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| William Taylor, Assemblyman Mike Davis, Tai Collins, Special Fleming, Robyn Taylor, Lelar Marshall |
Tai was honored by the Assembly of the State of California by Assemblyman Mike Davis for Women's History Month at City Hall in Los Angeles.
For event pictures go to: www.48thadevents.org/womens-history-month.html#
Since I was a child I have always loved and been intrigued by “Angels” – so how appropriate that I would end up living and pursuing my dreams here in the “City of Angels” – and that my calling would be caring for the little angels of here.
I am incredibly grateful to be honored alongside these other remarkable women – but my best reward comes from the relationships I have with the children in this community – relationships that will forever be a part of me –
My gift comes every week when I arrive at Tom Bradley Elementary School, or MLK Park, or 92nd Street Elementary or to the police station to work with kids – and I’m greeted with amazing love and hugs and kids faces lighting up calling out – “Miss Tai!”
We plant seeds, and we never know how they will grow. When I began this foundation, I never dreamed how it would blossom.
After almost 20 years serving in this city, I am on my second generation of children and many of the youth I now work with are the children of my first kids.
It is the children and their parent who will always hold a special place in my heart – who I have lifelong relationships with. They have enriched my life and simply made my life better…
When parents like Lora, who is here tonight, say to me referring to her daughter Lelar – “your girl is growing up.” Or Robin and William Taylor’s parents say to me -- “my kids are your kids.” Or when Special says to me, “you’re like my family.”
That is my greatest reward. To the parents I say, Thank You for sharing your children with me! I am honored to consider them mine too!
I am thankful to my partner in A Chance for Children Greg Bonann, and for all the amazing partners and volunteers who help me make what I do possible… like Desiree Manuel… and Kim Matthews for providing transportation to so many events… they all help make what I do possible. From Marissa to Raul to the LAPD – I offer a huge thank you.
Greg and I have always had a saying – that children go where there is fun but they stay where there is love. I love the children I serve – my hope and belief is that they know that.
I’d like to end with a quote from Mother Teresa. She said; “The miracle is not that we do the work, but that we are happy to do it.”
I could not be any happier serving the precious, priceless, amazing children of Los Angeles.
