Child Bio

 September 1, 2010

With a new school year underway, the girls still think about their experiences at civics class at summer school. They aren’t exactly sure why they needed to take the class, but they are glad they did. It opened their eyes to a world outside their communities.

"Tiffany: We learned all about civics -- United States history, the president, and the Constitution.

Emily: We missed some credits because we missed some classes and work. So they allowed us to retake the class. They never told us how we missed those credits. They just said we didn’t have the credits.

Tiffany: It was a big class of 28 kids, but on some days it was only 16. These are kids from all over Miami.

Emily: It was hard. We needed to learn all about ‘We The People.’ I didn’t learn it in regular school so I had to do it in summer school.

Tiffany: I liked learning about our rights. The First Amendment was interesting, especially the part about freedom of speech, press and assembly. I didn’t know about those before.

Emily: I learned stuff we never learned in regular class. Our teacher made us study all the time.

Tiffany: This is the second time we had to take summer school. In sixth grade, we took something but I don’t remember what it was. I just know we both passed it."



August 10, 2010
The girls are working in an office this summer, each earning several hundred dollars a week. These are their first paid jobs. The money is good. They are spending it on clothing, eating out, and providing for their younger sister. They are even saving a few dollars.

"Tiffany: We clean the back closet. We file papers. We do work-related stuff on computers and printers. We do it for five to seven hours a day. We get to spend time out of the house and do stuff for the community.

Emily: I like to file papers. It’s fun.

Tiffany: I can use the money I make to help my baby sister and my cousins too. I can take her places and do stuff for them, now that I have a job.

Emily: I put my money in a savings account. I’m not sure what I am saving for, probably for college. I’ve got $290 saved.

Tiffany: This is our first paying job. It’s important to me, again because I can help my baby sister. I can also save for stuff I really want and need.

Emily: This feels good. It’s what I expected work to be. Working can be hard. It’s also good for keeping you busy so you don’t have to stay in the house and get into trouble."
The girls are living in a troubled section of Miami. They often hear gunshots in the middle of the night. They are hoping to move soon before the neighborhood devours their innocence. They have big dreams and career goals stretching far beyond their community’s dilapidated buildings and drug corners.

"Tiffany: It’s tough where we live. People use profanity and wear their pants below the waist. There’s some people killing other people. We don’t go anywhere because of the neighborhood. It would be better to get out more. We don’t want to sit in the house knowing someone is getting shot outside. I’d like to live in the country. I like to be near cows and do farming when I am older and take care of animals.

Emily: In the morning, it’s fine here, but in the afternoon they smoke and drink. We moved here to be closer to our mom who is in prison in Miami. I want to live in a quiet neighborhood where there’s quiet and friendly people who wear clothing that fits them.

Tiffany: I like to be with friends and practice basketball. I like ice skating. I always want to be in the championship of skating.

Emily: I like to swim, dance and play music. I can dance anywhere. I don’t need a fancy place.

Tiffany: Life is fine. Sometimes it’s good and sometimes it’s not. I wish I had a job so I don’t have to wait to get what I want.

Emily: I wish I had a job as well. I miss my mom. If she was home, life would be different. We could probably go to more places and get what we need."

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