Proud to Celebrate a Local Graduate as He Embarks to Stamford University in the Fall to Begin His Next Journey

I met Dereje at a Maker's Fair at the Westport Library where he was fan-boying Jerry Craft's earliest work, a good year before New Kid came out. Dereje Tarrant was ahead of his time...loved diverse representation, understood the comic book genre, and new good writing when he saw it.

Unfortunately, Covid upset his Project Citizen years, and we had him online, but he was a quick-witted, political writer who had his eyes on what needs to be said and how to say it. He finished his senior year this year and I knew I wanted to send him off with a package for his first year, including good soap for the dormitories and an Ubuntu T-shirt to represent the game out West. 

Last night, we had the honor of pre-recording Derrick Barnes with Dr. Chandra Maxwell, and I loved that he shouted out Dr. Alfred Tatum, who is a man who made me become the person/writer/thinker I am today. I loved that they also had a connection and I couldn't help but think about the ways people lead to people.

We also welcomed another generation of scholars to campus and had our FWC summer picnic, where I got to see all those who have been away for the summer.  

I shared with Dereje jewelry and a keychain from Zambia. Here to all entering their freshmen year. May they find a pathway through these turbulent times.