We, they evacuated us, the Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn. And we stayed there for two or three days. Um, but everybody thought Sandy was going to be Irene and Sandy was not Irene. Sandy was a Superstorm. She was not Irene. And so we, so we evacuated to the school buses across the street at Redfern. We were first taken to Queensborough. 'Cause York was full. York College is an evacuation center. Uh, and most of the Rockaway families were there already. Um, so they were full, like to capacity. So they moved us to Queensborough and it was weird because it was my, my family and two other families that, um...my family and two other families that evacuated from the whole Redfern, period. Just, just like that. Um, and I think went somewhere else. Like they were evacuated, went to Queensborough. So we stayed in Queensborough for three days. I remember it. I remember it snowed on Halloween. Yeah. It was weird. That year it snowed on Halloween. It was the weirdest shit ever, but this is global warming. This is the times that we live in. And so we went to... So, um, me and my brother, my older brother, we went to, we went to the Rockaways back home to just assess the damage. Um, MTA was suspended all across the city and state, I think. Um, until after the storm, until they could assess what lines to reactivate after the storm. And so we were out of an A train -- which is the artery of the Rockaways. Like literally it's the, I want to say the only way off the Rockaway peninsula, um, other than driving. Um, I mean, folks take the Long Island Rail Road, but it's not a common, it's not something that's commonly used, because it's not affordable. And there's a whole bunch of other reasons why that, that damn train is not used as much as it can be. Um, but in any case, the, the artery of the Rockaway peninsula, the A train, was decimated. We had no A train service for seven months after the storm. So until about May or June of '13 is when we had A train service restored.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=1302.0,1667.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/19","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : So for us going back to, from Queensborough and Bayside to the Rockaways, we had to take, I think it was two or three buses to get back over there. But when we, when we got there, we did not, uh, want to see what we saw. I mean, it was ground zero. It was, it was depressing. It was very like, you felt it, you felt it. Once we landed in Rockaway, uh, on the bus, you could see it. It was still gray. The sky was still gray. Um, you could still see the weeds, um, cause we have like really tall weeds in certain areas. Um, so that you could see like the remnants of storm water, you know, um, just in the street. Um, people's homes, their siding blown off. Trees falling. Like you could tell a storm hit. Um, there were still flood waters that...most of the flood waters had receded, but you could still see like wherever there was an area where there was a depression, the water was still sitting in there and more than usual. Uh, but when we, like, when we walked home, it was the most depressing thing because, um, when we first went into the house and everything was knocked over and mildew and all the food in the refrigerator had spoiled, and we pretty much lost everything on the first floor. I mean, my room and my belongings in particular were not, like me specifically, were not lost per se. Um, but like everything -- downstairs refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, television, bookshelf. You're talking about maybe 20, maybe $10,000, $20,000 worth of personal belongings and then the infrastructure around it. And then upstairs you'd think we were safe upstairs on the second floor. Um, but because the water was so heavy, so heavy it created this, like, leak. And because the leak went untreated for all those days before we were able to get home, uh, there was a big gaping hole in my mom's ceiling, um, from the rain water, you know, that came in. So anything that she had where that hole was, was not usable anymore. 'Cause in addition to plaster -- not plaster, what is this called? Uh, sheet rock that fell on the stuff, there was also mildew and it was wet. So, you know, and that was not from leaving a window open or anything else, it was just pure, um, I guess siding issues with the home or gutter issues. Oh, right. That was what it was. So the gutter actually blew off. Uh, oh yeah, when we got home, actually the gutter was like, like had blown off the house and it was like, like on the sidewalk, basically. It was crazy. Um, yeah, it was really depressing because, uh. There was not, I don't think there was one person that didn't know somebody who lost everything or somebody that was like drastically affected by Superstorm Sandy in a big way. But after surveying the home, surveying our house, um, you know, obviously we couldn't stay there. Um, mold began to grow and mildew and things of that nature. Um, so we were headed back to Queensborough, so we can...We just wanted to go home and see it and grab some belongings. We couldn't bring my mother because it would have been a lot for her. So she stayed with my sister. Uh, she's disabled, so traveling for her is something we try to manage, um, in an appropriate way so she's not tearing up her body and, you know, deteriorating her health further. Um, I think the most depressing moment of just coming home to what we saw, um, was just traveling, leaving our house, our home, the place that we lived. We actually had just moved there in March of '11. The storm was in October of '12. So, but it was our home.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=1667.0,1964.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/20","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Um, yeah, it was, it was devastating because I think, I think the moment that it actually sunk in was when we were trying to leave Rockaway and go back to Bayside, go back to Queensborough. And it seemed like we couldn't get out of there. Um, we'd wait like 20, 30, 40 minutes for a bus and there's no lights, there's no street lights, it's dark. Um, I mean the PD, the PD had, um, like flood lights in different areas because there was no lighting. And so, or either the PD or, or the Office of Emergency Management or somebody put lights up. Um, but what we didn't know was that after 6 PM, there was no bus service, period. They stayed, uh, the Q114, Q113 and other bus lines that traveled into and out of the Rockaways were only operating at limited service. So they, everybody had come back on after three days to service the trains, buses and subways, but our lines were running at limited service because we were like so greatly affected by the storm. And our lines, the 22, the 113 -- I don't think the 114 existed at that time yet -- um, they had stopped service at 6 PM, every night at 6 PM they stopped because, because there was no street lights still, it was dangerous for the bus drivers to drive, you know. Uh, and, and so that's why our service was stopped at 6. So we almost missed the bus. Like, I thought we missed the bus. I was, we were prepared to try to figure out how to walk back to Bayside, which would have been crazy, but nothing else you can do. So I think one of the most depressing moments was like, just like it sunk in, wow, we lost everything. Uh, we were kind of homeless, displaced. Um, we're trying to get out of here, but we can't because we think we missed the last bus. We weren't sure. And no one had told us this until we got on the bus. Thank God the bus was running late. So it was like, it came at like 6:50, 6:40. Um, I, while we waiting for the bus, I just sat on the sidewalk, the curb and I was like, wow, this is real, um, you know. It sunk in. And it was very painful because it was, it was like just one day, one storm can change your life. Uh, and yeah, no, it definitely, definitely changed my life. Um, understanding that it just, just seeing the surrounding areas, seeing how dark it was, couldn't even see my hand in front of my face. Um, it was tough, very tough.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=1964.0,2170.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/21","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : I think one of the things that kinda hurt too, but that pissed me off a little bit was that we, we have dollar vans in the Rockaways and in various parts of Southeast Queens. And the dollar vans are not a dollar. Trust me, they're not a dollar. I'm sure they were a dollar at one point, but we have dollar vans and they were taking trips. You know, they, they, the dollar vans, they follow the route of the main bus. So they have dollar vans that follow the 22 bus. We have dollar vans that follow the Jamaica bus. We call it the Jamaica bus cause it takes you from Rockaway to Jamaica. The Q113, whatever. And, um, they were, uh, they were out of their minds. They were price gouging. And there was this family of four that was trying to leave too. They'd come back and, and come back I guess from an evacuation center or relative's home or somewhere not Rockaway. And they came back and they were trying to leave as well. This family of four -- mother, father, a baby in a stroller. And then another young kid. And the dollar van driver told them, look, if you guys want to get outta here, get on this van, it's $20. Usually the dollar van at that time was $1.50 per person. And he usually didn't charge for the kids. So they were price gouging, as you can imagine. Um, and understanding that, playing devil's advocate really quickly, I understand that on the other side of it, we're also having a gas shortage. So they don't know when their gas is going to run out, where they can get gas or how far they have to travel to get gas. Um, so like understanding that part, but like knowing that a family is trying to leave, you know, because they have no place else to go because their home is without electricity or, or flood-ravaged, things like that. It just seemed like, wow, that moment also like affected me. 'Cause it was just like, wow, like, you know they have nowhere else to go. You would ask for that amount? They might not even have had money, you know? Uh, uh, or maybe they had money on a debit card, but there's no ATM, so no electricity. So it was tough seeing that. So they, they, I guess after the van denied them, they ended up walking home. Back to, uh, their home in the Rockways, um, to just stay there. You know, they had two young kids and no electricity in the apartment, no food, you know? So that was something that was really painful, I'm sure, for that family. If I knew that the bus was actually going to come, I would have told them to stay, but there was no way to know. We just, we, me and my brother, we just waited, we just kept waiting and waiting. It was almost like a divine intervention that that bus actually came because I didn't think it was coming. Did not think it was coming.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=2170.0,2372.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/22","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : So, so Sandy hits in your second year or third year of high school?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=2372.0,2377.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/23","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : This was my third year of high school, my first semester of my third year. Yeah.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=2377.0,2387.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/24","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : Well, after, after, after that experience, like what happens? Where does your family live and how do you finish out the remainder of high school?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=2387.0,2397.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/25","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Right. So we made it back to Queensborough. Uh, we brought some extra clothes and stuff, whatever we could salvage from the house. Uh, we got to Queensborough and we explained to mom and showed her. I think I have like a slide from the time. I had a flip phone, not a flip phone, but like it wasn't a smartphone like. I showed her the pictures and she was devastated. We stayed at Queensborough for another, I think another week, in the gym. Because it was, uh, so little amount of families they consolidated us with, with Queens College. So we left Queensborough, uh, and we were at Queens, we were moved to Queens College. First, we stayed a couple of days in the cafeteria. That's where they had the families. Um, so there were nice volunteers who came and brought us food. And so that way we didn't have to eat the MREs. A lot of people eating MREs, MREs are the meals ready to eat. So these are the high-sodium, uh, pre-packaged, just-add-water meals that our folks in the service eat and this is what we were eating for the first couple of days after the storm at Queensborough and into, into our time at Queens College. And, um, it wasn't healthy. It wasn't healthy at all. It wasn't good. Uh, it was just food. Just enough to, you know -- vacuum-packed beans and I think there was one that had lasagna. Where you just add water. It becomes lasagna. Yeah, it's crazy. It was crazy. Uh, I think I still have some MREs at home because we, we, uh, since Sandy, um, there've been multiple storm preparedness trainings that are held either by the Governor's Office or by local government. Uh, Office of Emergency Management, uh, in New York City. Uh, so we, we, we get \"go bags\" every time you go through one of those trainings and a \"go bag\" comes with all of the, the, the, all of the most important things to get you -- survival pieces, items. Uh, flashlights, wash rags, medication, things like that, to get you through a storm three days, up to three days for like one person per book bag. So the government was pushing a lot of these programs after, uh, Sandy to make sure people were, you know, prepared for the next storm. So I still have a couple of MREs in the house from that. They were very high-sodium.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=2397.0,2580.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/26","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Yeah, sorry, I got off track. Um, so we, we, we lived at Queens College from, I want to say the early part of November of 20--, what was this? 2012, right? Of course. Uh, until a couple of days before Thanksgiving. Thankfully we were, uh, granted, uh, some aid to, to, to stay at a hotel. Uh, so we stayed at the hotel. We were moved to, uh, JFK, JFK, not JFK. LaGuardia. I think it was called the LaGuardia Inn Hotel. Uh, I think it was on Ditmar somewhere in East Elmhurst, not too, like spitting distance from the actual airport, and that's where we were settled. Um, and luckily we had made friends with a family who lived across the street from us in Redfern. We'd never met before. So this was a positive thing about the storm, um, was that we got to connect with our neighbors, uh, that we haven't, that we didn't connect with before. But I skipped a part. Let me just go back. Um, so my time at Queens College. I didn't get a chance to talk about that. So I spent maybe two or three weeks at Queens College and my family, we lived in the cafeteria. We had nice volunteers who were from the neighborhood or students who, uh, were, I don't know how they did it, but food was paid for. So we didn't have to eat MREs, uh, all the normal foods that we would eat if, you know, we lived back at home. Muffins and, and things of that nature, um, were, were there, you know, were made available to us. And that really was a helpful, a helpful thing for us. And, um, the volunteers were nice. Um, they really tried their best to make us feel as much at home as possible, um, even with the conditions. I think at the time, my sister was only 6 years old and for that much disruption at her age, it's really tough, especially, it's hard to explain to a 6-year-old, \"Hey, we're homeless.\" It's crazy. So that they, they created like a little playroom for the kids and they really tried to keep the kids entertained during the time, uh, because the schooling was an issue in itself too. Uh, so I think the Mayor had signed an executive order that said that students could go to their nearest school, nearest to the evacuation center, so my sister went to, uh, whatever the school is, right here on Reeves Avenue. Uh, 'cause we were staying here, uh Reeves Avenue right here. I think it's like I.S. 299 \n[P.S./I.S. 499] or something like that. Uh, so she went there, but it was unfortunate she only could go a couple of days because she's District 75 as well. Um, so the school did not have the supports for a student with the, who was differently able. Um, so she had to come out of that school and they had to find another school for her that, you know, provided the settings and followed her individualized education plan or IEP, so they had to pull her out of there if I remember correctly. So we stayed at Queens. Um, we had cots, um, black cots. Um, we had the food. Um, I think one of the instances from that I remember was there was a teacher of mine who was also evacuated 'cause he was from Rockaway. And it was him and his brother that were evacuated, um, from the Rockaways. It was a teacher, a high school teacher, or he was, no, he wasn't a teacher. He was a paraprofessional. And he had lost everything, uh, as well. And his brother was, um, paraplegic. So both of his legs...he had, he didn't have both of his legs, so it was really hard for him to get around. And they wanted to move us all because the students, I guess, the semester was still going for the college students. I guess they needed their cafeteria back. So they wanted to move us all to the gymnasium, but the part of the gymnasium, they wanted to move us to wasn't ADA accessible so that he couldn't, he couldn't leave and couldn't stay. And I remember him and I remember him and I remember my teacher 'cause, you know, they're brothers, um, because I remember him, he had a breakdown because he really wanted to go home. He really did not want to live, you know, the way he was living. He's used to, um, being more mobile than he was. Um, he had, I believe, he had a wheelchair, but the wheelchair had broken down in them trying to get him out. Uh, uh, his wheelchair somehow had broken down or whatever. So he didn't. So he had to just stay in the bed all day, in the cot all day. So he couldn't move much. And I remember him breaking down. I remember him crying. I remember him saying he really wants to go home. You know, just having an emotional moment. Um, I remember there being kids there and families there kind of just seeing him, just, not wild now, but just like flipping out, like he snapped. He says like he wants to go home. He wants everything to be normal again. I mean, granted, he's a, he's a grown man and he's an older man, you know, but any kind of disruption affects you mentally. So, um, once things got a little bit more stable, um, um, we were still in the cafeteria for the foreseeable future. Um, we had food, my mom was OK. Um, I decided that, um, you know, my daytime would be used -- if I wasn't wandering around the campus, like looking at stuff, I was trying my best to get back to the Rockaways, to see where I could help out with the relief efforts. And I found myself six, seven, eight hours a day. Um, and this is when the bus service had got, like, it was...\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=2580.0,2983.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/27","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : Back online?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=2983.0,2984.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/28","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Yeah, back online and like, uh, and in a fuller sense. Like it wasn't just a temporary service and things like that. I mean, you still had that, but like it was, it was better; rather than 6, I think it was 8 o'clock and then it returned to normal, um, in the subsequent days thereafter. But, um, I traveled back and forth to the Rockaways, um, doing distribution, making sure friends, family, neighbors, people who were still there had something. Whether it was connection to the, to the, uh, National Guard that had, had come or connection to, uh, food resources. I remember I had recently joined the Rockaway Youth Task Force, which is a youth advocacy organization. Uh, that was still, a still growing organization, uh, that was working to establish itself in the neighborhood and just started the year prior. And this was our first major action was having to host a distribution center in our neighborhood. Uh, to make sure that people, particularly in the high-rise buildings, uh, and in the two-family homes had food and water. Uh, the two, the primary focus of the National Guard, if I remember correctly, was the neighborhood that had the highest density, i.e., buildings, people who were in buildings. Uh, particularly public housing. So you'll see the military drops. Um, these are spaces where the National Guard had set up, um, were strategically located near the public housing developments. So they were distributing food near the public housing development, but like anybody else in between who didn't have the information, uh, or just didn't know anything, didn't know. So our job as a distribution site was to try to fill in the gaps, you know. So whatever wasn't public housing, uh, we, we based the distribution center out of Nordeck, which is a Mitchell-Lama. Uh, Mitchell-Lama is a type of, uh, state-funded housing, uh, apartment buildings. Um, so we staged out of there and we put out a call to action on our social media, \"Hey, you know, we need this. People need diapers, food, water and necessities.\" And people from all around the country responded. All around the country. It was crazy. I'd never seen anything like it. From all around the country, sending stuff in the mail or coming to drop stuff off, or sending us like resources and things like that. I remember, uh, getting a case of diapers from Texas. Never been to the state of Texas before. Well, no, I went to Texas, Texarkana in 1999. Anyway, but it was crazy like that, people were responding to our call just from a Facebook post. Uh, and we ended up like distributing hundreds and hundreds of like care packages to people who lived in Ocean Village, people who lived in Nordeck, people who lived in Ocean Bay. These are public housing developments or buildings. Arverne. We did deliveries to people who, who were in two-family homes. Um, you would assume that they're well-off, but you'd be wrong to assume that they're well-off because a lot of our two-family homes in the Rockaways are rentals, not owner...Well, there's a healthy amount of owner-occupied and then there's rentals. Um, investment properties, if you will. And, uh, that was like pretty much like it. We ran the distribution center, um, up until Thanksgiving. And then we did a Thanksgiving dinner for the neighborhood to try to boost morale. And at that point, Thanksgiving, it was like a blessing -- I have to tell you this before we -- a blessing because the power had come on Thanksgiving Day or the day before Thanksgiving. Around that time. So, it was so appropriate that, you know, folks got a chance to have a somewhat normal Thanksgiving. You know, um...\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=2984.0,3248.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/29","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : And when you were doing all this work where you're in Queens College going down to Rockaway, when did you have time for school?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=3248.0,3258.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/30","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Yeah, I didn't really go to school. Uh, I mean, I went, but there was some days where like, I just, uh, like I couldn't. School was not a priority at that time. I mean, I did do distribution work, like after school on some days. Like started, like, say I got out of school at 2-something, I'd start at like 4, but it got dark early, so I had to leave at like 6, you know, just to get back to the, to the hotel. Or no, at this time we were at Queens College. So to get back to Queens College. Um, but there were some days where I just, school was not a priority at all. Like the main focus was trying to help people, try to help ourselves, uh, and just, you know, try to bring attention to the issue. Um...\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=3258.0,3312.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/31","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : So you mentioned that, um, luckily you got electricity back for Thanksgiving. Um, when do you move back to, um, the Rockaways? And, I guess, talk about what it was like finishing school.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=3312.0,3332.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/32","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Yeah, so I have to speak about this story first, I want to plug in this story. Um, I remember getting a delivery in Ocean Village. I think it was 57-15 Shorefront Parkway. Uh, either 57-15 or 57- 17. Those are the two towers in Ocean Village. Now it's called Arverne View. But Ocean Village. Uh, and we had to do a delivery. We did a delivery of diapers, water and food, um, to the 17th floor. Um, we didn't know that we had to do a delivery there, we just, our team had to hit the higher floors and come down, uh, because no electricity still. No, um, elevators or any backup generators, no preparedness at all, period. We weren't, we were not ready for this storm. So that development sits just feet away from the Atlantic Ocean. And so I remember doing a delivery to 1701, uh, and it was a blessing that we had gotten there. Me and the volunteers had gotten there because that family had two seniors in there. One was even inmobile; one was mobile. Uh, and they hadn't had water for three days. So for me, you know, that was a touching moment because we were able to actually help directly somebody. Like prior to that visit, we were helping people, of course, like everybody needed help, but like that particular moment of, of help and support was to a family that like, otherwise probably could have, something bad could have happened if we didn't knock on that door. And you didn't know who was knocking on your door. The hallways, there's no lights. So, you know, it was also a safety thing for them to open the door for us too. Um, you know, but yeah, that was one story that really stood out to me. Um, and just seeing everybody, um, in the streets, um, either trying to stay warm 'cause, uh, the, the emergency management had put up, uh, flood lights, but they also had like spots where you could charge your phone and stuff. So people were just like huddled there charging their phone, trying to keep warm. And you saw that all throughout the peninsula in varied places, various places.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=3332.0,3491.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/33","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : But fast-forward to, um, your question. Um, so life after. Uh, in the process of recovery, so our school moved back to its location and reopened in January. I don't remember if it was early or late January, but sometime in the month of January of 2013 is when we moved back, when we moved back into the, into the school. And, um, so we moved back into the school and we're not back home yet. So at this point we were in our second hotel because we moved from the hotel that we moved in on Thanksgiving, around Thanksgiving, we moved to another hotel, um, for various reasons. Um, and so, uh, you know, so we went to a second hotel. So getting from East Elmhurst back to the Rockaways for school was another, was a headache, was a headache, was an absolute headache. Um, you know, 'cause it was still the same two and a half hours, whether it was Brooklyn, where we were at Franklin K. Lane High School, or back to our old site, it was hectic. But I want to say that everything kind of returned to normal around March, April. Our home is finished. Um, the repairs have been completed, and it was safe to move back in, um, safe to move back in. So we were already back in our school. We finished out the school year. We finished out the school year, um, at our home school. Um, it was a blessing to be back. Um, things weren't completely normal. Um, we still had no train service, um, off the peninsula. So we had to be bused off the peninsula. Any time you wanted to leave, you had to be bused off the peninsula. So the A train service was restored a couple of months later. Um, some grocery stores didn't open back right away. Um, but I would say around March, April is when things got to somewhat normality. Um, yeah.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=3491.0,3656.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/34","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : And how did it feel emotionally to be able to come back?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=3656.0,3663.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/35","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Ah, it felt like a big burden was lifted off of our shoulders. Um, having to go through that, having to be displaced for that long, um, like really impacts your psyche. 'Cause you didn't know where you were living. You didn't know when the relief aid ran out from Red Cross. You didn't know -- you didn't know -- you just were in limbo. Um, so for us it was like, you know, how do we cope with being in limbo? And this is something that a lot of young people, people in general across the city, are going through now in our homelessness crisis. I'm going a little bit off-topic, but this is something I wrote about in my thesis. Um, my master's thesis is, you know, how our young people, people who are in homeless shelters, temporary shelters, go through this on a daily, not just a storm, but on a daily basis, um, being without a home. Um, and it wasn't until recently, um, that the city started to, after being shamed by the local press and media, the city started to kick in more resources for those families who are always in transition. I think there was an issue where I think a 10th, 10 percent of our student population in the schools faced homelessness or is facing homelessness currently. I think it was 110,000 young people who are facing homelessness. Uh, having to deal with all that transition. You don't have the same emotional supports, like having a guidance counselor or a therapist and things like that. So the city started to put more resources into that, which is, which is good for those families long-term. Did I answer your question?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=3663.0,3793.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/36","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : We were talking about. Yeah, I asked you how did it feel to return home? Um, and you said it was like a major burden being lifted off your shoulders. Um, and then, so you got back in March and you got to spend some time at Queens College and it's 2013 and you said you started school in 2011. So 2014 is going to be your last year of school. Um, tell me what that was like and your decision to go to Queens College and SEEK.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=3793.0,3825.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/37","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Yeah, definitely. So, um, so I had experience with Queens College, having spent two to three weeks there, um, in the emergency room -- excuse me -- in the evacuation center that Queens College was. So we stayed first, we stayed in the cafeteria. Then we were moved to Fitzgerald Gymnasium. Um, there was a specific auxiliary, um, gymnasium on the basement level where we all stayed, where they kept the families. Then they had it separated by single women, single men, women with children, men with children, whatever the, the guidelines for a shelter are for the city. And I remember being, you know, in that, in that, um, in that gymnasium, um. Oh, so whenever I wasn't doing distribution work, I was touring the school. So I got acquainted with like where the library was and where the computers were and where this was and that was. So like, that was an early indication for me, 'cause I knew that a year later I had to be applying to schools. Um, no, a couple of months later, 'cause you know, we, at least at our school, we started applying, doing mock applications in 11th, in the later part of the 11th grade and then doing the real applications in the beginning of 12th grade because that's when the real deadlines are. But we do the mock application to teach them how to, teach us how to, so that way when it comes, you know. Um, so, um, so I became acquainted with the school. So that's primarily how I, like I applied to Queens College, um, because I had already become familiar with it. And, um, although I wasn't planning to stay in state for school -- I wanted to go away -- um, and then at that time I also wanted to do something in the technology field. Um, Queens College, wasn't like on my radar, on my radar, um, in terms of the application process, but it was definitely somewhere I applied because I had an experience there and I ultimately ended up choosing Queens College 'cause, because the experience was so much more positive, you know, um, than the general process. It was much more positive definitely than, than Queensborough. Um, because when we got here, you know, you had people, volunteers, members of the community who came in and, and, and, and we felt at home -- not completely, but like you felt that sense of like, you know, someone gives a shit, someone cares rather. Um, and, and of course that wasn't, that wasn't, if I remember correctly that wasn't, uh, that wasn't before much like pushing, like saying, hey, we need some stuff, can you guys help us? Can you guys? I remember fighting with, not a fist fight, but I remember us fighting with the school here at Queens College to get a place to bathe, uh, because being between moving from Queensborough to Queens College, we hadn't bathed in like a week because shower facilities were not available and, you know, I'm sure the school had something to do with that, making sure they were going to be paid for their water bills. Like, you know, all the politics that go behind using water. So, uh, it wasn't until like, I want to say a couple of days after Queens College, after pushing them, um, that we finally got access to shower facilities. So we got shower facilities in the gymnasium when they moved us to the gymnasium, uh, which is a blessing 'cause like, we were dirty, you know? So, and you feel dignified after a shower, you feel, you know, it's like, come on, we need that shit.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=3825.0,4080.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/38","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : I mean, there's like residual energy and dirt.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4080.0,4085.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/39","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Yes. Yeah, yeah. Um, and even in that time, I was still flying back and forth to the Rockaways, helping out with no shower \n[audio unclear], but that's the way we were. You know, the niceness wasn't until we like pushed them, but like once we pushed them and they got their, you know, approvals, whatever you needed, it was a better time in Queens. Um, so I applied here. Um, Queens College offered the best financial aid package out of all the schools and I'm poor, so whoever had the better deal I was going with them. And Queens College had the better deal. So, um, so I, I went to Queens College. I accepted the offer and I started school. It was crazy. I graduated June 23rd '14, and June 30th '14 I was already in school. Uh, because I'm a SEEK student, it requires us to, the SEEK program requires us to go through academic, uh, I forgot what the class is called. Uh, an immersion class, um, that we had to go through Monday through Friday, 8 to 3, half-hour break. It was tedious. It was rigorous. It was tough. But the objective of the course was to prepare folks who are deficient in, in the three main subjects --reading, writing, math -- um, to prepare them for the CUNY assessment test so that they can begin taking courses, uh, on the college level. 'Cause a lot of the times students coming out of the public education high school system in the five boroughs, they lack somewhere in those three areas -- reading, writing and arithmetic -- and arithmetic was my issue. Math, wasn't good at math at all. Uh, I required rigorous three levels of math, um, to get me up to college-level math, um, so that I was able to take the next pre-algebra, whatever the college requirement was. I think it was Math 115, which is the college math requirement. Um, so I had, I had to do that. Um, it was very rigorous. It was a lot of work. It was a lot of in, in, in-class work and outside work, um, to prepare for the exams, to prepare for college life. So I think one of the best things about the SEEK program is that it gave us the tools and resources to be successful. In addition to the 8 to 3 rigorous class course time, we had presentations we had to do, we had tutors we, we had, we had to sit with and we were able to sit with. We had, uh, supplemental instruction in the classroom. Uh, they gave us a small stipend to come each day, 'cause they understood that coming out of high school, we didn't have the green little \n[student] MetroCards anymore. Uh, 'cause, 'cause in high school transportation was free, food was free, everything was free. To a certain degree. To a certain degree. Um, so like they gave us a small stipend. Uh, I think it was like $50 a week to help pay for like food and travel, which, which was helpful at the time. And also that year was when they started the Queens College shuttle bus. Um, you know, we have a shuttle bus that goes from the Student Union to the Queens Hall, which is on campus, and then to Flushing, or from the Student Union to Jamaica. So that had started and I wasn't in the immersion, it didn't start when I was in the immersion program. It started my first semester when I started in August. So that was a cool thing too. Um, because I was used to getting on the bus for free with the green MetroCards. So that kind of helped.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4085.0,4331.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/40","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : So you would take the bus to Jamaica and then take the...\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4331.0,4335.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/41","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : The free shuttle. Yeah.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4335.0,4336.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/42","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : But once you get to Jamaica, how do you get to, to the Rockaways?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4336.0,4341.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/43","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Uh, so once you get to Jamaica, we take the Q113 bus. Or, or, um, or you could take the Long Island Rail Road too, because that was the last stop on the shuttle bus, the Long Island Rail Road. But even though it's the closest to my house and everything, it was just expensive. The Long Island Rail Road is really expensive! It's like freaking 8, 9 dollars. Oh, it's stupid. I never understood it, but it's expensive. I mean, nicer train service, quicker. I get, I get the mechanics of it, but yeah. Um, yeah, I mean, it was great. \n[Conversation paused].\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4341.0,4388.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/44","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : I was doing distribution work in the Rockaways and like there was one day we was doing hot food distribution work in the Rockaways and um, the Knicks were there, the Knicks were there and the, um, the, you know, the, the corporate giving arm of the Knicks, the people that do the --\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4388.0,4409.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/45","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : Philanthropy stuff?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4409.0,4410.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/46","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Yeah, yeah. Right. And they gave me two free Knicks tickets. Yeah. Front row. It was cool. No, no, not front row. Like middle row. Yeah. Um, so they gave me tickets and I saw that it was the Knicks versus the Indiana Pacers and it was in November and I think it was like November 12th and, um, it was crazy. It was crazy. It was cool. It was great. It's great. They gave me two free Knicks tickets. Uh, it was cool because of my work in distribution.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4410.0,4440.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/47","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : Yeah. I mean that's um, that's a measure of...\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4440.0,4444.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/48","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : ...relief. And that's when I became a Knicks fan. From there.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4444.0,4449.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/49","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : Oh, from there.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4449.0,4449.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/50","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Yeah. Yeah. 'Cause I wasn't really into basketball. I had just started getting into basketball, actually.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4449.0,4458.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/51","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : I guess as a kid, I was, I was a big, so initially I was a big fan of Shaq. So I was a Magic fan for that reason and that reason alone. Then I became a Lakers fan. Then for some reason I started following the Celtics. Not some reason. It was because I really liked Paul Pierce. But then I know there was a certain moment where...\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4458.0,4479.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/52","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : What was his nickname again?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4479.0,4483.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/53","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : I'm not sure. He wasn't even that great a player. Like in retrospect, but I don't... it was like, I think it was someone told me it was just like, a Celtics fan? You're from here. Why would you root for the Celtics? And I was like, you're right. And then after that, I like, I just, you know, you just became a Knicks fan and you just watch the games. Um, and it just like, I still, like, I think I was really happy when Carmelo Anthony was a Knick. And um...\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4483.0,4510.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/54","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : I don't like how they treated him.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4510.0,4512.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/55","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : Well, he, his game play, the way he plays the game is inefficient and doesn't really work in this space and pace, you know, basketball. Where it's just like trying to get a shot off in the earliest part of a shot clock and trying to hit a three and like being fast and he doesn't play defense anymore. So there are multiple. I mean, when he left the Knicks, he was still good, but, like we had to let him go 'cause again, management isn't great. And um, that whole Phil Jackson era was a complete mess, um...\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4512.0,4552.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/56","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : But I feel like he would, if he was in a better management situation and a better chemistry situation, like a Spoelstra or, uh, or, or, or, or Popovich situation or one of those older cultures that have been in the league for so long. That would have developed him into a better player. But because the coaches he had here in New York really didn't challenge him, they just let him be the star and let him -- he developed more and more and more into a selfish player, like he is now.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4552.0,4582.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/57","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : No, I mean, like after -- I forget what his name is -- D'Antoni, 'cause like, like he and D'Antoni just clashed. They didn't get together very well. And then afterwards, I think it's like he did whatever he wanted. Um, but yeah, that's a, that's a conversation we can have afterwards. So, um, we stopped at, well, we stopped 'cause I had to use the bathroom. That's just for transparency. And um, basically you, you finished off the year, you were able to move back to, um, your home in the Rockaways. You decided to go -- what other schools were you looking at when you were going to, uh, along with Queens College?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4582.0,4630.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/58","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : My top schools? My top schools. All right. So at Channel View they had us do our reach school, our sure shot schools -- these are schools we can get into with our eyes closed, period. Like no doors closed. Then our reach schools that would require a little bit more. And then our dream...I forgot, it wasn't called dream schools. There was another term for it. So my reach school. I was, you know, let me tell you, they took me on a tour to Stony Brook, the school. Fell in love. Like that I fell in love. This is my school A. So I applied there first and then they took us on a tour to Albany. I was like, ah this shit. This is my school right here. Oh, it was nice. Albany was beautiful. And for Albany, each one of the schools, they have this, uh, a variation of the SEEK program called the EOP program. Equal opportunity program for the state schools, uh, for the city schools it's called SEEK and for the two-year schools it's called ASAP for College Discovery. ASAP is Accelerated Student...I'm not sure what it stands for \n[Accelerated Study in Associate Programs]. Forgot, but CD stands for College Discovery. And those are like the opportunity programs for people who otherwise would not get into the school because of academics and a combination of academics and financial, financial need. And so when I visited Albany and I visited Stony Brook, it was beautiful. It was great. And I was like, these are my schools. I applied there for the SUNY app. Um, then I had some, I had, uh, NYIT Utica. I had New Paltz and like one or two other SUNYs. And I didn't get into Albany. I didn't get into Stony Brook. That was the first, that was the quickest, first and quickest rejection. It was like, nah.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4630.0,4751.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/59","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : Stony Brook?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4751.0,4751.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/60","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Yeah, it was not with me at all. They were not with me at all. And um, so that was a quick rejection. And um. Yeah. Um, so that was quick. And then Albany, Albany took the longest because I actually went on the tour. And when you go on a tour, like they look at your application a little bit more. Like if you're an EOP student, for some reason, like you get, it adds like points or whatever. I forgot what, how that happened however. But, uh, I know that because my mom was, was sickly, um, like, you know, her health was deteriorating a little bit more and my sister was still, you know, growing up, she was a little younger and stuff. I wanted to stay close to home, but like, not like, you know, not like too far. So like, those schools were reasonable. Like Stony Brook is an hour and a half drive from home. Less than that sometimes. An hour and 10 minutes.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4751.0,4814.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/61","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : Driving?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4814.0,4815.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/62","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Yeah. Driving, yeah. I was planning to get a car too. I had a lot of dreams. (Wait, can I borrow your eraser?) Um, so that was, um, that was, um, that, that didn't work out. So I was like, OK. So for the CUNY app, I applied to Baruch, because they said Baruch was like this top business school and it was like one of the best CUNYs. And although it didn't have what I thought I wanted to go into, it was, it was. I just did it, like applied. I thought I was going to get in. I applied first. And then I applied second to Brooklyn College. Third to City Tech 'cause this is what I thought I wanted to do, um, uh, computer science. And then fourth to Queens because, uh, I didn't really think I was going to get into Queens. Um, and Queens like didn't have that, like that specialty that a school is known for. Right? So Stony Brook is known for its athletics and its science, but it's also like a liberal arts school. Uh, City Tech is known for its tech programs. Baruch is known for its business. Um, but Queens didn't have that, like, you know, that, I don't know how to explain it, but they didn't have it that, that whatever. Um, it did have the 80-acre, park-like campus. Like, like where you feel like you went away. You feel like, when you come here you feel like you went away. Um, so it did have that. And plus I had my relationship with the school already with having had spent my time here. Um, I actually was also somewhat close to some of the, um, public safety officers too, because they, um, they were involved with like the process of making sure, like, we had space, whatever. They were just a part of the process um, um, when we lived here, when it was a relief center. And what else, what else? Um, yeah, I don't know, Queens just at that part it's weird. It wasn't on my radar, but... Uh, I didn't get into Brooklyn. I didn't get into Baruch. I got up to City Tech. So like my first two options of both applications were eliminated, uh, which made my acceptances narrow. Like my third choice on the SUNY app was SUNY IT and I wasn't going to Utica. I wasn't going to Utica. And I also did a private schools application and I got into Lincoln and I thought I was going to go to Lincoln 'cause HBCU \n[Historically Black College and University], uh, it's right in Pennsylvania. Like, that's kinda close, not too far. HBCU. As far as the primary reason, I was like, I'll try to find the HBCU that's close. And the application was cheap, was like $20, you know? I mean, that was a lot, but like, it was just like, OK, it's not as bad, you know? Um, so let's see. Um, so what happened? Um...\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=4815.0,5023.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/63","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : I was asking, um, how you chose.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=5023.0,5027.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/64","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : How I chose. Yeah. So, um, I visited, I visited Queens College one more time, um, just to get a refresher and plus my, my choices were narrowing, so, uh, and I had already had like that relationship with Queens. So I chose to come to Queens College because it was, among the places that I actually got accepted to, it was the top place, the top school that I had gotten accepted to. Um, so I went, I visited the campus again. I came in for an interview, um, I paid an application deposit or whatever, a hundred dollars I think it was. But no, actually, no, I didn't pay that. I think it was waived because I'm a SEEK student. Um, and the rest is history. Um, it was great because the people that helped me along the way, um, are still like involved in my life in some way or the other, faculty and professors and stuff like that. Um, like really, you know, um, kind of helped me like make my decision and my mom and the financial aid package is nice though, too. The package is nice. It was nice. Um, yeah.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=5027.0,5110.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/65","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : And so tell me about SEEK. Tell me about when you, when did you learn about SEEK and tell me about the application process.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=5110.0,5118.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/66","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : I have to tell you if our guidance counselor did not tell us to check that box. Uh, in high school, our guidance counselors told us, um, if you feel like, look at the requirements to get into the SEEK program. Uh, if you feel like you could meet those requirements, you meet your, your family meets those, uh, financial and you fit, you fit those academic requirements, you should apply. You should check \"yes\" on the application. 'Cause that's what it is. All you have to do is just check \"yes.\" That's it. Um, select \"yes,\" rather. Um, and if you don't do that, like it kind of like disqualifies you from applying to the program, because you're supposed to apply. Um, I think the program is only for people who are leaving high school. Um, not like somebody who took the break and then returned. Um, I could be wrong about that. Um, and so but if she didn't like stress the importance of us checking that box, I wouldn't have been in the SEEK program. Um, because a lot of people like literally like qualify, but just like, they just miss that part of it. Just like, just miss it or just totally just miss it. And they could be SEEK students, but they just didn't check the box. Because the box, the box-checking for them is -- I, and I could be wrong about this process too, is that the application is sent to the school once you fill it out, to each individual school. And then the department that you're applying to, which would be the SEEK program or the CD program, gets a copy of that application. So if you don't check that box, they don't get it. Just the school gets it. So that's why it's so important to check off that box. So if they didn't stress us checking that off, I probably wouldn't be a SEEK student. But, um, for me, um, being in the SEEK program really provided all of the resources and supports that I was kinda already, kinda already receiving in high school to some...a variation of that in high school. Um, but I think the best part about it, um, I think the best part about it was the fact that, um, you had a family, you had support, you had people who were pushing you to success. You had people who understood where you were academically and financially and socioeconomic, on a socioeconomic aspect. 'Cause a lot of the themes that we use in some of our English and social science courses were related to things that we were going through as young people in poverty. And, um, I guess. Wait, what was the question one more time? I think I got off track.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=5118.0,5298.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/67","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : Um, I guess it's like, when did you learn of the SEEK program and I asked you to describe the application program process.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=5298.0,5306.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/68","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Oh yeah. OK. Yeah. So, so yeah, I learned about the SEEK program from our, our guidance counselor, like stressing the importance of, of like doing equal opportunity, doing, making sure that you fill out the application to make sure 'cause that, the equal opportunity programs like SEEK and like CD and ASAP, they not only help with a portion of tuition, but they help with books and, and if you budget your money right, transportation, uh, and things like that. So that was an enticer and an incentive for us to make sure that we didn't mess up the application. And, um, I did my own research into the SEEK program, um, like before applying, after being stressed to apply. And it was a program that was originally created for students like me, like students, students of color, um, Black and brown and, and everything in between or thereafter, uh, to ensure that we had a seat at the table, to ensure that we were securing our voice and our part and our voice at the table to become a part of a college or community. A college ed community of higher learning. Like, it was amazing. And it was a great opportunity for students who probably otherwise would not be in college. And what made, um, the SEEK program so special is that it gives you, it gives you, or gave me the privilege of being able to attend a four-year school when my grades...I was a decent student. I think I was like an A-minus or B-plus student. And I wasn't like. I mean, certain subjects, I was like, like I was, you know, like history, you can't touch me in history. Like both history exams that I took for the Regents, I got a 98 and a 95. Second highest in the building, the school. For me, I was like, OK. You know, but like in the more practical subjects that you need, like a science and a math, it was like, you know, wasn't so great. English I was good too. Um, so I guess with the program...Yeah, normally the program provided supports. I mean, the application process was, was, was, uh, what it was. And then, uh, you had ...\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=5306.0,5472.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/69","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : Who, who do you remember, um, from your first days, um, a part of the SEEK program? Once you got into the SEEK program and you started going to school at Queens College and you have orientation, um, in that first year, who do you remember from the SEEK program?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=5472.0,5490.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/70","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Um, Professor Anisha Clark, Dr. Cicely Rodway, Professor Blackman, Norka Blackman-Richards, um, the late Dr. Frank Franklin. Uh, William Modeste, Mr. Modeste. Rajvir Kaur. Walter Dogan, who was the first person I ever met from the SEEK program, because he does the admissions and outreach piece. So, um, and he does a lot of outreach like in Southeast Queens, like to make sure that more Black, Black -- and brown -- but Black students, um, know more about the SEEK program and, and apply. Um, because it's an opportunity for us, you know, um, to be able to advance ourselves academically, achieve higher learning and move ourselves up the economic ladder. If you have a degree, you know, it holds weight, it means a lot. So, um...\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=5490.0,5562.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/71","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir : It was, uh, who do you remember from the SEEK program?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=5562.0,5564.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/72","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Oh, yes, I remember those, yeah, I remember those people, but, uh, I want to talk about Franklin really quickly, um, because I do remember him having a direct impact over my time here at Queens College. Um, I'd just come in. Uh, I was going through the summer program. Uh, I was struggling to get here, uh, 'cause it cost money. You know, I live in a three-, I mean, where I live now it's a two-fare zone, so it's just two buses. Um, but where we lived prior, if I, if we'd stayed where we lived prior to where we live now, it was a three-fare zone. You, you'd have to take the Q22 to the Q113 to the Q25. Or you would have to take, you'd have to walk 10 blocks, take the Q52 to the 88 until they extended that bus further into the peninsula. But nonetheless, like I remember having transportation issues with cost and food and stuff like that. And I remember having just like, like concerns of not just being -- I just didn't think I could do it. Like it was rigorous. Like I almost didn't want to do it. 'Cause it was, it was a lot of work! I've never -- like, you know, high school was high school, but like, this is the real deal. So I remember, um, he introduced himself to, uh, uh, to us. Um, he introduced himself to us. We met him at the orientation that we went to, the family day. This is a day where, um, they asked the parents of the students to come in so they can meet the people. But that, that's as far as it goes 'cause once you get to college, you're your own manager of your academics. And so I remember, but I do remember like going through the program and I just asked to speak to the director 'cause I wanted to just get some insight on like, is this possible to get through this, this rigorous summer program? Summer immersion program you had to go through and, and to just like, try to question him and see if we can get some funds out here to help us get here and feed ourselves 'cause we ain't got no money. We broke high school students and we got nothing. So, so I sat down with him and he told me the history of the program. And, uh, told me that, you know, definitely that there's more funding coming hopefully to do a MetroCard program. Um, and also you do get a summer stipend and I was trying to get him to like get the stipend to come in faster because like I needed that and that little $50 was helpful. 'Cause you budgeted it correctly, um, you can get food and MetroCard. I think the MetroCard was $2.50 back then, maybe $2.25. I can't remember, 2014. But um, probably was. But um, yeah, if you budgeted that correctly, $50 was, and you have some left over. So, so, so I pushed him on that and you know, I, um, you know, he, I think he gave me...like SEEK had some like petty cash. So he gave me something for the week, um, to help me like get back and forth to school.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=5564.0,5783.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/73","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : Um, but I remember like, you know, his -- he's a Black man, he's an older Black man. So I remember, like, kind of looking up to him. Um, you know, because he was the leader of our program and he was, he resembled the program and the initial tensions were at the program. And you always try to do, you know, creative things. Like, so one year we had a, when I was in the summer program, we did a march from the SEEK program at Delaney Hall, which is named after, um, a prominent Black leader at the time in the '60s and '70s when the program was in its beginning years and founding. And we marched down to the clock tower right here upstairs. And I didn't -- there was a story about the clock tower; it rings every 12 o'clock or every 6 o'clock whenever it rings. But during that summer, he taught us the history of the, I think it's called the Goodman Clock Tower \n[the Chaney-Goodman-Schwerner Clock Tower] and it's named, uh, after, um, three people, three students, two or -- one or two of them were Queens College students. The other one was a, uh, student at another university, and they went down to Mississippi in 1961, during Freedom Summer. And Freedom Summer was the time where folks, um, liberal whites and, um, and Blacks, of course, Black people, um, were going down to Mississippi and states that had poll tax and all the other Jim Crow laws to register Black people to vote. Uh, and unfortunately, you know, that was a high crime at its time, uh, for some of these radical fringe groups, like the KKK and, uh, white nationalists. Uh, and they were killed for just trying to register people to vote. And the clock tower was named after them. And Mr. Frank Franklin, Dr. Frank Franklin, explained to us that history and why it's important to take the SEEK program seriously and to treat the program as an opportunity for you to advance yourself, uh, and the SEEK program for me requires, requires that we use the degree. We use the degree, we use, the, whatever we get from the four years or five years, however long we're here, to turn it into a tool for service. Um, I remember him telling us the SEEK motto was \"struggle to learn, learn to struggle\" and that process of struggling, it was, it was, um, it was the epitome of what I actually went through as a SEEK Queens College student, because I literally struggled to learn, but in that process of struggling to learn, like I learned the process of struggle. What -- I know it sounds corny -- but what, you know, can be achieved through struggle, you know. Uh, and it doesn't just mean like, uh, I can't do this work. I'm trying to push him, but like struggle in the social justice sense. Struggle, um, in learning about your history. Struggle in learning about the tools and the, and the, and the, and the, the framework, the -- I don't know the word for it, but these are the things that our elders, the people who came before us, used to, to, to move up. Uh, and so we, we had to learn about that, uh, and it was a struggle to learn about that. And, and it was like, you know, it was that process and that first year, and that first summer immersion program was the epitome of that. It was great for me. Um, unfortunately though, about a year into I think it was my freshman year, too. I think I was in my first semester. Um, I, I was struggling at that time and I came to Frank Franklin and I asked for help, and he told me to go apply for the tutor, go get tutoring services. We have help here. Make sure you use all your resources here. Um, because the resources are only here, if you, you know, if you, you gotta use them. So I, um, used the resources and, um, you know, I, I struggled that first semester. But I think by the end of that semester, Frank had, uh, Mr. Franklin had passed and it was tough for the SEEK family because -- especially the new ones. Especially us. Like the younger ones, the ones who just came in. 'Cause we just met him. Um, what we thought, what we thought was going to be a four-year, like...like, so, you know, like you have relationships with people and like, you think they're going to just be there. So you, like, you're just like. You know, I, like when I first started, I used to pop in a little bit more, but like once I got the groove of the school thing, even though I failed like every class my first semester, 'cause I was like, whatever. But I'm like almost every class I did decent. Well, no, I did bad. But, um, uh, you know, like in the beginning, like, like I was going to his office as much as I could, asking for advice, asking for help. You know, talking to this person, talking to that person. Um, but like, you know, as I got more into the groove of like learning how to do this school thing, you know, I didn't go to the office as much as I should have. And, uh, he had passed and it was painful. Um, because you could tell that his heart was in the program. You could tell that his heart was in helping young people, and his heart was in just making sure that the next generation had what it needed to be successful. You know, to just see him pass on that soon. It was a lot. It was a lot emotionally.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=5783.0,6183.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122/transcript/29265/annotation/74","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson : I went to whatever services I could. I tried to be supportive, but I was shocked, uh, to know that he... And he remembered me. He remembered like, um, you know, some of the initiatives I tried to do in the SEEK program when I first got here. Uh, I was one of the founding members of the SEEK leadership teams, generational leadership teams. So I was, um, volunteer coordinator for the SEEK class of 2018 -- well it's called Gen18, 'cause it's the year that you graduate. So it's named after your graduating class, we're up to Gen2022 right now. Um, trying to bring more volunteer initiatives on campus. Helping with issue information dissemination, because that was a big thing where students are just, \"Bunch of shit going on the campus. People don't know what's going on.\" And, um, I was surprised to know that he, um -- I found this out, like maybe, I think a year, maybe a couple of weeks, I'm not sure when, but it was shortly, it was after his passing that he had left, um, some, some money for me in the form of a scholarship. It was called the Frank Franklin Memorial Scholarship Fund. And I believe I was the first recipient of it. Um, I think, it was...they talked about it and said, you know, because Walter Dogan was close with him. Like very cool. So that was cool. Walter Dogan said, \"You know, he left this for you.\" And, uh, uh, I don't think -- I know it was for me, but like the \"me\"s that come after me. You know, like as soon as -- that are like me, that had the financial issues and like, had, like, struggles in the beginning of school. Um, I, I found out about it when I graduated last, last month and I was awarded the scholarship. I decided to go pick it up. But, um, it was talked about like sophomore, junior year then, like. I guess they were saving it to like, you know, my milestone, which was graduating college. That was a blessing 'cause, you know, even though he's not here anymore, like you feel...I don't know how to explain it, but it was, it was emotional for me, like receiving the scholarship and being part of his life and his vision for the program.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117122#t=6183.0,6374.68819"}]}]},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 3 of 3 - Anderson_Khaleel_by_Mondesir_Obden_07152019.mp3"]},"duration":661.05206,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/117/120/small/Screenshot_%2874%29.png?1623684149","type":"Image","format":"image/png"}],"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120/content/3/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-queenslibrary.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/117/120/original/Anderson_Khaleel_by_Mondesir_Obden_07152019.mp3?1623682492","type":"Audio","format":"audio/mpeg","duration":661.05206,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120/transcript/29266","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Full Transcript - July 15, 2019 [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120/transcript/29266/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: But I've never had, on the collegiate level, that early on, uh, someone who believed in me so much so. Just met me. Uh, 'cause we started the program end of June. Uh, you know, we continue to the program to end of July .And like somebody who is of Caribbean descent, a Black woman, uh, someone who truly, truly, truly cared about -- even if you didn't care -- she cared whether or not you were successful in the class or you were successful just generally throughout the program, checking in every now and again, making sure you're doing your homework. Like, these are not things that you see at the collegiate level. Uh, and the fact that she's super-invested, uh, you know, in us as students and in our friends and my friends, soon to be friends, uh, and students that, like, other students that, you know, that look like us. And I think the coolest thing about the program too, is when there's a, when, you know, we know -- Black people, you know, and Black families, we know how to talk to our kids and our young people, uh, not always, but, uh, and there were certain, uh, social cues we got from her. Like, \"I know you're, you're messing up right now. You know, do what you have to do. So I don't have to say anything to you.\" Like, and it could just be a side eye. It could be, uh, pointing at something. It could be looking down -- like, it's just so many different social cues. You know. You grew up in the Black culture, so you know. And, uh, I'll never, ever forget the impact that, um, Professor Clark had in my life and also Dr. Rodway. Uh, I think Dr. Rodway was crucial in my decision-making process to, to major in a heavy-writing social science.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120#t=0.0,130.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120/transcript/29266/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir: Can you provide Dr. Rodway's full name?\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120#t=130.0,131.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120/transcript/29266/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Oh yeah. Cicely Rodway. Yeah, she's a, she's a Guyanese American. I think she's naturalized. I don't know, but she's, she's actually visiting in London right now. But she's kind of the catalyst behind my crazy idea to go into a heavy writing, uh, intensive type of major, because you gotta understand, she comes from a background where education is held to the utmost, you know. Caribbean culture is very, very keen on that. Uh, holding education high. High in priority to the utmost. Uh, and she did not relent. Uh, she was very, very on top of me. Very passionate about making sure that I took school seriously and took writing, the process of writing, seriously. And she really helped with the process of -- I gotta say this. She really helped with the process of building my confidence in my writing. I got to tell you, when I came in here...look, I gotta tell you, they did the best that they could in high school with the teachers and those limited resources they had, but I felt like I couldn't even write my name. And I'm being hyperbolic in that sense, but look, I mean, I, I felt like I couldn't, I didn't have confidence in my writing. And it was weird because everybody was telling me I'm a good writer, I'm a good writer. But it's different when you're writing it and you don't feel it. Like, like I've written so many papers throughout my time here at Queens College that like, I know which one is my bullshit papers, which ones are my meh, medium papers. And which ones are my \"this is my paper.\" Like I can pull out paper -- 'cause I keep all my schoolwork on Google Drive -- I can pull out papers that I was like, this is the paper right here. And then the grade reflects it because you, like, you feel it when you're writing it, you feel it. And, in the beginning I didn't have that sense of self and sense of touch, um, you know, to, to write, uh, papers effectively.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120#t=131.0,260.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120/transcript/29266/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: And I think one of the great things also about the SEEK program is the dedication, uh, of the women. A lot of the times in these social justice movements, a lot of the times in these social justice spaces, uh, it's the women of color who are leading. Uh, it's the women who are engaged. It's the women who are planning. It's the women who are directing, uh, and then doing all the roles. Uh, not to say we didn't have any amazing men that I was able to look up to, go to for advice and have that better one-on-one connection with. But we've got to recognize the role of the Black women in this process, uh, of raising, uh, crazy young people like me, but, you know, raising young people and making sure that young people have the resources they need, uh, to be successful. And that's, and that's what those three Black women that I mentioned -- Professor Blackman-Richards, uh, Anisha Clark, and Cicely Rodway did, uh, in helping mold and shape my experiences in the SEEK program and improve my experiences, uh, as a, as a student and as a budding leader. Uh, the males like Dr. Dogan, Dr. -- what's his name? Walter Dogan -- uh, Mr. William Modeste and, and Mr. Gaslin Osias, who was my academic advisor. Uh, actually it was, it was Rajvir Kaur, Ms. Kaur. She was my first academic advisor when I got there. But nonetheless, like, it's a program where there are tons of people that look like us. Um, Black, Hispanic, South Asian, Muslim, uh, Latinx, also Latino, Latina. Like that is something that inspires me because again, this is a program that's run by people of color for people of color. And Asian, of course. Uh, and, and run by people of color for people of color. And it's inclusive of everybody. And that's the amazing part about the program. Even, even Frank Franklin too, before he passed. He was a really, really good visionary and leader for his time. And I was very hurt and sad by his loss. Um, because he was another person that I, I, I needed a lot of extra help. Um, oh, and, and Miss Pierce-Anyan too. She's the chair of the minority affairs, a school counselor as well here at Queens. Uh, yeah. Frank Franklin was a guy who, you know, he really believed in his students and, uh, even when they don't believe in themselves, even when they have social issues at home and things like that. And before he passed, you know, uh, he -- I think I talked about this in the beginning -- uh, basically he brought me in his office, gave me advice, uh, you know, was easily accessible. You think a director of a program -- it's like running a massive program with 13, 14, 1,500 students -- had the time to sit down with one student, talk to them about life and about what's going on at home. And, and I, and during the program, I was going through a lot. Uh, it was new for me. It was, it was, it was hard to transition. I, a few days into the program, my stepfather had passed away, um, heart complications related to work, stress and work. And the program was nothing but supportive of me. My, my, my, my emotional needs, my family.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120#t=260.0,511.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120/transcript/29266/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Uh, but now that I'm through with the program and have completed, you know, all the requirements of the program, uh, and for college, it's my time right now to give back, uh, and to be supportive and to be in spaces...we are, we are making sure we're training the next leaders, the next generation of leaders for that program, so that it can sustain itself. I don't want to come back here in five years and there's no freaking SEEK program. Or I don't want to come back here in five years and the program is not offering the same services that it can. And, and, and that's, that's what we need to do. Uh, one of the things I was talking about amongst some of my friends as I'm running for office, was trying to see if we can get a constitutional amendment, uh, on the state level, of course, the state constitution, uh, to provide, uh, a steady stream of funding for opportunity programs on the collegiate level. Uh, with the SEEK program, it's a, it's a -- right now, it's an appropriations thing. It's a budget item. It's a line item in the budget. I, and I, I have to make sure I double back with this. I don't think that there is a, a mandate, so to speak, on a constitutional level that, uh, keeps its funding coming in, regardless of shortfall or, or, uh, what's it when you go up, shortfall or surplus. Shortfall or surplus. So I'm not sure. I'm going to do my research on that, but this is something we were talking about with some of our friends, so that we can keep a steady stream. 'Cause part of what led to some of the negative experiences that I had with the SEEK program, as it relates to the services being cut, was not having enough funding. Losing tutors, losing funding for this program and that program. But as long as you have good leadership, you're able to overcome a lot of those, those, uh, those painful moments where you have to tell a student no, or I can't, or we don't have it.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120#t=511.0,660.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120/transcript/29266/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nObden Mondesir: All right. Cool.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120#t=660.0,661.0"},{"id":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120/transcript/29266/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"\nKhaleel Anderson: Thank you.","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://queenslibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/21/collection_resources/43999/file/117120#t=661.0,661.05206"}]}]}]}